After Sheikh Hasina Flees Bangladesh, Home Minister Has Assured No Illegal Influx Will Be Allowed: TIPRA Motha’s Founder
New Age Islam News Bureau
06 Aug 2024
Tipra Motha founder Pradyot Kishore Debbarma. (File
Photo)
------------
·
After Sheikh Hasina Flees Bangladesh, Home
Minister Has Assured No Illegal Influx Will Be Allowed: TIPRA Motha’s Founder
·
Same Islamists Forced Sheikh Hasina to Leave
Bangladesh, Says Exiled Author Taslima Nasreen
·
UK Leader Starmer Promises ‘Standing Army’ Of
Police to Deal with Anti-Muslim Rioting
·
Islamic Resistance Announces Targeting of Six
Zionist Military Sites
·
Indian Ministers All Praise for Pakistani, Who
Works at The KP CM’s Secretariat, saved17 Indian Pilgrims Lives During Hajj
India
·
"Refrain from Such Comments": AIUDF Chief
Badruddin Ajmal On Assam CM's Statement On 'Love, Land Jihad'
·
People Are Not Interested in The “Communal
Agenda” Of The BJP and Assam CM’s Hindu-Muslim Politics: Congress
·
Imam Refuses Funeral Prayer for Muslim BJP
Functionary in UP, FIR Registered
·
Wanted decision on Article 370 to happen with
concurrence of people rather than imposition: PM Modi
·
Article 370 abrogation anniversary: Mehbooba
Mufti claims house arrest
·
Bangladesh Political Crisis: BSF Issues High
Alert On Border, Steps Up Troop Deployment
·
India suspends train services to Bangladesh
indefinitely
·
Air India cancels flights to and from
Bangladesh amid escalating tensions
-----
South Asia
·
Mawlavi Kabir urges European diplomats to
resume missions in Kabul
·
Ministry of Refugees Refutes IOM Report on
Afghan Migration
·
Children displacement soars in Afghanistan due
to climate change
·
UN: Recent floods in Afghanistan affect 83,000
individuals
·
Cabinet discusses consolidation of Amu River’s
banks
·
Zionists should not rely on America’s support
or will be vanished
--------
Europe
·
British Minister Cites Islamophobia as
Motivation for Far-Right Violence in UK
·
British MPs Criticize UK Leader's Failure to
Address Anti-Muslim Hate in Riots
·
‘Best of Burnley’: Community unites to clean
vandalised Muslim graves
·
'Nobody is going to divide us' says mosque imam
at 'beautiful' Southport vigil
·
Vandalised Muslim graves treated as hate crime
·
We trust Scottish police protection is strong -
Muslim council
·
Imam says he would host Tommy Robinson at
mosque ‘to see what it is all about’
·
Pro-Gaza MPs call for action against
Islamophobia and violent riots in the UK
·
Religious leaders in Leicester condemn UK
attacks on mosques and asylum seeker hotels
·
The Mancunian Way: ‘Even if it isn't a Muslim,
Muslims are still attacked’
--------
Mideast
·
Israeli Rights Group Says Palestinian Prisoners
Subject to Systematic Abuse
·
Killing of Hamas leader intended to prolong
Gaza conflict, Abbas tells RIA news agency
·
Islamic affairs ministers conf. calls for
granting Palestinians their legitimate rights
·
Dhamar land authority commemorates martyrdom of
Imam Zaid with speech event
·
Lebanon’s hospitals given crisis medical
supplies ‘in case of war’
·
Israel army says US CENTCOM chief in Israel to
assess security
--------
Pakistan
·
Either in Pakistan or abroad, 'digital
terrorists' to face law: DG ISPR
·
PTI Marks Imran’s ‘Year in Prison’ With Swabi
Jalsa
·
Rumpus in Senate as PTI protests Imran’s
detention
·
Gandapur warns of staging sit-in at D-Chowk if
permission not granted for rally
·
PM urges dialogue to find peaceful solution to
Kashmir dispute
·
UAE diplomat refutes visa restrictions on
Pakistanis
·
Plantation campaign 'Plant for Pakistan' starts
under GPI
--------
Southeast Asia
·
Boycotts Hit Profits of Western Brands in
Muslim Countries
·
‘They don’t represent the Brits’: Malaysians in
UK on edge as anti-Muslim riots inflamed by far-right groups, misinformation
·
Meta restores PM Anwar’s post with “allowed for
public awareness” note
·
Chinese temple performance in open area, so
passersby can see - Wan Sukairi explains bans on female singers
·
Malaysians in UK remain on high alert following
riots targeting Muslim communities
--------
Africa
·
Nigerians Return to The Streets Despite
President's Plea
·
U.S. military to hand over last base to Niger
authorities
·
South Africa: Nearly 100 Ethiopian migrants
rescued by police
·
IPOB Asks For Referendum, Says Igbo Ready To Exit
Nigeria
·
Kaduna Govt Declares Curfew As Protest Gains
Momentum On Day 5
·
Police Teargas Protesters Waving Russian Flag
In Katsina
·
Security Operatives Disperse Protesters In
Abuja, Arrest Three
--------
Arab World
·
MDLBEAST Hosts First Onyx Arena Music Party in
Jeddah
·
Kingdom’s Library Brings Saudi Culture to
Chinese Readers
·
Saudi crown prince, French president discuss
de-escalation in region
·
Civil Defense warns of torrential rain, high
winds in Saudi Arabia until Friday
·
Saudi Arabia is now self-sufficient in fig
production, says agriculture ministry
--------
North America
·
CAIR Expresses Solidarity with UK Muslims
Targeted by Racist, Far-Right Rioters
·
Community Advisory: CAIR Urges Muslim Voters to
Meet Lawmakers During August Congressional Recess
·
Rep. Bill Huizenga to Newsmax: Shapiro
Alienates Swing-State Muslims
·
Biden meets national security chiefs as Mideast
war fears grow
·
US military completes withdrawal from final
base in Niger
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL:
After
Sheikh Hasina Flees Bangladesh, Home MinisterHas Assured No Illegal Influx Will
Be Allowed: TIPRA Motha’s Founder
Written
by Debraj Deb
August
5, 2024
Tipra
Motha founder Pradyot Kishore Debbarma. (File Photo)
----------------
After
Sheikh Hasina resigned as Bangladesh prime minister and fled her country on
Monday, TIPRA Motha founder Pradyot Kishore Debbarma said Union Home Minister
Amit Shah had assured the borders are well protected and that no illegal influx
would be allowed.
“Spoken
to the Hon’ble Home Minister, Shri. Amit Shah, who has assured that all the
borders of India are well protected and no illegal influx will be allowed. He
is monitoring the situation and asked our forces to remain vigil at the
borders,” Pradyot wrote on social media.
Pradyot
had written earlier that he had been receiving reports that the situation was
quite grave in Bangladesh. “Reports coming to us from Bangladesh are that the
situation is quite grave in the country. The Government of India should prepare
and empower the indigenous people within India. We respect and admire Sheikh
Hasina, but life after her will not be good for internal security,” he wrote.
Pradyot
had also written that a “strong anti-India sentiment” was growing in Bangladesh
and also referred to developments in the Maldives. “Tripura, West Bengal,
Meghalaya, and Assam will be on the frontline of anything that occurs there.
GoI must have a plan B in case something happens now or in the future. The
native people are the best defence,” he wrote.
Pradyot’s
comments come in the context of concerns over a Bangladeshi influx, especially
among the tribals, the main support base of his party, who became a minority
after the massive influx of erstwhile East Pakistan refugees before the birth
of Bangladesh in 1971.
Meanwhile,
sources in the Border Security Force and Tripura police said that security
would be tightened along the Bangladesh border. The state shares an 856-km-long
partially unfenced border with the neighbouring country.
While
there have been rumours about Hasina’s possible arrival in Indian territory
through Tripura, security agencies have confirmed there is no report about such
a plan.
Source: indianexpress.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/sheikh-hasina-bangladesh-tipra-motha-pradyot-amit-shah-illegal-influx-9496712/
--------
Same
Islamists forced Sheikh Hasina to leave Bangladesh, says exiled author Taslima
Nasreen
06.08.24
Taslima
Nasreen
X/@taslimanasreen
------------
The same
Islamists who threw her out have forced Sheikh Hasina to leave Bangladesh, says
author Taslima Nasreen, exiled from the country in the 1990s following protests
over her book "Lajja". On Monday, Hasina resigned and fled the
country amid massive public anger over her government’s controversial quota
system reserving 30 per cent jobs for families of veterans who fought the 1971 liberation
war. More than 400 people have been killed in the protests.
Finding
Hasina's situation ironic, Nasreen said in a post on X, "Hasina in order
to please Islamists threw me out of my country in 1999 after I entered
Bangladesh to see my mother in her deathbed and never allowed me to enter the
country again. The same Islamists have been in the student movement who forced
Hasina to leave the country today."
Nasreen
has been living in exile since 1994 after she faced criticism from Islamist
fundamentalists for her writings on communalism and women's equality in
Bangladesh.
Some of
her books, including her breakthrough novel "Lajja" (1993) and her
autobiography "Amar Meyebela" (1998), were banned by the Bangladesh
government for their subject matter.
"Lajja"
attracted severe criticism as it detailed violence, rape, lootings and killings
of Bengali Hindus after the Babri Masjid demolition in India.
"Hasina
had to resign and leave the country. She was responsible for her situation. She
made Islamists to grow. She allowed her people to involve in corruption. Now
Bangladesh must not become like Pakistan. Army must not rule. Political parties
should bring democracy & secularism," the feminist author said in
another post on Monday.
As her
country descended into chaos, Hasina fled in a military aircraft and landed in
Hindon near New Delhi while the army stepped in to fill the power vacuum.
On
Tuesday, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar told an all-party meeting that
India has assured her help and given her time to decide the future course of
action.
Source: telegraphindia.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.telegraphindia.com/world/same-islamists-forced-sheikh-hasina-to-leave-bangladesh-says-exiled-author-taslima-nasreen/cid/2039001
--------
UK
leader Starmer promises ‘standing army’ of police to deal with anti-Muslim
rioting
LONDON
(AP) — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Monday that a “standing army”
of specialist police would be set up to deal with rioting and that the justice
system would be ramped up to deal with hundreds of arrests after violent
disorder rocked cities across the nation over the past week.
Starmer
convened an urgent meeting after lawlessness that he blamed on far-right
activists and misinformation on social media that whipped up anger over a
stabbing rampage at a dance class that left three girls dead and many more
wounded. False rumors spread online that the suspect was a Muslim and an
asylum-seeker led to attacks on immigrants and Muslims.
“Whatever
the apparent motivation, this is not protest. It is pure violence and we will
not tolerate attacks on mosques or our Muslim communities,” Starmer said. “The
full force of the law will be visited on all those who are identified as having
taken part in these activities.”
On
Sunday, angry mobs attacked two hotels used to house asylum seekers, breaking
windows and lighting fires before police dispersed the crowds and residents
were evacuated. Dozens of police officers have been hospitalized for injuries
in the past six days after being struck with bricks, bottles and large wooden
posts.
Oliver
Coppard, the mayor of South Yorkshire, where one of the hotels was attacked,
attributed the violence to “far-right thugs.”
“As Keir
said, as every decent person has said, I think these are far-right thugs who
attacked some of the most vulnerable people in our communities and there is
absolutely no excuse,” Coppard told the BBC. “There can never be any excuse for
trying to burn to death 200 of the most vulnerable people in our community.”
A
Starmer spokesperson said no requests have been made to call in the army.
The Home
Office, which is responsible for law and order, has offered mosques greater
protection under a new “rapid response process” designed to quickly tackle the
threat of further attacks on places of worship.
Starmer’s
spokesperson said after the meeting that social media companies have not done
enough to prevent the spread of misinformation that has fueled far-right
violence and vowed that anyone who stokes the disorder — online or on the
streets — could face prison. Some of that false and misleading information has
come from foreign states.
“The
disinformation that we’ve seen online attracts amplification from known bot
activity, which, as I say, can be linked to state-backed activity,” the
spokesperson said in a read-out of the meeting.
Source: pbs.org
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/uk-leader-starmer-promises-standing-army-of-police-to-deal-with-anti-muslim-rioting
--------
Islamic
Resistance announces targeting of six Zionist military sites
05 Aug
2024
BEIRUT
August 05. 2024 (Saba) -The Islamic Resistance in Lebanon, led by Hezbollah,
announced on Monday that it targeted six military sites belonging to the
Zionist enemy army on the Lebanese border with occupied Palestine.
The
Islamic Resistance said on its Telegram channel that in support of the
Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip, our mujahideen targeted the Zebdin
barracks in the occupied Lebanese Shebaa Farms with artillery shells.
It added
that it also targeted the Zionist enemy's artillery positions in Khirbet Ma'ar
with rockets, and also targeted the Ras al-Naqoura naval site with heavy
artillery shells.
In
Lebanon, the Islamic Resistance targeted the Zarit barracks and the Ramim
barracks with artillery shells, and the Malikiyah position was attacked with a
pounced attack march that hit its targets accurately.
At dawn
today, the Islamic Resistance claimed responsibility for the attack on the
settlement of Ayelet Hashahar in Upper Galilee, which led to two injuries and
fires in several places.
"In
support of the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip, and response to the
attacks and assassinations carried out by the Zionist enemy in the towns of
Bazouriyeh, Deir Siryan and Hula, the mujahideen of the Islamic Resistance
launched an air attack with a squadron of drones on the headquarters of the
91st Division created in the Elite barracks," it said in a statement.
In its
statement, it pointed out that the drone attack was aimed at the places of
concentration and settlement of officers and soldiers of the Zionist enemy.
The
attack directly hit the Zionist soldiers, resulting in many deaths and
injuries, it said.
Source: saba.ye
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.saba.ye/en/news3356273.htm#:~:text=Islamic%20Resistance%20announces%20targeting%20of%20six%20Zionist%20military%20sites,-%5BMon%2C%2005%20Aug&text=BEIRUT%20August%2005.,Lebanese%20border%20with%20occupied%20Palestine.
---------
Indian
Ministers All Praise for Pakistani, Who Works At The KP CM’s Secretariat,
Saved17 Indian Pilgrims Lives During Hajj
August
06, 2024
Muslim
worshippers gather around the Kaaba at the Grand Mosque in Saudi Arabia's holy
city of Makkah on June 4, 2024 as pilgrims arrive ahead of the annual Hajj
pilgrimage. — AFP
--------------
A
Pakistani citizen was praised by two Indian ministers for exhibiting unique
courage and compassion in saving lives of around 17 Indian pilgrims in severe
heatwave during the Hajj earlier this year in Makkah.
A young
Pakistani from Peshawar Asif Bashir, who works at the Chief Minister's
Secretariat Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as a database supervisor, was also performing
Hajj as a volunteer to assist pilgrims.
The
32-year-old government official made history by exhibiting unique courage and
compassion in saving lives as he provided water, life-saving medicines and even
carried multiple pilgrims on his shoulder for an extended distance of three to
four kilometres.
He saved
the lives of around 26 pilgrims who had fainted due to extreme heat. These
pilgrims also included 17 Indians.
Bashir's
bravery and courage was recognised by the Indian authorities in Saudi Arabia.
“Your
dedication, compassion and unwavering commitment to serving the pilgrims have
been truly commendable,” said Indian Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Kiren
Rijju and Minister for Women and Child Development Smriti Irani in letters sent
to the Pakistani citizen in recognition of his exceptional humanitarian spirit.
“I am
particularly impressed by your remarkable act of kindness and bravery in
providing first aid and transporting patients to the hospitals on your shoulder
when ambulances and medical staff were occupied,” observed Kiren Rijju in the
letter shared by Asif with APP.
"Your
bravery will be remembered and your actions will inspire many to follow in your
footsteps," the Indian minister added.
Sharing
the details of his heroic rescue, Bashir told APP that a devastating heatwave
had hit gripped the city when the pilgrims returned from Mina to Makkah.
Countless
pilgrims lost their lives during the heatwave.
Faced
with a surge of unconscious Indian, Pakistani and Egyptian pilgrims overwhelmed
by the scorching heat, and with calls for immediate rescue and medical
assistance, Bashir sprang into action.
Amidst
the chaos and panic, he said that he stood firm and decided to save the lives
of people by providing them with drinking water.
"During
rescue, I did not make any discrimination that the person I am helping belongs
to which country and my whole effort was aimed at serving humanity by saving
those who are in critical condition," Bashir remarked.
"We
provided drinking water and ORS to around 350 to 400 pilgrims who had become
fully unconscious," he added.
Source: thenews.com.pk
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1216938-indian-ministers-all-praise-for-pakistani-who-saved-lives-during-hajj
--------
India
"Refrain
from such comments": AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal on Assam CM's statement
on 'Love, Land Jihad'
Aug 05,
2024
Calling
himself his elder brother, Ajmal advised CM Sarma to refrain from making such
statements.
Assam
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday said that his government will
bring a new law in the state assembly session to increase the punishment in
"Love Jihad (/topic/love-jihad)" cases to life imprisonment. "We
will bring a new law in the state assembly where the punishment of Love Jihad
(/topic/love-jihad) will be increased to lifetime imprisonment," CM Sarma
said.
In an X
post, Assam CM said, "Assam government is bringing two laws to stop Land
Jihad (/topic/land-jihad) and Love Jihad (/topic/love-jihad)... If a Muslim
wants to buy a Hindu's property or a Hindu wants to buy a Muslim's property, he
will have to get government permission... Those practising love jihad will be
punished with life imprisonment..."
Reacting
to this, Ajmal said that anyone from India could buy land in Assam, unlike
Kashmir (until the abrogation of Article 370).
"...Everyone
has a right on the land in Assam. Anyone from India can buy land here. This is
not Kashmir...What law will they bring? It is only to make Hindu brothers
happy...97-98 per cent of Hindus in the country are secular, they are not
communal," Ajmal told ANI.
The
AIUDF Chief added, "As a big brother, I advise him (Assam CM) to stop
making such statements...What is 'Love Jihad (/topic/love-jihad)'?".
Challenging
CM Sarma, Ajaml cited examples of Bollywood couples who have been in
inter-faith marriages.
Ajmal
said, "In the Indian film industry, the wives of many big film stars are
Hindu. What will you do? You can't catch them but you will trouble the poor
people...Aap par gerua rang ka asar chadh gaya hai..."
"...Go
to the market and you will find out how upset people are with you. You should
talk about real issues. This is democracy, not the time of Hitler. You should
respect democracy," he told ANI.
He also
said by repealing the Act, the Assam government was allegedly targeting a
community
"You
are targeting a community... the Hindu brothers also understand this,"
Ajmal said.
Ajmal
further questioned Assam CM, without mentioning his name, about his role in the
development of the State
Ajaml
said, "What is your (Assam CM) role in the development of Assam? All the
work which is being done is through money given by the World Bank..."
(ANI)
Source: aninews.in
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.aninews.in/news/national/general-news/refrain-from-such-comments-aiudf-chief-badruddin-ajmal-on-assam-cms-statement-on-love-land-jihad20240805173746/
--------
People
Are Not Interested In The “Communal Agenda” Of The BJP and Assam CM’s
Hindu-Muslim Politics: Congress
05
August 2024
Guwahati:
Slamming Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for indulging in
"Hindu-Muslim politics", Congress state chief Bhupen Kumar Borah on
Monday said people are not interested in the “communal agenda” of the BJP.
During
an interaction with reporters here, he said that the united opposition of 18
parties in Assam has decided to continue their alliance till the assembly polls
in 2026, and that it will contest every election as a single bloc in the next
two year...
"The
CM engages only in Hindu-Muslim politics. However, the people of Assam are not
at all interested in such a communal agenda, which was proven during the Lok
Sabha elections," Borah said.
Sarma
had on Sunday said his government would soon introduce a law for life imprisonment
in cases of 'love jihad'. He also said several measures have been initiated to
protect the land rights and government jobs for indigenous people from a
"particul...
"For
any land policy, a law should be brought in the assembly and then it should be
discussed. Instead of that, the CM was giving a statement to communalise the
issue," Borah alleged.
The
Congress state chief also criticised Sarma, asserting that the government's
economic policies were flawed and dependent only on beneficiary schemes.
"The
present government is using the media and the state publicity machinery to
propagate the CM's communal ideas. The government's earnings are mostly
dependent on liquor sales nowadays. It is giving 2,000 liquor shop licences to
their local leaders...
Borah also
said there will be more activities in the coming days to “expose the present
government's failure”.
Source: deccanherald.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.deccanherald.com/india/assam/assam-cm-himanta-biswa-sarma-engages-only-in-hindu-muslim-politics-congress-3138190
--------
Imam
Refuses Funeral Prayer for Muslim BJP Functionary in UP, FIR Registered
Aug 6,
2024
BAREILLY:
An FIR was registered against an imam in Moradabad for allegedly refusing to offer
funeral prayers during the burial of a 72-year-old man, Alidad Khan, who has
been a BJP worker for years.
The
matter came to light after a complaint was filed by Alidad's son Dilnawaz Khan
who claimed that the imam's refusal to offer prayers stemmed from the fact that
his family supports BJP, and his father was its member for over 10 years. He
alleged that Samajwadi Party workers were behind the move.
Dilnawaz
Khan told TOI: "My father liked BJP's policies and was always treated with
respect by party leaders and given a space on stage at all meetings. Many
Muslim leaders didn't like this. When my father passed away, the imam refused
to recite prayers saying that my family voted for BJP. The SP workers also
insulted us which is why I filed a complaint."
He
added: "Now they (SP workers) are putting pressure on me to withdraw the
case..." Alidad Khan had died of heart attack at Kundarki on July 29.
Following the imam's refusal, Dilnawaz raised the matter with Moradabad
district magistrate Anuj Kumar who then asked the SSP to verify the
allegations.
Imam
Rashid, when questioned, said, "I had refused the (funeral) prayers
because this family had always insulted the symbols of Islam and never followed
the faith sincerely. So, I asked them to look for someone else."
A local
SP member termed the issue "a politically motivated one", blaming the
ruling party for "doing everything possible to affect the upcoming
by-election."
Notably,
by-election in Kundarki assembly will be held after sitting MLA Zia ur Rahman
Barq was elected as MP from neighbouring Sambhal district. Barq defeated BJP's
Parmeshwar Lal Saini by 1.2 lakh votes in the recently-held Lok Sabha polls.
Station
house officer (SHO) (Kundarki) Rajeev Kumar Sharma, said, "An FIR has been
registered against imam Maulana Rashid and four SP workers - Shameem Khan,
Sharadat Khan, Aslam and Mateen Khan - under BNS sections 171 (undue influence
at elections), 351-1 (threatening by any means, another with an injury to
person, reputation or property) and 351-2 (criminal intimidation). Notices were
served to the accused to assist the police investigation. No arrest has been
made so far."
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bareilly/uttar-pradesh-fir-against-moradabad-imam-for-refusing-to-offer-prayers-at-bjp-workers-funeral/articleshow/112298113.cms
---------
Wanted
decision on Article 370 to happen with concurrence of people rather than
imposition: PM Modi
August
5, 2024
“There
was complete clarity in my mind that taking the public in Jammu and Kashmir
into confidence was absolutely essential for the execution of the decision,”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi says about his government’s decision to abrogate
Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir.
The
prime minister’s remarks come in the foreword of a new book titled “370:
Undoing the Unjust, A New Future for J&K”.
“We
wanted the decision, whenever it would be taken, to happen with concurrence of
the people rather than imposition,” he writes in the book, researched and
written by non-profit organisation BlueKraft Digital Foundation and published
under the Penguin Enterprise imprint.
The book
mentions in detail how Modi managed to achieve the goal that he set out for
himself.
The
publishers said the book, which is scheduled to release this month,
“chronicles, what is inarguably the greatest constitutional feat in India’s
history and tells the inside story of how Prime Minister Modi managed the
seemingly impossible”.
It
“delves into multiple blunders at the time of independence that culminated into
the unjust regimen of Article 370. It discusses the social, political and
economic ramifications of Article 370 since its inception in 1949″, a statement
by Penguin said on Monday, which marks five years of revocation of Article 370.
“It
sheds light on the historical reluctance to challenge this provision and the
eventual paradigm shift brought about by its abrogation in 2019. Through
careful examination, it discusses how the government resolved legal
complexities and safeguarded against security threats to successfully execute
the historic decision,” the statement said.
Replete
with anecdotes, the book recounts the events leading to the abrogation and also
chronicles the region’s history — from the ancient to contemporary times.
The
publishers claimed this is the “first book of its kind on the Modi government
where the actual decision-making process has been documented through
interactions with top decision makers including Prime Minister Narendra Modi”.
In
advance praise for the book, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said, “An
eminently readable account of a crucial decision that has promoted national
integration while transforming the development and security landscape of Jammu
& Kashmir. It brings out how the political calculations and personal
proclivities of an earlier era were finally countered by national sentiment.”
Source: indianexpress.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/article-370-pm-modi-book-jammu-kashmir-9495951/
--------
Article
370 abrogation anniversary: Mehbooba Mufti claims house arrest
August
5, 2024
PDP
president Mehbooba Mufti on Monday claimed that she was placed under house
arrest and her party office has been locked amid heightened security on the
fifth anniversary of the reading down of Article 370 of the Constitution that
provided special status to Jammu and Kashmir.
“I have
been placed under house arrest while the PDP office has been locked,” Mufti
told PTI.
Official
sources said the office of Apni Party, headed by Altaf Bukhari, was also closed
for the day as a precautionary measure.
National
Conference chief spokesman Tanvir Sadiq claimed that he has been placed under
house arrest.
“I have
been detained at home, which was completely unnecessary. I needed to leave for
some work, but policemen outside my gate prevented me from doing so. This is
unwarranted and illegal,” Sadiq said in a post on X.
He also
posted a picture showing police personnel outside the gate to his residence in
Hassanabad area of the city.
“August
5 is and will always remain unconstitutional and illegal. On August 5, 2019,
the BJP betrayed the people of Jammu and Kashmir. By ignoring the Constitution,
the BJP undermined the constitutional, moral, ethical, and legal relationship
with the J&K,” the NC spokesman added.
The
Centre on August 5, 2019 revoked Article 370 of the Constitution which provided
special status to Jammu and Kashmir within the Indian Union.
The Centre
also brought the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act that bifurcated the
erstwhile state into two union territories of Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir.
People’s
Conference president Sajad Gani Lone said August 5 will be a reminder of
“complete disempowerment of Kashmiri people”.
“August
5 will always be an ugly reminder of the complete disempowerment of the
Kashmiri people.Five years on there is no elected Assembly and the locals have
no say in running their own affairs. And sadly there aren’t enough powerful
voices in the country to seek questions as to why J and K has been selectively
targeted for such humiliating existence,” Lone posted on X.
Source: indianexpress.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/mehbooba-mufti-house-arrest-article-370-abrogation-anniversary-9495800/
--------
Bangladesh
political crisis: BSF issues high alert on border, steps up troop deployment
Leave
cancelled; field commanders told to remain on ground, deploy all personnel on
border duty immediately
August
6, 2024
Bangladesh
political crisis, BSF high alert, Bangladesh high alert, Bangladesh troop
deployment, BORDER Security Force, India-Bangladesh border, Indian express
newsBangladeshi tourist celebrates fall of Hasina Sarkar in Bangladesh at Marquise street Kolkata on Monday.Express
photo by Partha Paul.Kolkata.05.08.24
THE
BORDER Security Force (BSF) on Monday issued a high alert across all its
formations along the 4,096-km India-Bangladesh border and increased its troop
strength in the area.
BSF
Director General Daljit Singh Chawdhary, Additional Director General (Eastern
Command) Ravi Gandhi, and Inspector General (South Bengal) Maninder Pratap
Singh “made an important visit to India-Bangladesh border in North 24 Parganas
district and Sunderbans area of West Bengal… to review the operational
preparedness and strategic deployment of BSF in these important border areas,”
a BSF spokesperson said.
Chaudhary,
who is the DG of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), was given additional charge of
the BSF last week till the appointment of a regular incumbent or until further
orders, after then BSF DG Nitin Agrawal was repatriated to his state cadre.
“In view
of the changed situation in Bangladesh, the BSF has issued alert all along
Indo-Bangladesh border and the number of troops deployed along the border has
been increased,” the spokesperson said.
“All the
field commanders have been directed to be on ground and deploy all personnel on
border duty immediately… Their leaves have been cancelled and they have been
asked to not to allow entry anyone without valid documents,” a senior officer
said.
According
to a statement issued by the BSF, Chaudhary was first briefed on the “strategic
scenario and operations” of the Eastern Command. He then went to Dhamakhali, in
North 24 Parganas, where the commandant briefed him on the battalion’s water
border responsibilities. He also visited an outpost in the Sundarbans.
West
Bengal shares a total of 2,217 kilometres of its border with Bangladesh, along
with Tripura (856 km), Meghalaya (443 km), Assam (262 km) and Mizoram (318 km).
“The visit of the BSF DG highlights the dedication and vigilance of the BSF in
safeguarding India’s borders, ensuring peace and security in the region. The ongoing
efforts of the BSF in the Sundarbans and North 24 Parganas are vital in
preventing international crimes and maintaining the sovereignty of the nation,”
the spokesperson said.
Meanwhile,
the Meghalaya government imposed night curfew in areas along its 445-km long
international border with Bangladesh as a “proactive move” to “protect the
interests of the state and the nation”.
Source: indianexpress.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/bangladesh-political-crisis-bsf-issues-high-alert-on-border-steps-up-troop-deployment-9497254/
--------
India
suspends train services to Bangladesh indefinitely
August
5, 2024
All
train services between India and Bangladesh have been suspended indefinitely,
Railway officials said on Monday following unrest in the neighbouring country.
ccording
to the Railway Ministry, Maitri Express, Bandhan Express and Mitali Express
operated their last trips in mid-July this year and have been cancelled since
then due to violent protests in Bangladesh.
Both
Maitri Express and Bandhan Express were initially cancelled from July 19, 2024,
to August 6, 2024, they said. However, due to the prevailing situation in
Bangladesh, the cancellation has been extended indefinitely, the officials
said. The service of Mitali Express also stands suspended indefinitely,
according to the Indian Railways.
Bangladesh
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday resigned and left the country while Army
Chief General Waqar-uz-Zaman announced an interim government was taking over in
dramatic developments amid massive violent protests there. “Mitali Express,
which runs between New Jalpaiguri-Dhaka, went to Dhaka on July 17, 2024, but it
didn’t return after that,” the Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) of Katihar told
PTI.
He
added, “The train has 10 coaches owned by Indian Railways but since these
coaches were used in that particular train only, there is no inconvenience of
any sort to us. The train’s loco used to be changed at the border. So when it
enters Bangladesh, they attach their own engine to the train replacing ours.”
Source: indianexpress.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-suspends-train-services-to-bangladesh-indefinitely-9496857/
-------
Air
India cancels flights to and from Bangladesh amid escalating tensions
Bangladesh
continues to boil after fresh clashes broke out between anti-government
protesters and the police, killing nearly 100 people on Sunday
August
5, 2024
Amid
escalation of public unrest in Bangladesh, Air India Monday announced the
suspension of all flight operations to and from Bangladesh with immediate
effect.
“In view
of the emerging situation in Bangladesh, we have cancelled the scheduled
operation of our flights to and from Dhaka with immediate effect. We are
continuously monitoring the situation and are extending support to our
passengers with confirmed bookings for travel to and from Dhaka with a one-time
waiver on rescheduling and cancellation charges. Safety of our guests and crew
remains our foremost priority,” the flight operator posted on X.
The
company asked its passengers to contact on their 24/7 Contact Centre at
011-69329333 / 011-69329999.
Bangladesh
continues to boil after fresh clashes broke out between anti-government
protesters and the police, killing nearly 100 people on Sunday. As people
poured out on streets on Monday, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned from her
post and fled to India.
In view
of the emerging situation in Bangladesh, we have cancelled the scheduled
operation of our flights to and from Dhaka with immediate effect. We are
continuously monitoring the situation and are extending support to our
passengers with confirmed bookings…
Protesters
were seen entering the Prime Minister’s official residence in Dhakaand
vandalising statues of Hasina’s father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the first
President of Bangladesh.
In a
televised address, the Bangladesh Army chief General Waker-uz-Zaman said they
will be forming an interim government with the help of political parties.
Source: indianexpress.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/bangladesh-protests-air-india-flight-operations-9496552/
--------
South Asia
Mawlavi
Kabir urges European diplomats to resume missions in Kabul
August
6, 2024
KABUL:
The Deputy Prime Minister for Political Affairs Mawlavi Abdul Kabir, in a
meeting, with the ambassadors and diplomats of several European and other
countries in Doha, asked them to resume their political missions in Kabul, Arg
said in a statement the other day. Speaking in a meeting with the
representatives from the embas ada, Italy, France, South Korea, Australia,
Germany, and the United States, Kabir extended an invitation to the diplomats
to visit Afghanistan and assess the situation directly, according to the
statement. Also, the meeting discussed several important issues including
enhancing bilateral relations, addressing security concerns, and exploring
humanitarian cooperation, the statement further said. Sharing updates on
Afghanistan’s progress, security, and stability, Mawlavi Kabir urged the
diplomats to resume their political missions in Kabul and manage
Afghanistan-related affairs from the capital. The Kabul Times
Source: thekabultimes.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://thekabultimes.com/mawlavi-kabir-urges-european-diplomats-to-resume-missions-in-kabul/
--------
Ministry
of Refugees Refutes IOM Report on Afghan Migration
2024-08-06
KABUL(BNA):
The Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation has rejected a recent report by the
International Organization for Migration (IOM) that claimed 8 million Afghans
had migrated since 2020.
In a
statement, the ministry said the report contained false information that was
being spread by some organizations to attract donor attention, which it said
was directly affecting the Afghan people.
The
ministry claimed the return of Afghans has actually been faster than migration
over the past 40 years, with 3.7 million Afghans returning to the country in
the past three years.
“The
return of Afghan refugees has been much higher than migration in the last 40
years,” the ministry said. “In the past three years alone, 3.7 million Afghans
have returned to the country.”
This
directly contradicts the IOM report, which stated that 8 million Afghans had
left the country since 2020 amid the political and economic upheaval following
the Islamic Emirate’s takeover.
The
ministry accused certain organizations of “spreading false information about
Afghanistan to attract donors’ attention,” which it said was having a
detrimental impact on the Afghan people.
Source: bakhtarnews.af
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.bakhtarnews.af/en/ministry-of-refugees-refutes-iom-report-on-afghan-migration/
--------
Children
displacement soars in Afghanistan due to climate change
August
6, 2024
The Save
the Children organization has announced that during the first six months of the
current calendar year, at least 38,000 people, predominantly children, have
been displaced in Afghanistan due to climate change.
The
organization reported an increase in internal displacement in Afghanistan
compared to 2023, highlighting the plight of internally displaced persons.
According
to the report, the number of internally displaced persons in the first six
months of 2024 exceeds the total for the entire previous year.
The
report identifies drought, rising temperatures, floods, landslides, rainfall,
and storms as major factors contributing to displacement in Afghanistan.
According
to Save the Children, Afghanistan had over 747,000 displaced children due to
natural disasters last year, making it the country with the highest number of
child displacements globally, with children constituting 50% of these refugees
this year as well.
Afghanistan
is recognized as the sixth most vulnerable country to climate change impacts
globally, with international organizations consistently warning of increasing
humanitarian crises resulting from this phenomenon.
Previously,
Save the Children had reported that ongoing floods in Afghanistan have left
40,000 children homeless and claimed the lives of 200 children.
The
situation in Afghanistan underscores the urgent need for global attention and
support to mitigate the effects of climate change, particularly on vulnerable
populations such as children, who are disproportionately affected by natural
disasters. Immediate action and international cooperation are crucial to
addressing these humanitarian challenges and ensuring the safety and well-being
of Afghan children.
Source: khaama.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.khaama.com/children-displacement-soars-in-afghanistan-due-to-climate-change/
--------
UN:
Recent floods in Afghanistan affect 83,000 individuals
August
5, 2024
The
United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
reports that the onset of floods in May of this year has affected at least
83,000 people in Afghanistan.
According
to OCHA, as of Sunday, 4th of August, 12.4 million people in Afghanistan are
currently facing food insecurity due to ongoing instability.
OCHA
states that the rains have caused extensive damage in several provinces of
Afghanistan, particularly in the west of the country.
The UN’s
humanitarian coordination office emphasizes that 23.7 million people in
Afghanistan are in need of assistance, with 48% of the population living below
the poverty line.
The
report highlights that under such conditions, the return of Afghan migrants
from Iran and Pakistan has exacerbated the food crisis in Afghanistan.
It is
noted that heavy rains and flooding in the northern, northeastern, and western
regions of the country have resulted in the loss of dozens of lives and
significant financial damages.
According
to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), recent floods
have damaged approximately 10,583 houses in the country.
The
situation in Afghanistan remains critical following the devastating impact of
recent floods, exacerbating food insecurity and displacement issues amidst
ongoing humanitarian challenges. Immediate and sustained international support
is crucial to mitigate further suffering and aid in the recovery efforts for
affected communities.
Source: khaama.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.khaama.com/un-recent-floods-in-afghanistan-affect-83000-individuals/
---------
Cabinet
discusses consolidation of Amu River’s banks
August
6, 2024
KABUL:
The third meeting of the Cabinet of the Islamic Emirate, with the Prime
Minister Mullah Mohammad Hasan Akhund, on the chair, discussed the
consolidation of Amu River’s banks, Arg said in a statement Monday. Non-tax
revenue report of the first quarter of the Ministry of Finance has been
approved in the meeting, the statement said, adding that some of the agencies
have been encouraged and others recommended to follow the ministry’s guidelines
by utilizing the available opportunities in the area. Also, a committee was
appointed to conduct a thorough investigation on the property restitution of
the Afghan Textile Company and present its final report to the next Cabinet
meeting, the statement concluded. The Kabul Times
Source: thekabultimes.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://thekabultimes.com/cabinet-discusses-consolidation-of-amu-rivers-banks/
--------
Zionists
should not rely on America’s support or will be vanished
August
6, 2024
Since
October 2023, a fierce war has been going on between the Palestinian resistance
movement Hamas and the Zionist regime occupying forces. Although the war
between the Palestinians and the Zionists is not a matter of now, it had
happened decades ago. But this time the war is different devastating and bloody
with the invading Israeli forces suffering heavy losses. Another face of the
ongoing war between the two sides is that it is not only between Palestine and
the Zionist invaders, but it has also spread to Lebanon, Syria, Yemen and some
other areas and is feared to engulf other nations of the region and take the
world to another world war. Concerns about the expansion of the war rose when,
at the end of last week, the Zionist invaders attacked and martyred Ismail
Haniyeh the head of the political office of Hamas in Tehran, the capital of
Iran, a vicious attack which is against all international laws and regulations
and targeted General Fawad Shakur, the senior military leader of the Islamic movement
of Hezbollah. Following the attacks, Iran, Hezbollah and the Islamic movement
of Hamas have warned of severe retaliation it is believed that Iran will
respond at a high level to maintain its power and status in the region. The
recent consecutive attacks have provoked widespread reactions in the region and
the world and Iran has threatened that it will give a crushing response to this
attack at the appropriate time and place. Considering the current situation, it
seems that the tension in the region is escalating, which will not only harm
the Islamic countries, but Israel and the United States will not be safe from
it. Political analysts are of the opinion that the Zionist regime is trying to
expand the war in the American territory, although the United States continues
to support the occupying Zionists against all international principles. But in
fact, America wants to use the Zionist regime in the region for its own
interests and create misunderstanding in the Middle East to crush its opposing
countries. In this way, they will have achieved their goals without direct or
physical participation in the war. But, what has happened, should be forgotten
and if the two sides, particularly, the Zionist regime want to permanently
tackle the dispute, they should sit around a negotiating table, exchange
hostages and the regime apart from relying on the support of the Americans or
any other hostile countries, should decide independently and step up toward a
lasting resolution of the decades long hostilities with the Palestinians who
only want their land returned. This is clear that America, has never taken the
side of its allies, but only want to create enmity among the world nations
(with the Zionist regime not excluded) for its own interest.
Source: thekabultimes.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://thekabultimes.com/zionists-should-not-rely-on-americas-support-or-will-be-vanished/
--------
Europe
British
Minister Cites Islamophobia as Motivation for Far-Right Violence in UK
August
05, 2024
LONDON:
The UK’s home secretary on Monday pointed to Islamophobia for the first time as
a motivation for far-right violence in several cities that has seen widespread
damage and nearly 400 arrests.
Yvette
Cooper was appearing on ITV’s morning television show “This Morning” and was
asked why the Labour government had not used the term when talking about the
violence, which broke out on Tuesday following a stabbing in which three
children were killed.
“You’re
right that there has been a range of different things driving this, including
far-right extremism,” Cooper told the program.
“We have
certainly seen some targeted attacks on mosques, and that clearly reflects
Islamophobia, and people shouldn’t be targeted for their faith or for the
colour of their skin.
“We’ve
also seen some looting, some response of local criminals just getting involved
at the periphery on streets as well. None of these people speak for Britain,”
she added.
Cooper’s
department, the Home Office, said over the weekend it would deploy extra police
and security for mosques under new emergency measures, The Telegraph reported.
A
suspended Labour MP, Zarah Sultana, also appeared on “This Morning” and pushed
the government to do more to call out hatred against Muslims.
“This
question about naming it as Islamophobia is really important, because that
allows us to shape our response,” she said.
“If
we’re not identifying what is happening, the language that is being used and
what this is about, we’re not going to be able to address this fundamentally,”
she added.
Also on
Monday, the head of Amnesty International UK said the government must get
serious about tackling the “root cause of racism that plagues” British society.
“The
widespread violence and hate crimes we’ve witnessed over the
last few days are utterly unacceptable,” Sacha Deshmukh
said.
“It’s
disgusting to see hotels housing people seeking sanctuary set on
fire, mosques and businesses attacked, and people targeted because of the color
of their skin, their faith or their country of origin,” he added.
He said
the violence was inspired by the rhetoric of politicians who had “scapegoated”
refugees and migrants.
“Events
of the last few days have been reported as ‘anti-immigration protests’ or
‘pro-British demonstrations’ and they should not be labeled as such. What we
are seeing are clearly violent racist attacks targeting specific communities,”
he said.
“Above
all, the government must address the root causes of racism, Islamophobia and xenophobia
that plagues our society — and this includes
actively calling out
and addressing the dangerous
rhetoric of politicians and commentators on social media and elsewhere.”
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2563256/world
--------
British
MPs criticize UK leader's failure to address anti-Muslim hate in riots
05.08.2024
Former
British Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and four fellow independent MPs have
sharply criticized Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the government for their
handling of recent far-right riots, accusing them of failing to adequately
address the anti-immigrant, anti-Muslim sentiments driving the violence.
In a new
letter, the MPs expressed disappointment over Starmer's response to the
"far-right thuggery" that has plagued British towns and cities over
the past weekend, arguing that it did not sufficiently address the underlying
hatred fueling the unrest.
In their
letter to Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, they criticized the government’s
response for not recognizing the significant role that anti-immigrant and
anti-Muslim rhetoric has played in inciting the riots.
The MPs
stressed that references to "understandable fears" in government
statements could be interpreted as giving tacit support to those inciting
hatred and division.
They
highlighted a particular concern over the government’s decision not to engage
with the Muslim Council of Britain, the UK's largest Muslim organization, which
they argue would have been inconceivable if another faith community were in the
same situation.
"At
a time when gangs of violent racist thugs are targeting mosques and asylum
centers, it is alarming that the government has no plans to meet with the
Muslim Council of Britain," the letter said. "We find it
inconceivable that representatives of any other faith community would be
treated in such a manner."
The
independent MPs condemned rhetoric blaming asylum seekers and immigrant
communities for broader socioeconomic issues such as austerity and job losses.
They
argued that this unfairly scapegoats these communities for systemic issues
beyond their control.
In their
letter, Corbyn and his colleagues called for an urgent meeting with Cooper to
discuss concrete actions to combat the racist violence and terrorism they
believe is being fueled by the current political climate. They urged the
government to stand firmly against the bigotry and Islamophobia driving the
protests and to provide robust support for the victims.
Source: aa.com.tr
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/british-mps-criticize-uk-leaders-failure-to-address-anti-muslim-hate-in-riots/3296106
--------
‘Best of
Burnley’: Community unites to clean vandalised Muslim graves
6 August
2024
In a
show of unity in Burnley, volunteers have turned out to help clean up Muslim
graves that were daubed with paint at a cemetery.
The
discovery was made on Monday morning with images and footage from the scene
showing a row of headstones vandalised in the Muslim section of Burnley
cemetery.
Police
and Burnley Council are said to be investigating the incident which comes
following a week of disturbances and violent racist protests across the
country.
It is
unclear if the vandalism is related to the ongoing incidents across the region.
Police
have launched an investigation and Burnley Council condemned the actions of
'evil individuals'.
On
Monday evening people from across the community gathered to clean the
headstones.
The
council revealed people from all faiths had come out to help clean the
headstones. A further deep clean will also take place.
Father
Alex Frost and Kat Gregory-Witham said: “We are appalled with what we’ve
witnessed and we’re heartbroken that families from our Muslim communities have
had to face some terrible scenes in the cemetery.
“Imagine
that if this was a grave for one of your loved ones? Nothing will divide us,
and your evil actions are not welcome here. I encourage the people of Burnley
to seek the common good and to act with love and peace.”
Muslim
graves vandalised with paint at Burnley cemetery
Leader
of Burnley Council, Councillor Afrasiab Anwar MBE said in a statement on
Monday: "We are working with the police to identify the perpetrator(s) and
to ensure they are reprimanded at the earliest opportunity.
"There
is CCTV footage at the cemetery which the police are working through, and we
are working with the police to ensure a heightened police presence in the area.
"The
council have made arrangements for the graves to be cleaned by a specialist
memorial mason as a matter of urgency and the affected families are being
contacted.
"There
are heinous individuals who are looking to provoke a reaction in our
communities. With actions like this, it is extremely difficult to remain calm,
but I would urge you not to react to the provocation."
A police
spokesperson said: "We have launched an investigation after a report of
criminal damage in Burnley today (Monday, August 5).
"We
were called around 4.15pm to Burnley Cemetery in Rossendale Road after a report
paint had been poured across headstones in a Muslim burial area.
"The
investigation into this matter is very much ongoing.
"We
are taking this matter incredibly seriously and this is being treated as a hate
crime.
"We
do not tolerate hate of any form and we will do everything in our power to
identify the offenders and take the appropriate action.
"Anyone
with information can contact police on 101 quoting log 0982 of August 5."
In
Lancashire, so-called ‘anti-immigration’ protests took place in Preston and
Blackburn over the weekend.
In
Lancashire 22 people were arrested across the county - 20 of those people were
arrested in Blackpool, one person in Blackburn and one in Preston.
Of those
22 detained, 18 have been released on police bail, one has been released under
investigation, and three have been charged.
Source: uk.news.yahoo.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://uk.news.yahoo.com/best-burnley-community-unites-clean-215000407.html
--------
'Nobody
is going to divide us' says mosque imam at 'beautiful' Southport vigil
05 Aug
2024
The
chairman of a mosque which came under siege by rioters has praised Southport's
"beautiful" unity at a vigil in memory of three children. Elsie Dot
Stancome, seven, Bebe King, six, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, were killed in
a mass stabbing at The Hart Space in Southport. Eight children and two adults
were also injured in the attack.
A
17-year-old, Axel Rudakubana, was charged with three counts of murder and ten
counts of attempted murder after the stabbings last week. Tonight, which comes
after days of violence and disorder across Merseyside and the country, people
turned out in their hundreds to remember the three little girls and pay their
respects.
The
vigil, which marked a week since the tragedy, was held outside The Atkinson in
Southport town centre, where thousands have come to lay flowers, teddies and
balloons in memory of the victims. Many were emotional, with some in tears, as
peaceful music played and bright colours filled the area. At 6pm, everyone blew
bubbles into the air as songs were sung, in a heartfelt moment of solidarity.
Imam
Ibrahim Hussein was one of the many people in attendance. Following the
horrific stabbing last week, the mosque which he chairs came under siege. On
July 30 rioters wreaked havoc in the street on which the mosque is located.
Ibrahim told the ECHO: "This town is beautiful and the people of Southport
always come together. We witnessed that in the mosque when we had been
attacked; the next day everything is built and back to normal. We are just
chuffed with these people, we love these people and nobody is going to divide
us."
Speaking
about the violence and unrest seen across the country, including in Merseyside,
in the past week, the imam said: "It should always be about the victims
and the victims' families. The thugs are trying to make us think about other
things; maybe we can think about other things later on, but not while there is
families grieving - hijacking their memories is not very nice."
As well
as last Tuesday's riot in Southport, there were violent clashes in both
Liverpool city centre and on County Road in Walton on Saturday. Police officers
were attacked with rocks and bottles after being charged at by people who had
gathered at the Pier Head. Later in the evening, large groups rioted in County
Road, setting fire to a community library and looting shops in the local area.
Eleven
men and a 14-year-old boy have so far appeared in court in connection with a
series of disturbances across Merseyside. A 13th arrest, a 30-year-old man from
Newton-le-willows was also made on Monday, August 5. He becomes the 13th person
to be arrested in connection with the disorder in Southport and the 39th person
following disorder in Merseyside in the past week.
Source: liverpoolecho.co.uk
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/nobody-going-divide-us-says-29683312
--------
Vandalised
Muslim graves treated as hate crime
A hate
crime investigation has begun after gravestones in the Muslim section of a
cemetery in a town were vandalised.
Some
graves were splashed with grey paint at Burnley Cemetery at about 1615 BST, the
town's council leader said.
Councillor
Afrasiab Anwar, described the act as "evil" and suggested it was
intended to "provoke racial tensions".
Lancashire
Police said it was treating the offence as a hate crime.
'Heinous
individuals'
Burnley
Council said it had contracted a specialist memorial mason to clean the
gravestones as a "matter of urgency" and contacted the families
affected.
Some
locals have gone up to the graveyard to try clean the stones, the BBC has been
told.
Mr Anwar
said: "There are heinous individuals who are looking to provoke a reaction
in our communities.
"With
actions like this, it is extremely difficult to remain calm, but I would urge
you not to react to the provocation.”
CCTV
footage was being examined, he said.
Lancashire
Police said it was taking the matter "incredibly seriously".
A
spokesperson said: "We do not tolerate hate of any form, and we will do
everything in our power to identify the offenders and take the appropriate action.”
Source: bbc.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0mnnr424xmo
--------
We trust
Scottish police protection is strong - Muslim council
05-08-24
The
Muslim Council of Scotland says it has "full trust" that police
protection in Scotland is strong enough, following disorder across the UK.
First
Minister John Swinney met community leaders at Edinburgh Central Mosque to
reassure them of the support of the Scottish government and police.
Police
Scotland said there was no intelligence to suggest unrest would break out in
Scotland after rioting in Belfast and several English towns.
It comes
after three girls were killed in Southport last week - which was followed by
false claims on social media that an asylum seeker was to blame.
Dr
Muhammad Adrees, chairman of the Muslim Council of Scotland, said officers had
offered reassurances that there was “no current threat”.
He said:
“Police Scotland has already increased patrolling within the community, so just
show the presence of the police to those who maybe try to jeopardise the safety
of the community.
“People
have a right to demonstrate and a right to free speech but they don’t have a
right to damage people’s property or harm other people .
"We
have full trust in Police Scotland and they are strong enough and equipped well
to look after their peaceful citizens.”
Dr
Adrees' comments come after far-right activist Tommy Robinson posted about a
"pro-UK" rally to be held in Glasgow's George Square next month.
The
English Defence League (EDL) founder, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon,
had earlier promoted the false claims about the Southport attacker.
He also
promoted false rumours about the stabbing of a 21-year-old woman in Stirling on
Saturday.
Police
Scotland said the man arrested was white and from the local area.
Callum
Fisher, 29, was charged with attempted murder and entered no plea at Stirling
Sheriff Court.
At
Edinburgh Central Mosque, John Swinney praised Police Scotland for acting
swiftly to correct disinformation about the incident.
He said:
“It’s absolutely vital that we all rely on quality information and where there
is disinformation that is confronted.
“I
wanted to reassure the Muslim community in Scotland of the importance we attach
to cohesion within our communities - for people to feel safe within their
communities and to have the support of the government and the police.”
Police
Scotland said additional patrols would be visible around mosques and said the
force would continue to "closely monitor events in England".
Assistant
Chief Constable Catriona Paton said: “We have focused our efforts on increasing
policing visibility and engagement across the country.
"Police
Scotland is dedicated to upholding human rights and will not tolerate violence
or discrimination against any group.
“While
we believe there is no cause for alarm, we encourage anyone with concerns or
information to report them to us.”
A
meeting of the UK government’s Cobra emergency committee was held after disorder
in Hull, Liverpool, Bristol, Manchester, Stoke-on-Trent, Blackpool and Belfast,
among other locations over the weekend.
Missiles
were thrown, shops were looted and police were attacked in some locations.
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar condemned
the riots and called for more scrutiny on the role of social media companies in
the spread of misinformation.
Mr
Sarwar told BBC Scotland: "I'm all for freedom of speech but there is a
responsibility that comes with these platforms too.
"Allowing
known mistruths to be spread is not freedom of speech, encouraging people to
get on the streets and commit acts of violence is not protecting freedom of
speech or the rule of law.
"Our
police officers have to be given the space and powers they need to respond
effectively."
Mr
Sarwar also said "we can't be complacent" about potential disorder
Scotland.
He
added: "We have to work together across all communities, across party
political lines with our security services and the police to make sure we're
ready to respond appropriately."
Source: bbc.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce3888352j8o
--------
Imam
says he would host Tommy Robinson at mosque ‘to see what it is all about’
06-08-24
An imam has
said he would welcome Tommy Robinson to his local mosque for food and
conversation as part of efforts to address concerns and fears held by the far
right.
It comes
as Muslim organisations welcomed the Government’s announcement of extra
security for mosques, as a national monitoring group reported a fivefold
increase in threats to Islamic communities.
Sabah
Ahmedi, 30, known as “the young imam” on social media, extended an invitation
to members of the far right to speak with him to ask questions they have about
the religion of Islam.
He
posted on X, formerly Twitter: “I would love to sit with the far right, have
food with them, show them around my mosque and address the questions and issues
they have with Islam because what they are doing right now is based on
misconceptions and misinformation.”
Speaking
to the PA news agency about the invitation to the Baitul Futuh mosque in south
London, he said he tries to use his social media platform to “help educate
people about Islam, help educate people about the true teachings of what my
faith teaches on life as a Muslim”.
Asked if
he expected someone like Tommy Robinson, a founder and former leader of the
English Defence League and someone who has been accused of stirring trouble
from abroad, to take him up on the offer, he said: “I don’t see why not.”
He
added: “If Tommy Robinson said ‘I will come to the mosque to see what it’s all
about’, I would say ‘yeah’. I’d invite anybody to the mosque to come and see
what it’s all about.”
“I would
open the doors to the mosque to the far right for them to come and have dinner
and for them to come and see what life is like as a Muslim and address some of
the concerns and fears that they have.
“Because
acting in a violent manner does not achieve anything, it creates more frustration
in society.”
Asked
about levels of fear in Britain’s Muslim community, he said: “I know there are
conversations happening in families where people are saying that they are
scared to leave their homes and go to work. Naturally, you would be fearful. It
is concerning.
“I think
we need to stand together, united, to stamp out extremism and not let these
people take control of what’s happening.”
Of his
own concerns, the imam – who lives just outside London – said: “I have thought
twice about going into London to attend my (work). Naturally, you’d be a little
bit more cautious.”
But he
said he will continue his efforts to educate people on Islam, in his role as a
member of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community.
On
Sunday, the Home Office offered mosques greater protections, saying “rapid
security” deployment can be requested in order to allow a return to worship as
fast as possible.
It came
as Tell Mama, which monitors Islamophobia in the UK, said a “surge in extreme
right-wing activity in the past week” had led to a fivefold increase in threats
to Muslim communities, and a threefold increase in hate crime incidents and
crimes.
There
was also a rise in threats and attacks to mosques and Islamic institutions and
centres reported to Tell Mama after the Southport attack last week, it said.
The
organisation joined the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) and UK-founded charity
Islamic Relief in welcoming the Government’s move to provide additional support
to places of worship through the Protective Security for Mosques Scheme.
A
spokesperson for Islamic Relief UK said “far too many communities are at risk”
because of “mainstreamed racism and Islamophobia, and the repeated
dehumanisation of refugees”.
They
added: “We are hopeful that the Government’s announcement of extra support to
mosques should offer some reassurance, and help normal services to resume.
“There
is no place for racism, violence or Islamophobia in our country.
“Wherever
racism or Islamophobia rears its head, it must be called out for what it is and
stamped out.”
Source: standard.co.uk
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/tommy-robinson-muslim-home-office-islamophobia-london-b1174853.html
---------
Pro-Gaza
MPs call for action against Islamophobia and violent riots in the UK
05
August, 2024
UK
pro-Gaza independent parliamentarians, including the likes of former Labour
Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, are calling on their government to take immediate
action against those involved in the violent far-right riots which have swept
across the country in recent days.
The
group of independent MPs also consists of Leicester South MP Shockat Adam,
Birmingham Perry Barr MP Ayoub Khan, Blackburn MP Adnan Hussain, and Dewsbury
and Batley MP Iqbal Mohamed following their July election wins.
In a
letter issued to the country’s Home Secretary, Yvonne Cooper, on Monday, the
lawmakers praised Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s labelling of the ongoing
attacks as "far-right thuggery".
However,
they added that such words do not "not go nearly far enough in identifying
the anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim hatred driving this violence."
The
letter addressed concerns of intensifying hatred and discrimination aimed to
sow divisions, with the MPs saying Islamophobia is fuelling the violence.
"At
a time when gangs of violent racist thugs are targeting mosques and asylum
centres, we are alarmed the government has said they have no plans to meet with
the largest body representing Muslims in the UK, the Muslim Council of
Britain," the letter continued.
The
letter concluded by demanding an urgent meeting with the Home Secretary, to
"discuss what actions are planned to stamp out this racist terror."
Following
its release, the MPs have since backed the call of action in hopes to tackle
anti-immigrant sentiment.
"Together
with my independent colleagues, I have written to the Home Secretary requesting
an urgent meeting in light of the far-right riots," Islington North MP
Jeremy Corbyn wrote on X.
"We
must call out this violence for what it is: rampant Islamophobia."
"Demanding
a meeting with the Home Secretary to tackle this racist Islamophobic thuggery
on our streets," Ayoub Khan added.
Blackburn’s
Adnan Hussain additionally took to social media, saying that "the scenes
we are seeing unfold on our streets are terrifying, more must be done to
challenge the rhetoric that got us here."
Meanwhile,
Iqbal Mohamed emphasised that "the government must work with
representatives of all groups being attacked if its serious about defeating all
forms of racism."
Misinformation
and riots
In a
statement on Saturday, Leicester’s Shockat Adam had already stated plans to
meet with the Home Office, as he raised concerns on the spreading of
misinformation in light of the riots- both on and offline.
"We
all have a responsibility to be mindful of the information we share," he
wrote.
"I
am extremely concerned with how social media has been used to spread false
information and we need robust action and accountability for social media
platforms, media and individuals that have fanned the flames."
Separately, Labour MP Afzal Khan wrote to
Prime Minister Starmer on Monday in which he explained in a post on X that he
has "asked the PM, Deputy PM [Angela Rayner] and Home Secretary to meet
with Muslim community representatives to discuss the safety of British Muslims
further."
The
recent killing of three young girls in Southport, a town in northwest England,
have been exploited by anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim groups.
Disinformation
spread online, amplified by prominent far-right figures, has sparked unrest in
towns and cities. The violence erupted last Tuesday following false social
media claims about the suspected attacker in Southport.
Stephen
Yaxley-Lennon, also known as Tommy Robinson and formerly the leader of the
now-defunct anti-Islam English Defence League, has been accused by the media of
spreading misinformation to his online followers.
The
Prime Minister has stated that violent protesters targeting Muslim communities
will swiftly face the "full force of the law" as he seeks to quell
the ongoing anti-immigration riots.
Source: newarab.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.newarab.com/news/pro-gaza-mps-call-action-against-anti-islam-hatred-uk
--------
Religious
leaders in Leicester condemn UK attacks on mosques and asylum seeker hotels
5 AUG
2024
Religious
leaders in Leicester have released a joint statement against the recent violent
protests across the UK against asylum seekers. The violence, which was sparked
by the spreading of false rumours on social media about the fatal stabbing of
three girls in Southport, have seen attacks on hotels housing asylum seekers
and on mosques.
Rioters
have also caused damage to vehicles, businesses, homes and other properties,
including a library. Yesterday (Sunday) saw a crowd of about 700 people
gathering outside a Holiday Inn in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, which led to windows
being smashed and staff having to barricade themselves inside.
The riot
also saw 10 police officers suffering injuries. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer
said he would do "whatever it takes to bring these thugs to justice".
So far, 344 people have been arrested nationally since the violence broke out
on Tuesday last week.
On
Saturday, there were riots in Hull, Liverpool, Bristol, Manchester,
Stoke-on-Trent, Blackpool and Belfast. There was also a relatively small
gathering in Leicester on Saturday evening, in which a 24-year-old man was
arrested for public order offences. However, the situation in Leicester was
almost entirely "peaceful", police said.
In their
joint statement the city's Muslim, Jewish, Christian, Sikh, Hindu and other
faith leaders said: "Faith leaders condemn the senseless riots that have
taken place which have seen attacks against mosques, premises housing asylum
seekers, police officers, business premises, vehicles and private property.
"The
mindless thuggery we have seen has caused concern and terror in some parts of
the country and among certain communities who feel targeted. These are blatant
manifestations of racism, Islamophobia and xenophobia and we oppose this in the
strongest terms.
"We
call for the condemnation of all forms of hatred and prejudices, including
Islamophobia. Our faiths and scripture teach us tolerance and love for one
another and we are heartened by the unity shown by others to help protect
communities, to deal with the aftermath of these riots and to show support to
those that are targeted.
Source: leicestermercury.co.uk
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/leicester-news/religious-leaders-leicester-condemn-attacks-9461621
--------
The
Mancunian Way: ‘Even if it isn't a Muslim, Muslims are still attacked’
5 AUG 2024
Hello
It’s now
been a week since the murderous attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in
Southport, which has seen a series of violent riots spread across the country.
Widespread unrest has followed the killing of three young girls last Monday,
with 147 arrests made since Saturday alone.
Yesterday
missiles were thrown as police came under attack from a gang of demonstrators
when a protest turned ugly in Bolton town centre. Opposing groups goaded each
other - separated by police outside Bolton town hall.
And on
Saturday afternoon fights broke out, a supermarket had to be closed and public
transport was brought to a standstill amid a stand-off between far-right and
anti-racist groups in Manchester city centre. But for many of Greater
Manchester’s Muslim leaders the Islamphobia and the violence has come as no
surprise.
"This
is nothing to do with the Southport stabbing, it's to do with years and years
of racist and Islamophobic rhetoric from the media and from politicians,” Jawad
Amin, a community engagement officer at the Cheadle Masjid, told Ramazani
Mwamba.
“What's
shocking is the way it's happened. It's happened on the back of a false rumour
that a Muslim was involved in the stabbing. In the past, when something bad
happened you would say 'please Allah, let it not be Muslim'.
“Now
we've got to the stage where, even if it isn't a Muslim, Muslims are still
attacked. The deep undertones are racist and Islamophobic."
Source: manchestereveningnews.co.uk
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/mancunian-way-even-isnt-muslim-29679195
--------
Mideast
Israeli
rights group says Palestinian prisoners subject to systematic abuse
August
06, 2024
JERUSALEM:
Israel has conducted a systematic policy of prisoner abuse and torture since
the start of the war in Gaza, subjecting Palestinian detainees to acts ranging
from arbitrary violence to sexual abuse, a report from Israeli rights group
B’Tselem said on Monday.
The
group said the report was based on interviews with 55 Palestinians from Gaza,
the West Bank and Israel, who were detained in Israeli prisons since the Oct. 7
attack on Israel that set off the war, most of them without being tried.
“The
testimonies clearly indicate a systematic, institutional policy focused on the
continual abuse and torture of all Palestinian prisoners held by Israel,” the
report said.
The
report was issued days after the Israeli military detained nine soldiers
accused of severe abuse of a prisoner in a military facility in the Negev
desert. According to Israeli press reports, the soldiers are accused of
sexually abusing a member of an elite Hamas unit.
A
spokesperson for the Israel Prison Service said that all prisoners were treated
according to the law and all basic rights were fully applied by professionally
trained guards.
“We are
not aware of the claims you described and as far as we know, no such events
have occurred under IPS responsibility,” the spokesperson said, adding that
detainees had the right to file complaints that would be fully examined and
investigated.
B’Tselem
detailed allegations that Palestinian prisoners were subjected to arbitrary
beatings, degrading and humiliating treatment and sleep deprivation, as well as
“the repeated use of sexual violence, in varying degrees of severity.”
“The
overall picture indicates abuse and torture carried out under orders, in utter
defiance of Israel’s obligations both under domestic law and international
law,” the report said.
Allegations
of prisoner abuse have surfaced repeatedly during the war in Gaza, adding to
mounting international pressure on Israel over its conduct of the 10 month-old
war.
The
report from B’Tselem, a group that documents human rights violations by Israel
in the occupied West Bank and other areas, said the treatment accorded to
prisoners was a deliberate policy implemented under the direction of the
hard-line National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.
The
prison service spokesperson said that since the Oct. 7 attack, Ben-Gvir had
ordered that prison conditions be made more strict to reverse an improvement in
conditions allowed previously.
Qadura
Fares, head of the Palestine Liberation Organization’s Commission for Prisoners
and Ex-Detainees Affairs, reiterated a call for an international commission of
inquiry into the treatment of prisoners to hold Israel accountable.
“We have
documentation of the crimes committed by Israel against Palestinian detainees
in its prisons and we have horrific testimonies of what detainees are subjected
to, whether related to torture, rape and other crimes,” he said.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2563361/middle-east
--------
Killing
of Hamas leader intended to prolong Gaza conflict, Abbas tells RIA news agency
August
06, 2024
RAMALLAH:
The killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was intended to prolong the conflict
in Gaza and will complicate talks on resolving the crisis, Palestinian
President Mahmoud Abbas told Russia’s RIA state news agency in remarks
published on Tuesday.
“There
is no doubt that the purpose of Mr. Haniyeh’s assassination is to prolong the
war and expand its scope,” RIA cited Abbas as saying.
“It will
have a negative impact on the ongoing negotiations to end the aggression and
withdraw Israeli troops from Gaza.”
Haniyeh
was assassinated in the Iranian capital Tehran last week, an attack that drew
threats of revenge on Israel and fueled concern that the conflict in Gaza was
turning into a wider Middle East war.
“We
consider this a cowardly act and a dangerous development in Israeli politics,”
Abbas said in remarks published in Russian by the RIA agency.
“The
Israeli occupation authorities are required to abandon their ambitions and stop
their aggressive actions against our people and our cause, to comply with
international law and implement the Arab Peace Initiative, as well as an
immediate and lasting ceasefire and withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.”
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2563351/middle-east
--------
Islamic
affairs ministers conf. calls for granting Palestinians their legitimate rights
2024-08-05
MAKKAH,
Aug 5 (MENA) - The 9th Conference of Ministers of Awqaf (Endowments) and
Islamic Affairs in Islamic Countries reiterated its firm position on the just
Palestinian cause, repeating calls for granting the Palestinian people their
legitimate rights and stopping brutal attacks, genocide and aggression in the
Palestinian lands.
The
conference emphasized the right of the Palestinians to establish an independent
Palestinian state along the 1967 borders with al-Quds as its capital, in
addition to the restoration of all their legitimate rights to achieve fair and
everlasting peace in the Middle East region.
That
came in the concluding statement of the conference, which wrapped up its work
in Makkah on Monday and was hosted by the Saudi Ministry of Islamic Affairs,
Dawah and Guidance under the theme "the role of endowments and Islamic
affairs ministries in promoting and consolidating the principles and the values
of moderation."
The
event was held with Egypt's participation and in the presence of ministers,
muftis, heads of Islamic councils, associations, and institutions from 62
countries.
The
conference called on the world community and all international relief and
humanitarian organizations to support the Palestinian people and stand by them
in their plight and end their suffering.
The
conference agenda included discussions on countering extremism and terrorism,
safeguarding platforms from radical rhetoric, fostering coexistence and
tolerance, refining religious discourse, strengthening moderation and balance,
enhancing the concept of citizenship in Muslim countries, and addressing
Islamic identity amidst cultural globalization.
Egypt's
Minister of Awqaf Osama al Azhari had earlier emphasized the need to combat
extremism and violence, and highlighted the need to counter extremist
narratives based on common values and belonging.
The
conference offered an important opportunity for addressing the dangers of
atheism and ways to handle it. (MENA)
Source: mena.org.eg
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.mena.org.eg/en/news/dbcall/table/textnews/id/10816458
---------
Dhamar
land authority commemorates martyrdom of Imam Zaid with speech event
05 Aug
2024
DHAMAR
August 05. 2024 (Saba) - The Land, Survey, and Urban Planning Authority,
Customs, and Industry offices in Dhamar province held a speech event on Monday
to mark the anniversary of the martyrdom of Imam Zaid bin Ali, peace be upon
him, under the theme "Whoever Loves Life Lives in Humiliation."
In
attendance were Dhamar Undersecretary Mohammed Abdulrazzaq and Abdulghani
al-Dailami, Director of the Land and Survey Branch, al-Dailami highlighted Imam
Zaid’s revolutionary legacy, emphasizing his fight against injustice and
tyranny. He described Imam Zaid's movement as a comprehensive scientific,
cultural, and enlightening project, driven by deep insight and conviction.
Al-Dailami
praised Imam Zaid’s unique approach to confronting oppression, noting his
wisdom, eloquence, and effective advocacy. He underscored the relevance of Imam
Zaid's principles in today's global context, particularly in opposing
modern-day injustices perpetrated by powers like America and Israel.
Sadiq
al-Jaber, Director of the Industry Office, elaborated on Imam Zaid’s mission to
challenge prevailing injustices and promote moral and spiritual awakening. He
urged the community to emulate Imam Zaid’s example of faith, resilience, and
commitment to confronting tyranny and oppression.
Al-Jaber
reflected on Imam Zaid’s strong connection to the Quran and his revolutionary
efforts to combat stagnation and submission to tyrants. He called for the
continued embrace of Imam Zaid’s values in defending the nation’s honor and
dignity.
Source: saba.ye
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.saba.ye/en/news3356147.htm
--------
Lebanon’s
hospitals given crisis medical supplies ‘in case of war’
August
06, 2024
BEIRUT:
The World Health Organization delivered 32 tonnes of emergency medical supplies
to Lebanon on Monday amid growing fears of a full-scale war between Israel and
Hezbollah.
The aid,
which will equip Lebanon’s most under-resourced hospitals, included at least
1,000 trauma kits to treat possible war wounded. “The goal is to get these
supplies and medicines to hospitals ... especially in the places most exposed
so that we can be ready to deal with any emergency,” Health Minister Firass
Abiad said.
Beirut
airport’s departure hall was packed on Monday with families fleeing the country
after states including Saudi Arabia, France, Britain, Italy and Turkiye urged
their nationals to leave. “It is just very sad, oh God, the situation is really
sad. We get out of a crisis, we go into another one,” said Sherin Malah, who
lives in Italy and decided to return home early after a visit to her mother in
Lebanon.
Germany
is preparing to move its citizens to safety and has prepared transport aircraft
to shuttle them from Beirut to Cyprus. The US urged Americans in Lebanon “to
book any ticket available,” the UN asked the families of its staff to leave and
the Swedish embassy moved its operations to Cyprus.
Tension
has soared since Israel’s assassination last week of senior Hezbollah commander
Fouad Shukr in Beirut and Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran a few
hours later. Iran said on Monday: “No one has the right to doubt Iran’s legal
right to punish the Zionist regime.” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said
Israel was “determined to stand against Iran ... on all fronts.”
Meanwhile
Hezbollah and Israel continued their near-daily exchanges of fire. Four people
were killed in Israeli airstrikes on the Lebanese border towns of Mays Al-Jabal
and Hula, and Hezbollah hit military targets in northern Israel with explosive
drones.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2563356/middle-east
--------
Israel
army says US CENTCOM chief in Israel to assess security
August
06, 2024
JERUSALEM:
The Israeli military said the head of US Central Command, General Michael
Kurilla, arrived in Israel on Monday to assess the security situation as fears
grow of a regional war.
Kurilla
met Israeli army chief, Lt. General Herzi Halevi, and “held a joint situational
assessment on security and strategic issues, as well as joint preparations in
the region, as part of the response to threats in the Middle East,” a statement
said.
The
United States has deployed extra fighter jets and warplanes to the region to
support Israel, as Iran and the Lebanese Hezbollah group have vowed to avenge
the killings of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh and Hezbollah commander
Fuad Shukr last week.
Israel
has claimed Shukr’s killing but has remained silent on the assassination of
Haniyeh, which Iran has blamed on it.
“Your
arrival in Israel at this time is a direct translation of US support for Israel
into action,” Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant told Kurilla during their
meeting, according to a military statement.
“The
relationship between Israel and the United States is unshakeable.”
The
military said Gallant and Kurilla discussed ways to “expand the international
coalition facing aggressive activities by Iran and its proxies against Israel,
and destabilising the Middle East.”
A
European diplomat in Tel Aviv meanwhile said the diplomatic community was
anticipating “fairly advanced” coordination in the response from Iran and its
proxies.
“That
doesn’t mean there will be a simultaneous response from all fronts. But in any
case, it will be a coordinated response,” he said, declining to be named as he
was not authorized to speak on the issue.
He said
efforts were ongoing seeking to tone down the rhetoric and deescalate the
situation.
“All the
ingredients of a Greek tragedy are present: players who don’t want war but who
are carried away by their own dynamics, by their own posture and by their own
aggressive rhetoric, on both sides,” he said.
“We’re
telling them they have to stop playing with fire, because the risk of flare-ups
is higher than at any time since October 7.”
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2563346/middle-east
--------
Pakistan
Either
in Pakistan or abroad, 'digital terrorists' to face law: DG ISPR
August
05, 2024
Director
General Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR) Lieutenant General Ahmed
Sharif Chaudhry has said the elements involved in “digital terrorism” and
spreading propaganda to drive a wedge between armed forces and masses will face
the law.
He
stated this while addressing a press conference at the General Headquarters
(GHQ) in Rawalpindi to brief the media about the country's security situation.
“First
of all, the first line of defence against digital terrorism is the law.
Unfortunately, falsehood and propaganda are very high on social media such as
fake news and doctored images are posted to create confusion created in the
minds of the people,” the chief military spokesperson said.
“The law
is not taking its course against it, but the armed forces take it very
seriously,” he said adding that legal action will be taken against those —
either in Pakistan or abroad — involved in running propaganda against the
military.
The DG
ISPR stressed that the military’s stance on May 9 violent protests remains
unchanged that those involved in the riots must be brought to book.
“Army’s
stance on [May 9] is clear, which was conveyed in the May 7 [2024] press
conference. There has been no change in that nor there will be,” he said while
briefing the media on the country's security situation at Rawalpindi's General
Headquarters (GHQ).
Riots
broke out in many parts of the country, especially in the garrison town, with
charged mobs vandalising private and public properties including military
installations following Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan’s
arrest on May 9.
In a
press conference after one year anniversary of the violent protests, the DG
ISPR had said that the perpetrators and facilitators of the May 9 riots need to
be punished as per the Constitution and law to preserve the credibility and
faith in the country’s justice system.
Briefing
on the anti-terror efforts today, the military’s spokesperson revealed that so
far, 23,622 intelligence-based operations (IBOs) have been conducted in the
ongoing year — of which 2,045 operations were conducted in the last 15 days
which resulted in the elimination of 24 terrorists.
He also
said that over 100 IBOs are conducted by the army and law enforcement agencies
(LEAs) on a daily basis.
Recalling
last week's government's notification which declared the outlawed
Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) as "Fitna al-Khawarij," Lt Gen
Chaudhry said that the militant organisation had nothing to do with Islam.
"The
armed forces are especially focused on the merged districts of the Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa," DG ISPR said, adding that the war against terrorism will
continue till the last militant is eliminated.
Contribution
to education, other sectors
Continuing
on the military's contribution to the education sector, the army spokesperson
termed it as a fundamental element of a country's development.
"Digital
education is also being provided to the youth," he said, emphasising that
the Balochistan students are the country's future and a scholarship program has
been started for them.
Lt Gen
Chaudhry said they are also bearing other expenses of the Balochistan students
apart from their studies.
"About
92 schools are being run in Balochistan for better education and 19,000 are
getting education from there," he added. Moreover, the army has also
established 171 schools and three cadet colleges in Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad
Kashmir.
"Pakistan
Army set up medical camps in various districts where free treatment was
provided," he said, adding that local and foreign companies are working on
many projects in the merged districts.
The DG
ISPR said that education, health and provision of clean water in Balochistan
are the top priority of the Pakistan Army.
He
highlighted that with the help of the army, important projects of roads and
bridges in Balochistan were completed. Moreover, he said, a project focused on
processing dates was planned in Panjgur with the UAE’s support.
Army
reiterates support for Kashmiris
On the
occasion of Youm-e-Istehsal-e-Kashmir — marking the revocation of Article 370
and 35-A of the Indian Constitution to change the Indian Illegally Occupied
Jammu and Kashmir's (IIOJK) political and constitutional status five years ago
— Lt Gen Chaudhry said that the Pakistan Army stands with the people of the
IIOJK.
"We
are aware of the inhuman lockdown, illegal ways to change the region's
demographics and human rights violations that are a defiance of international
law and are a danger to the region."
To bring
peace to the region, it is inevitable to resolve the Kashmir issue as per the UN
resolutions and in line with the hopes of the Kashmiri people, he said.
On this
day, he said, the Pakistan Army pays tribute to the sacrifices of the martyrs
of the IIOJK and also stands with the efforts of the Kashmiri people against
injustice.
'Army knows
who is behind foreign propaganda'
Responding
to a question about the US resolution, the top military spokesman said that the
army knows "who is running this campaign, who is facilitating it and under
what motives".
"We
also know who are the state and non-state elements proliferating this
campaign," he added.
He went
on to say that since January 2024, according to an estimate, 127 articles have
been written, in foreign print media alone, which were aimed at spreading
hopelessness and anarchy in Pakistan and promoting a specific political agenda.
"Those actively working to spread propaganda on social media are apart
from that."
The DG
ISPR further said that there is a whole coordinated mindset behind the
political lobbying, meetings and protests outside embassies.
A lot of
money, he said, is being invested to hire lobbying firms, create a narrative of
hopelessness and anarchy and raise a specific political propaganda.
"All
of this effort is done intellectually in a coordinated manner and with monetary
investment. I believe they should have made this effort and raised a narrative
against the genocide in Gaza and Palestine. They should have made a narrative
that it has been 70 years of independence but our brothers and sisters are
being exploited in Kashmir, a one million-strong army is there in IIOJK, who is
harassing elderly people and children alike."
Lt Gen
Chaudhary said that if these elements have so much money, coordination and
access, then they should work hard on creating a narrative of rising Pakistan,
its potential and its status.
"But
no, the narrative is being carved out that Pakistan should not be supported
financially."
He added
that the people, institutions and elements who are silent on the genocide in
Gaza are being asked to raise a voice on human rights violations in Pakistan.
"I
ask you where is this money coming from? A hefty amount is being invested in
all of this. Do you think all this money is being invested voluntarily, and
there is no coordination behind it? If yes then you are being a bit too
naive."
He said
the foreign sponsors behind the propaganda would demand a price for this.
"And that price is anarchy in Pakistan because it benefits them."
Lt Gen
Chaudhary further said that not only the armed forces but everyone knows these
people with political ambitions, who wish to create anarchy in the country on
the back of foreign elements.
"We
are and will stay standing against them," he said.
'Baloch
uprisings are nothing but proxies of terror outfits'
On a
question about the situation in Gwadar and “the absence" of the
government’s writ, the DG ISPR told the journalists to go the Balochistan's
port city and see themselves that the writ of the government is there and there
is no doubt in it.
“The
Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) and its so-called leadership is a proxy of
terrorists and criminal mafia, whose task is to defame and create propaganda
against the law enforcement agencies (LEAs) and agencies working against
terrorism, criminal mafias, illegal spectrums, smugglers and extortionists, and
to make the development projects in Balochistan controversial.
"The
modus operandi for this is gathering a group of people with the help of foreign
investment and narrative and provoking the innocent citizens on it, challenging
the government’s writ, pelting stones, vandalising and making unreasonable
demands. And when the state responds to it, acting like innocents."
He said
that after this, those with a foreign agenda behind them start speaking in
their favour in the name of human rights and other constants they have made up.
"All
of this is the spectacle that you’ve seen in Gwadar in the past few days,”
referring to the BYC protests in the coastal town of Balochistan.
He said
that the government in Balochistan allows them to stage peaceful protests, and
constructive criticism but not to block the roads. It allows them to gather in
the agreed place, hold talks, protests or even sit-ins but they say "No,
we want to block the roads and damage the developmental projects".
He said
that the charged mobs engaged in arson, attacked their own Frontier Corps and
martyred the Sibbi’s Sipahi Shabbir Baloch.
"However,
the LEAs showed patience and restraint in managing them and didn’t give them
the dead bodies and blood that they had come to take. And so the proxy under
the Raji Muchi was exposed," said Gen Chaudhry, reiterating that these
campaigns are nothing more than the proxies of terrorist organisations and
criminal mafia.
Source: thenews.com.pk
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1216834-dg-ispr-to-address-press-conference-at-3pm-today
--------
PTI
marks Imran’s ‘year in prison’ with Swabi jalsa
August
6, 2024
SWABI:
As its founder Imran Khan completed one year in jail, the PTI and its allies on
Monday organised a large power show in Swabi to demand the former prime
minister’s release.
The
jalsa was held at Shahmansoor Town and PTI leaders and workers from across the
country participated in the event, despite the hot weather. The PTI workers
were waving party flags and holding Imran Khan’s portraits, demanding the
government release their leader immediately.
In their
speeches, PTI leaders said they had launched the campaign for the release of
Imran Khan and they would organise rallies in different cities, including
Islamabad and Lahore.
They
asked the party supporters to be ready for upcoming gatherings in Islamabad,
Lahore and other cities of Punjab to sustain the pressure on the federal
government. According to the PTI leaders, the public gathering in Islamabad
will be held in the last week of August or the first week of September.
“If we
reduce the pressure, it will mean that we have lost the initiative for which we
have given numerous sacrifices,” claimed PTI leader Asad Qaiser.
Barrister
Gohar said they have launched the struggle for the release of their leader, who
was imprisoned along with his wife Bushra Bibi in “false cases”. He alleged
that the federal government used various tactics to tarnish Mr Khan’s image and
popularity but the government could not break their momentum.
The PTI
leader said that the judicial system should be independent so that the
judiciary could deliver, adding that interference in judicial and political
affairs must come to an end.
Mahmood
Khan Achakzai, who heads the Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party as well as a
PTI-led opposition alliance, said that there was a need to restore the rule of
law and constitutional supremacy in the country. He said that Imran Khan was
right to say that there was a need for ‘real independence’ and they supported
this idea of Mr Khan.
“We
strive for the supremacy of parliament in the country…every institution should
work in line with its constitutional role, and the people-elected government should
deliver according to the wishes and benefits of the masses,” he said, adding
that there was no space for “engineered” elections anymore.
Addressing
the gathering, Omar Ayub said that he wanted to convey a message to the PTI
workers from Imran Khan about the military.
Imran
Khan has said that the PML-N was trying to create a gulf between the nation and
the Pakistan Army but such an attempt would be foiled by the PTI leadership
with complete determination, said Mr Ayub.
He added
that the PTI leaders and workers had been picked up by intelligence agencies
without any reason and PTI wanted that this practice should be stopped.
In his
address, KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur said Islamabad belonged to all
provinces and no one could prevent them from holding a public gathering there.
He called for the unconditional release of Imran Khan, saying he did not do
anything wrong.
Anwar
Iqbal adds from Washington: In a separate protest, held a stone’s throw from
the US Capitol, PTI supporters in the US called on Washington to reconsider its
current stance towards Islamabad and back their efforts to restore democracy in
Pakistan.
Speaking
at the protest, former National Assembly deputy speaker Qasim Suri recalled
that when PTI organised nationwide protests on August 5, 2019, against India,
then-army chief retired Gen Qamar Bajwa had praised them. “Now we are called
traitors simply because we demand our democratic rights,” he noted.
He
expressed concern over the imprisonment of Imran Khan, Yasmin Rashid, and other
PTI leaders on what he described as fabricated charges. Suri appealed to the US
administration and international human rights organisations to demand their
release.
Source: dawn.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.dawn.com/news/1850400/pti-marks-imrans-year-in-prison-with-swabi-jalsa
--------
Rumpus
in Senate as PTI protests Imran’s detention
August
6, 2024
ISLAMABAD:
The Senate witnessed a rumpus on Monday with the opposition PTI demanding an
immediate release of party chairman Imran Khan, who completed one year behind
bars on Aug 5.
Members
from both sides of aisle chanted slogans against each other.
The
uproar dominated the house as Leader of Opposition Shibli Faraz slammed Mr
Khan’s “illegal” detention while speaking on a resolution to condemn the Aug 5
illegal actions of India in occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
The
noisy situation compelled Chairman Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani to adjourn the house
without taking up most of agenda items.
During
Mr Shibli’s speech, the PTI senators, who wore black armbands and carried Mr
Khan’s portraits, raised slogans ‘release Imran Khan’, ‘give justice’, ‘mandate
thieves’ and ‘prime minister Imran Khan’.
In
response, the ruling PML-N lawmakers rose in their seats raising slogans ‘prime
minister Nawaz Sharif’ and accusing the PTI leader of being corrupt.
As Mr
Shibli raised Mr Khan’s detention after being granted permission to speak on
the Kashmir resolution moved by PTI Parliamentary Leader Syed Ali Zafar,
ex-chairman of Senate Farooq H. Naek objected to discussing matters not
relevant to the resolution.
Chairman
Gilani, however, allowed the opposition leader to speak.
Soon
after condemning Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh’s assassination and India’s
illegal actions in occupied Kashmir, Mr Faraz said “fake” cases had been
instituted against Imran Khan and called the cipher, Toshakhana and iddat cases
“shameful”. He then came down hard on the government’s economic policies calling
it inefficient and corrupt.
In
response to slogans ‘prime minister Nawaz Sharif’, he stated that the former PM
had gone into hiding after giving people the slogan of “vote ko izzat do”.
Kashmir,
Haniyeh resolutions
Earlier,
the house unanimously passed the resolution demanding India must release the
Kashmiri political prisoners, halt human rights violations, and implement the
UNSC resolutions to enable the Kashmiris to determine their future through a
fair plebiscite.
The
house “confirms that we will continue to raise our voice against injustice and
oppression until the Kashmiri people achieve their inalienable right to
self-determination,” reads the resolution.
The
house unanimously passed another resolution, moved by Palwasha Khan, expressing
grief over Mr Haniyeh’s martyrdom.
The
house condemned unprovoked Israeli bombing in Beirut and the recent killing of
hundreds of civilians in Palestine.
“The
Senate strongly recommends that all countries, Organisation of Islamic
Cooperation and particularly Muslim countries unite to counter and restrain
Israel’s terrorist agenda,” it read.
Condemning
Israeli and Indian war crimes, PPP’s parliamentary leader Sherry Rehman called
on the world to stop the genocide in occupied Palestine and Kashmir. She said,
“Heart-wrenching images of children and women from Palestine are emerging. We
have not witnessed such genocide in our lifetime.”
About Mr
Haniyeh’s killing, she said, “Had it happened in any European country, the
world would have responded differently.”
Source: dawn.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.dawn.com/news/1850394/rumpus-in-senate-as-pti-protests-imrans-detention
--------
Gandapur
warns of staging sit-in at D-Chowk if permission not granted for rally
August
06, 2024
Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur announced Monday that the Pakistan
Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) would stage its next power show in Islamabad which will
be converted into a sit-in if NOC is not granted for a rally.
"No
one can stop us from [staging a rally]," said Gandapur while addressing
the PTI public gathering held to mark the one-year imprisonment of the party
founder Imran Khan.
The
power show was also addressed by the party’s Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan
and other senior leaders.
"I'm
announcing the next power show in Islamabad as the chief minister," he
said adding that the embattled part would stage a power show by the end of the
this month or next month.
Addressing
the federal capital's authorities, he said the former ruling party would accept
any venue for organising a power show in Islamabad.
However,
he warned that they would stage a sit-in at D-Chowk if the party was not
granted a non-objection certificate for holding a rally by the federal
capital's administration.
While
slamming the arrests of the former premier and other party leaders, the
politico said that ideology cane neither be eliminated nor ceased.
Prior to
his announcement, the PTI firebrand politician said in a statement a day ago
after meeting the party founder in Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail that he would
rather leave politics if he failed to announce and hold a public gathering in
Islamabad.
His
statement came after Khan, who has been imprisoned for a year now, offered to
initiate “talks with the military” three days ago and asked the institution to
nominate its representatives for negotiations.
The
71-year-old PTI founding chairman has been in prison for a year after he was
booked in a plethora of cases, including the Toshakhana, cipher, and the
un-Islamic marriage. His wife, Bushra, has also been behind bars for months.
However,
a court suspended his sentence in the Toshakhana case, while other courts
overturned his convictions in the cipher and iddat cases, respectively.
While
there were hopes for Imran and Bushra's release in July, they were dashed when
NAB arrested them on fresh charges related to the sale of state gifts.
The
chances of Imran's release from jail further dimmed after he was arrested in
new cases linked to the May 9, 2023, riots, following his acquittal in the
iddat case.
Source: thenews.com.pk
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1216943-gandapur-warns-to-stage-sit-in-at-d-chowk-if-permission-not-granted-for-rally
----------
PM urges
dialogue to find peaceful solution to Kashmir dispute
August
05, 2024
As
Pakistan observes Youm-e-Istehsal against India's illegal occupation of Jammu
and Kashmir, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has reiterated Islamabad's stance
for finding a peaceful solution to the Kashmir dispute via dialogue.
In his
televised address to the Azad Jammu & Kashmir Legislative Assembly on
Monday, the prime minister said the day was not far away when both India and
Israel will be bound to give due rights to the people of Palestine and Indian
Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) as all ways other than this lead
to total destruction.
PM
Shehbaz emphasised that granting due rights to the people of Kashmir and
Palestine was the only way to maintain peace and stability in the region.
He said
Pakistan was a nuclear power and that was part of its defence. However, he said
Pakistan had never thought of aggression with regard to its nuclear power.
"Therefore the better option is to adopt the peaceful way and sit together
to find out the peaceful solution to the Kashmir dispute."
The
prime minister pointed out that this occasion reminded us of the grave
consequences of India's illegal actions of August 5, 2019 vis-à-vis IIOJK when
PM Narendra Modi-led government revoked the semi-autonomous status of the
Muslim-majority region.
Ever
since, he said today, in IIOJK, efforts were being made to silence the genuine
leadership of the Kashmiri people and muzzle the media. "The number of
political prisoners remains in the thousands, while 14 political organisations
have been outlawed."
Harassment
of innocent people, arbitrary detentions, and the so-called 'cordon and search
operations' have become a matter of routine. The Indian forces are operating
with impunity, according to them under different draconian laws, he added.
PM
Shehbaz vowed that until the Kashmiris get the basic rights and freedom,
Pakistan will continue to extend the moral support and will continue to knock
on the doors of all the international institutions.
Paying
tributes to the people of Kashmir, he said: "We salute to their struggle
for freedom who had been bearing the atrocities and cruelties of the Indian
armed forces for 77 years."
He also
paid tributes to the Hurriyat leaders including Chaudhry Ghulam Abbas, Sardar
Ibrahim Khan, Mirwaiz Muhammad Yousuf, Syed Ali Gilani, Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai,
Altaf Ahmed Shah, Moulana Abbas Ansari, and all the young workers and leaders
who raised their voices against the Indian atrocities.
"We
salute Asiya Andrabi, Yaseen Malik, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Shabbir Ahmed Shah,
Mussarat Alam Butt, and Burhan Wani for their struggle for freedom."
As
regards, the Palestine situation, the prime minister said more than 40,000
Palestinians had been martyred so far including thousands of children. The
unarmed Palestinians were still being martyred every day, he said.
Israel's
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, through his army, has broken the records of
barbarism in Palestinians, he said adding that recently, in Tehran, Hamas
leader Ismail Haniyeh was martyred.
In
Pakistan, he said a day of mourning was observed and funeral prayers in
absentia were offered across the country.
He also
condemned the arrest of the Imam of Aqsa Mosque who talked about Haniyeh's
martyrdom.
Source: thenews.com.pk
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1216901-pm-urges-dialogue-to-find-peaceful-solution-to-kashmir-dispute
--------
UAE diplomat
refutes visa restrictions on Pakistanis
August
05, 2024
KARACHI:
After reports regarding Pakistanis being denied visa for the United Arab
Emirates (UAE) surfaced, Consul General Dr Bakheet Ateeq Al Remeithi has
refuted any such restrictions on visa issuance.
The
clarification by the Emirati envoy came after reports regarding the residents
of Sindh facing difficulty in acquiring UAE visa surfaced.
In a
video interview on Monday, the diplomat said that Pakistani businessmen, real
workers, and those travelling for medical treatment to Dubai, Abu Dhabi,
Sharjah and other cities are being provided all facilities.
The
envoy added that the Gulf nation has strong cultural, religious, and trade
relations with Pakistan spanning over 50 years. "The UAE provides 100%
facilities to Pakistani brothers and sisters for obtaining visas."
However,
Dr Remeithi said that a special awareness programme is launched for individuals
travelling to the UAE at the Karachi Consulate, stressing that those going to
the UAE are advised to avoid carrying prohibited items and pack their luggage
themselves to avoid difficulties.
"The
UAE will launch a new programme for the business community on both sides within
a few days," he announced.
Under
the programme, he further said, the UAE consulate would provide aspiring
travellers with comprehensive facilities if they want to go to the country for
business or intend to bring UAE companies to Pakistan.
Source: thenews.com.pk
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1216866-uae-diplomat-refutes-visa-restrictions-on-pakistanis
--------
Plantation
campaign 'Plant for Pakistan' starts under GPI
August
06, 2024
Plantation
campaign 'Plant for Pakistan' has been started under Green Pakistan Initiative
(GPI).
The
plantation drive was organized at St. Paul's Church in Rawalpindi where
reaffirmation was made to make Pakistan green and prosperous by planting trees
all over the country.
A large
number of Christian community especially Christian officers and youth
participated in this tree planting campaign.
Source: radio.gov.pk
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.radio.gov.pk/06-08-2024/plantation-campaign-plant-for-pakistan-starts-under-gpi
--------
Southeast Asia
Boycotts
Hit Profits of Western Brands in Muslim Countries
6 August
2024
TEMPO.CO,
Jakarta - Western food and beverage giants are grappling with significant
challenges in Muslim-majority countries due to widespread consumer boycotts.
Companies such as Coca-Cola, KFC, Starbucks, Mondelez, and Pizza Hut have faced
severe financial repercussions amid accusations of supporting Israel.
The
boycotts, fueled by social media and BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions)
activism, have had a devastating impact on these companies' Middle Eastern
operations. Mondelez and L'Oréal have publicly acknowledged the negative impact
on their sales figures.
Coca-Cola
Içecek, the Pakistani bottler of Coca-Cola, experienced around 25% year-on-year
sales drop in the first quarter of 2024, attributing the drop to
"macroeconomic headwinds" while indirectly acknowledging the boycott.
PepsiCo has also faced backlash in Egypt for featuring local singer Amr Diabin
and Liverpool player Mo Salah in its advertising campaigns.
The
broader economic climate, including inflation and slowing consumer spending,
has exacerbated the situation for these Western brands. Additionally, the rise
of local alternatives and shifting consumer preferences towards domestic
products have further eroded their market share.
McDonald's,
another global giant, has not been immune to the challenges. The company
reported sales declines in several Middle Eastern countries, as well as in
Indonesia, Malaysia, China, and France. In an attempt to mitigate risks, McDonald's
planned to acquire all restaurants franchised by the Alonyal group in Israel.
Americana
Restaurants, a major fast-food operator in the Middle East, has seen profits
plummet by 40% in the second quarter of 2024 despite expanding its store
network. The company attributed the
decline to various factors, including the boycott.
Pakistan
has taken a more direct approach, forming a committee to identify and boycott
companies supporting Israel. This heightened political pressure further
complicates the operating environment for Western brands in the region.
Source: en.tempo.co
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://en.tempo.co/read/1900335/boycotts-hit-profits-of-western-brands-in-muslim-countries
---------
‘They don’t
represent the Brits’: Malaysians in UK on edge as anti-Muslim riots inflamed by
far-right groups, misinformation
06 Aug
2024
KUALA
LUMPUR, Aug 6 — Over the past weekend, a series of riots across the United
Kingdom has left the Malaysian community on high alert, particularly due to
incidents that specifically targeted the Muslim community in several cities.
Ismail
Amsyar Mohd Said, a 38-year-old Malaysian studying in London, reported a
noticeable shift from initially peaceful protests to more targeted unrest in
cities, such as Liverpool, Manchester, Hull and Southport.
The
riots began following the fatal stabbing of three children by a 17-year-old
youth at a dance school in Southport, Merseyside, on Monday, and the subsequent
online misinformation regarding the perpetrator that stoked tensions throughout
the country.
The
violent riots over the weekend have put Malaysians in the UK on edge, with many
fearing for their safety and remaining indoors.
“This
morning, my flatmates and I received a forwarded message on WhatsApp listing
potential locations for upcoming protests. We’re not sure if it’s genuine, but
it’s better to be prepared and take necessary precautions,” said Ismail, who is
pursuing a Master of Science in Health Policy, Planning and Financing at the
London School of Economics (LSE) and the London School of Hygiene &
Tropical Medicine (LSHTM).
Ismail
expressed scepticism about a quick resolution to the disturbances and suggested
that engagement with protestors could be more constructive than mere
condemnation and arrests.
“These
protestors do not represent the broader UK population, which is largely
welcoming, helpful and friendly. The majority denounce these actions and are
ashamed of what’s happening,” he added.
Highlighting
the deeper issues at play, Ismail noted: “It’s more than just racial or
politically driven. It’s a systemic issue that needs careful study and
initiatives favourable to British citizens.”
He also
advised the Malaysian community in the UK to avoid counter-protest activities
and let local authorities handle the situation.
Atiqah
Tarmuji, another Malaysian residing in Birmingham, expressed her primary
concern for her children’s safety, particularly her eldest who is in high
school.
“In the
current situation, I always emphasise to my children the importance of moving
in groups and not being alone,” said Atiqah.
Despite
the unrest in other cities, she described Birmingham as still relatively safe
at the time of the interview with Bernama.
In
response to the escalating violence, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has pledged
full government support to the police force to take action against “extremists”
attempting to “sow hate”. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2024/08/06/they-dont-represent-the-brits-malaysians-in-uk-on-edge-as-anti-muslim-riots-inflamed-by-far-right-groups-misinformation/146141
--------
Meta
restores PM Anwar’s post with “allowed for public awareness” note
06-08-
2024
PETALING
JAYA: Meta Platforms Inc (Meta) has restored Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar
Ibrahim’s posts regarding the assassination of Hamas Political Bureau chief
Ismail Haniyeh from Facebook.
However
the post now includes an additional note which says “the post is allowed for
public awareness”.
“In some
cases, we allow content which would otherwise go against our Community
Standards,” stated the additional explanation provided by Meta.
Earlier
today, Meta apologised for the removal of content.
“We
apologise for an operational error where content from the Prime Minister’s
Facebook and Instagram Pages were removed, and the content has since been
restored with the correct newsworthy label,“ a Meta spokesperson told Reuters
in an emailed response to questions.
Communications
Minister Fahmi Fadzil and members of the Prime Minister’s Office had met Meta
representatives on Monday to seek an explanation.
“The
Prime Minister’s Office views Meta’s actions as discriminatory, unjust, and a
blatant suppression of free expression,“ the office said in a statement on
Monday.
Prime
Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim FB
Source: thesun.my
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://thesun.my/local-news/meta-restores-pm-anwar-s-post-with-allowed-for-public-awareness-note-NJ12822816#google_vignette
--------
Chinese
temple performance in open area, so passersby can see - Wan Sukairi explains
bans on female singers
06-08-
2024
PETALING
JAYA: The Terengganu government has never prevented any parties from any
organisation representing various segments such as culture, heritage, religion,
and others from holding their programs as long as they follow the guidelines
set by the government, said Datuk Wan Sukairi Wan Abdullah.
His
response was in regards to reports that Kuala Terengganu city council had
directed the Guan Di temple to halt any performance of female artistes which
was to be held between July 29 and Aug 2.
In a
statement posted on his Facebook page on Monday (Aug 4), Wan Sukairi explained
the council had approved the performance on the basis that the existing
guidelines were followed by the temple for the singing and cultural dances
which come under the state entertainment guidelines.
“Since
the singing, dance, and art performances applied for by the Guan Di temple
Supporters’ Association involve both male and female audiences in an open tent
area within the temple grounds, where passersby can see the performances, such
performances are not considered exclusive to non-Muslims, and the general
guideline prohibiting female artists applies,” Wan Sukairi added.
According
to the guidelines, singing, dance, and art performances involving female
artists are only allowed for female audiences.
However,
exceptions are given for performances by male artists and female artists for
non-Muslim audiences.
Source: thesun.my
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://thesun.my/local-news/chinese-temple-performance-in-open-area-so-passersby-can-see-wan-sukairi-explains-bans-on-female-singers-LJ12822382
--------
Malaysians
in UK remain on high alert following riots targeting Muslim communities
05-08-
2024
KUALA
LUMPUR: Over the past weekend, a series of riots across the United Kingdom has
left the Malaysian community on high alert, particularly due to incidents that
specifically targeted the Muslim community in several cities.
Ismail
Amsyar Mohd Said, a 38-year-old Malaysian studying in London, reported a
noticeable shift from initially peaceful protests to more targeted unrest in
cities, such as Liverpool, Manchester, Hull and Southport.
The
riots began following the fatal stabbing of three children by a 17-year-old
youth at a dance school in Southport, Merseyside, on Monday, and the subsequent
online misinformation regarding the perpetrator that stoked tensions throughout
the country.
The
violent riots over the weekend have put Malaysians in the UK on edge, with many
fearing for their safety and remaining indoors.
“This
morning, my flatmates and I received a forwarded message on WhatsApp listing
potential locations for upcoming protests. We’re not sure if it’s genuine, but
it’s better to be prepared and take necessary precautions,“ said Ismail, who is
pursuing a Master of Science in Health Policy, Planning and Financing at the
London School of Economics (LSE) and the London School of Hygiene &
Tropical Medicine (LSHTM).
Ismail
expressed scepticism about a quick resolution to the disturbances and suggested
that engagement with protestors could be more constructive than mere
condemnation and arrests.
“These
protestors do not represent the broader UK population, which is largely
welcoming, helpful and friendly. The majority denounce these actions and are
ashamed of what’s happening,“ he added.
Highlighting
the deeper issues at play, Ismail noted: “It’s more than just racial or
politically driven. It’s a systemic issue that needs careful study and
initiatives favourable to British citizens.”
He also
advised the Malaysian community in the UK to avoid counter-protest activities
and let local authorities handle the situation.
Atiqah
Tarmuji, another Malaysian residing in Birmingham, expressed her primary
concern for her children’s safety, particularly her eldest who is in high
school.
“In the
current situation, I always emphasise to my children the importance of moving
in groups and not being alone,“ said Atiqah.
Despite
the unrest in other cities, she described Birmingham as still relatively safe
at the time of the interview with Bernama.
In
response to the escalating violence, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has pledged
full government support to the police force to take action against “extremists”
attempting to “sow hate”.
Source: thesun.my
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://thesun.my/local-news/malaysians-in-uk-remain-on-high-alert-following-riots-targeting-muslim-communities-DJ12820737
--------
Africa
Nigerians
return to the streets despite President's plea
05-08-24
Nigerians
in Lagos took to the street on Monday to continue the economic harship protest
despite President Tinubu’s plea for suspension of the demonstration.
The
protests, tagged “days of rage”, are mainly against Nigeria’s worst
cost-of-living crisis in a generation and accusations of misgovernment and
corruption in Africa’s most populous country and a top oil producer where
public officials’ huge earnings contrast high poverty and hunger levels.
The
protesters have also been inspired by other young people in Kenya who held
rallies last month to kick against a planned tax hike. Both protests have also
featured grievances against governments accused of not meeting the expectations
that catapulted them to power.
One of
the protesters told the Associated Press says that “the question of dialogue
has been raised,” but the government is forgeting that “these protest in itself
is a dialogue with the mass of the working people.”
In his
Presidential broadcast, Tinubu defended the audacious reforms that were
supposed to save the government money and shore up dwindling foreign
investments but whose immediate impact has caused hardship.
The
reforms, including the suspension of decadeslong and costly gas subsidies and
currency devaluations, have had a knock-on effect on the price of just about
everything else because Nigerians believe they've been poorly implemented.
Source: africanews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.africanews.com/2024/08/05/nigerians-return-to-the-streets-despite-presidents-plea/
--------
U.S.
military to hand over last base to Niger authorities
06-08-24
The US
will hand over its last military base in Niger Monday, ahead of the September
15 deadline for US forces to leave the country under an agreement with Nigerien
authorities.
Airbase
201 in the city of Agadez is one of two hubs the U.S. has used for
counterterrorism operations in Niger. Last month, US troops withdrew from
Airbase 101, a small drone base in Niger’s capital, Niamey.
German
troops are also set to leave this month. The withdrawals are part of a larger
trend of Western troops leaving the Sahel, a vast region south of the Sahara
desert where groups linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group operate.
Niger’s
2023 military takeover followed coups in Mali in 2020 and in Burkina Faso in
2022, and the three countries soon joined forces in expelling foreign troops
and taking a hard stance against France and its allies.
Aneliese
Bernard is the director of Strategic Stabilization Advisors, a risk consulting
group based in Washington D.C. with field teams based across the Sahel and
coastal West Africa.
She said
that while counterterrorism operations by Western powers in the region have
been problematic, the absence of French, European and American forces in Niger
will leave a huge security vacuum, affecting everything from doing business in
the Sahel to humanitarian aid.
“Anything
extractive is going to be outside of a major city, you’re lacking security at
this point," she said. "Unless you have your own private security
situation set up in a place as far away as outside of Agadez where a lot of the
uranium is, you’re operating blindly out there.”
Bernard
said it's not completely clear at this point how the junta will handle
partnerships going forward, particularly with regard to accessing natural
resources.
The
Nigerien government recently pulled the permit for French fuel producer Orano
to operate in one of the country’s largest uranium mines.
“There
still are quite a few assumptions made that the CNSP is taking a very strategic
move with regards to ‘we’re going to pull back all of our, you know, things
that we can trade with and prioritize partners that can sell us security in
return for getting monopoly shares of said industries,’” Bernard said, giving
the example of Turkey providing military equipment and private military
contractors in exchange for access to Niger’s oil.
She
added that these assumptions have been challenged recently as there are rumors
of American and Canadian companies speaking to SOPAMIN, the Nigerien company in
charge of the uranium mines, about working in Niger.
Bernard
warned that those most likely to be harmed by the security vacuum are the most
vulnerable citizens of a country that is already one of the poorest in the
world.
She said
humanitarian workers are now required to have military escorts when working
outside of major cities, which can lead to them being targeted by armed groups
in conflict with the military.
This
will lead to many NGOs choosing not to work outside of major cities or working
in the field less often, she added, “so people who are in the periphery, who
are the ones who are in the most vulnerable groups... are going to have the
least access to humanitarian aid
Source: africanews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.africanews.com/2024/08/05/us-military-to-hand-over-last-base-to-niger-authorities/
---------
South
Africa: Nearly 100 Ethiopian migrants rescued by police
05-08-24
South
African police said they rescued 90 Ethiopian migrants who were being held
against their will at a property in Johannesburg.
Police
carried out a search at the property on Sunday for a person reported to have
been kidnapped and discovered the migrants, they said. Two people were arrested
on suspicion of kidnapping and human trafficking. The alleged kidnapping victim
was also rescued, police said Monday.
The
Ethiopian migrants are believed to have been illegally trafficked. They were
packed into small rooms and kept locked up, police said.
They
were taken to a hospital for medical care and the two suspects will face
charges in court.
Authorities,
including Interpol, have raised concerns over the trafficking of Ethiopian
migrants through several southern African countries in an attempt to ultimately
reach South Africa. The migrants are often trafficked and kept in dangerous
conditions.
In 2020,
at least 64 people from Ethiopia were found dead inside a freight container in
Mozambique. In 2022, the bodies of 30 Ethiopian migrants were found in a mass
grave in Malawi. That same year, the bodies of 27 Ethiopian men were found
dumped in Zambia.
Source: africanews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.africanews.com/2024/08/05/south-africa-nearly-100-ethiopian-migrants-rescued-by-police/
--------
IPOB
Asks For Referendum, Says Igbo Ready To Exit Nigeria
5 August
2024
The
Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), on Monday, condemned the call for Igbos to
leave the South-Western part of Nigeria.
The
group in its reaction claimed that it is time they convoked a referendum for
the Igbo to exit.
It said
it was laughable that the authorities in the South-West were treating the
“IgboMustGo” campaign and its proponents with a wave of the hand, adding the
Igbo people were already ‘on the ground and feared no fall’.
The
further stated that indications revealed that the sponsors of the “IgboMustGo”
call are highly placed individuals within the Lagos State and Federal
Governments.
IPOB
charged Southerners to be cautious of their actions in the South-Western
region.
IPOB
Director of Media and Publicity, Emma Powerful, said this in a statement
released Monday.
The
statement read, “Following the provocative and genocidal “IgboMustGo” proposed
protest slated to commence from August 20-30th 2024, by some faceless Yoruba
groups and persons, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) wish to remind the
Yoruba anti-Igbo groups that Ndigbo are ready to exit Yoruba land and Nigeria
via a referendum. Ndigbo will not succumb to any threat from any group or
persons to leave any state or region in Nigeria.
“It is
laughable that the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, was
reported to have hypnotically condemned the proponents of the “Igbo Must Go”
protest.
“The
Governor will not hoodwink Ndigbo with his hypocritical condemnation of those
calling for Igbos’ expulsion from the South West Region of Nigeria. The
governor was the first to ethnically profile Ndigbo with his biased demolition
of Ndigbo’s businesses, properties, and investments in Lagos State. There is a
high chance that the proponents of the “IgboMustGo” are sponsored by
high-profile persons in the Lagos State Government and the Federal Government.
“Nevertheless,
Ndigbo are not perturbed. We have seen it all in Nigeria and are prepared for
any opportunity to exit Nigeria at any time.
“But it
will be more appropriate for us to be allowed to exit Nigeria peacefully and
democratically in order to maintain good neighbourly relationships. However, if
Ndigbo is forced to exit Nigeria violently, there’s a possibility that we shall
remain hostile neighbors for the foreseeable future.
The
Yoruba tribal bigots and their sponsors must understand that Ndigbo is not
moved by threat. We have made up our minds to exit Nigeria, so there is no
basis for the threat of violence or genocide agenda tagged “IgboMustGo”
protest.
“Instead
of threatening to unconstitutionally and violently force Ndigbo out of the
Yoruba region, they should tell President Tinubu, their brother, to release
Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and to organise a referendum for Ndigbo to decide between
Biafra and Nigeria. We will gladly vote and leave Nigeria and the Yoruba region
in peace. We are demanding this so they can have peace after we are gone.
Ndigbo is more enthusiastic about exiting Nigeria than it was in the 1960s.
“The
ongoing “EndBadGovernance” protest in Nigeria was organized by Yoruba and
Fulani to lure Ndigbo into destruction, but Ndigbo has learned their lessons.
Though, Ndigbo declined to participate in the ongoing protests, yet they are
being attacked and accused of being behind the protest. One can imagine what
would have become of Ndigbo in the Northern and Western Regions if they had
taken part in the ongoing protest. Ndigbo has always been a victim of every
protest in Nigeria.
“Though
Ndigbo is facing the same economic hardship that Tinubu’s government has
imposed on Nigerians, however, to avoid being targeted as always, they decided
to shun the protest. The scenario that led to the genocidal war against
Biafrans in 1967-1970 is rearing its ugly head. Ndigbo is not only facing
existential threats from the Western region but also from the Northern regions.
“We are
calling Ndigbo in the North and West to think home as fast as possible. No
amount of threat will make IPOB retreat from our divine mandate of restoring
Biafra.
“We are
calling the attention of the international community to the existential threat
against Ndigbo in Nigeria. The Human Right Organisations, United Nations (UN),
European Union (EU), African Union (AU), all the lovers of freedom should
understand that Biafrans are endangered species in the contraption called
Nigeria. The ethnic profiling and hatred against Ndigbo are glaring in the
areas of security, politics, and economics in Nigeria.
“Silencing
the quest for Biafra referendum is indirectly supporting genocide against
Ndigbo and Biafrans. Just like our forebears and our heroes defended the Biafra
people and land, the present generation of Biafrans have decided to remove our
territory from Nigeria and defend the genocidal war spearheaded by Britain in
1967. This generation of Biafrans is determined to defend ourselves from those
who want to annihilate us. We are not interested in the calls for the arrest of
the “IgboMustGo” criminal elements because we know that nothing will happen to
them.
“They
are just the attack dogs of the big masquerades in Yoruba land, led by the
State and Federal Government. We advise them to channel their energy in convincing
President Tinubu to release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and schedule a date for Biafra
Referendum. Threatening Ndigbo to leave Yoruba land is a sign of weakness and
cowardice. Ndigbo are ready to exit Yoruba land and Nigeria just like
yesterday.”
Source: naijanews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.naijanews.com/2024/08/05/just-in-ipob-asks-for-referendum-says-igbo-ready-to-exit-nigeria/
--------
Kaduna
Govt Declares Curfew As Protest Gains Momentum On Day 5
5 August
2024
The
Kaduna State Security Council, on Monday, imposed a 24-hour curfew on Kaduna
and Zaria Metropolitan Cities.
Naija
News reports that the decision was reached following the result of the protest
in the cities.
Although
normalcy had been restored in some parts of Kaduna, thousands of youths are out
on the streets, demanding an end to what they described as bad governance.
Recall
that President Bola Tinubu, on Sunday addressed the nation, calling for an end
to the protest, but the protesters said the President did not address their
demands.
The
overseeing Commissioner, Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel
Aruwan, in a statement said the measure was taken in the interest of peace.
He said,
“The Kaduna State Security Council under the leadership of Governor Uba Sani,
following a review of the security situation in the State, hereby notifies
citizens of the following
“There
is sufficient evidence to clearly indicate that the ongoing protest has been
hijacked by criminal elements who have resorted to looting of shops and
destruction of private and public property.
“In view
of this unfortunate development, the Kaduna State Security Council has
unanimously resolved to impose a 24-hour curfew on Kaduna and Zaria
Metropolises and environs with immediate effect.
“Citizens
are advised to remain indoors while security forces continue to work to
maintain safety and security. Monitoring will be sustained for review of the
curfew as required.”
Source: naijanews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.naijanews.com/2024/08/05/breaking-kaduna-govt-declares-curfew-as-protest-gains-momentum-on-day-5/
--------
Police
Teargas Protesters Waving Russian Flag In Katsina
5 August
2024
Protesters
have taken to the streets in Kastina State, waving the Russian flag, after
three days of relative calm.
Naija
News reports that the organizers of the #EndBadGovernance protests had declared
that the exercise would run from August 1 to August 10.
President
Bola Tinubu, however, in his nationwide broadcast on Sunday, appealed to the
protesters to halt their actions and dialogue with his government.
He also
appealed to them not to allow enemies of democracy to use them to promote an
unconstitutional agenda.
The
President said, “Let us work together to build a brighter future for ourselves
and for generations to come. Let us choose hope over fear, unity over division,
and progress over stagnation. The economy is recovering; Please, don’t shut out
its oxygen. Now that we have been enjoying democratic governance for 25 years,
do not let the enemies of democracy use you to promote an unconstitutional
agenda that will set us back on our democratic journey. FORWARD EVER, BACKWARD
NEVER!”
However,
the use of the Russian flag gained momentum across protest grounds after the
broadcast.
On
Monday morning in Katsina, some protesters waived Russian flags, chatting in
Hausa, “Hunger is killing us.”
According
to DailyTrust, Policemen have started trailing them, firing teargas to disperse
them.
Source: naijanews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.naijanews.com/2024/08/05/breaking-police-teargas-protesters-waving-russian-flag-in-katsina/
--------
Security
Operatives Disperse Protesters In Abuja, Arrest Three
5 August
2024
Security
operatives, on Monday, dispersed protesters in the Karu area of the Federal
Capital Territory (FCT).
Naija
News gathered that the protesters marching against bad governance in the
country were just assembling when security agents went after them and arrested
three.
One of
the protesters who spoke with Punch, Yahaya Abdullahi, said the security agents
fired teargas at them.
He said,
“Our people were just coming out and the police and other security agents
started tear-gassing us and arrested some of our people, we know of three for
now.”
This
development comes hours after one of the leaders of the ongoing
#Endbadgovernance protests in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Micheal
Lenin, was arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS).
According
to information obtained by Naija News, Lenin was arrested around 2 am on Monday
at his residence in the Apo area of the nation’s capital city by DSS
operatives.
Confirming
the development, the Director of Mobilisation, Take It Back Movement, Damilare
Adenola, told Punch that Lenin’s house was raided by the DSS.
He
alleged that the DSS also assaulted him during his arrest.
“Lenin
has been arrested by the DSS. He was picked up during a raid on his house
around 2am.
“He was
arrested and tortured in the presence of his family. We are demanding his
immediate and unconditional release,” Adenola said.
Source: naijanews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.naijanews.com/2024/08/05/breaking-security-operatives-disperse-protesters-in-abuja-arrest-three/
--------
Arab World
MDLBEAST
hosts first Onyx Arena music party in Jeddah
August
05, 2024
JEDDAH:
MDLBeast, Saudi Arabia’s leading music entertainment company, recently unveiled
its new music venue, the Onyx Arena, as part of the Jeddah Season.
According
to MDLBeast officials, the first night of the three-week extravaganza saw a
packed house with around 5,000 attendees gathering to enjoy performances by
renowned international and local electronic music artists.
The
first night saw the stage ablaze with talent as DJ Shaolin set the tone with an
energetic set, electrifying the audience with a mix of crowd-pleasing tunes.
Following
his performance, Lil Eazy, a Somalian hip-hop artist born and raised in Jeddah,
took the stage, bringing a dynamic energy and vibrant music that had the crowd
grooving along.
Lil Eazy
told Arab News: “Performing for a big crowd is a completely different feeling.
I’m thrilled to have played at MDLBeast; it’s a fantastic opportunity.”
Noting
the changing landscape for musical talent in the Kingdom, he added: “Before
MDLBeast, we played underground for limited audiences, and now having the
chance to showcase our music on big stages is incredible.”
Lil Eazy
said he is excited and preparing for Soundstorm 2024. “To aspiring DJs, I
advise you to follow your passion,” he added. “The music industry in the
Kingdom is growing, and leading music entertainment companies are providing
equal opportunities to be seen and heard.”
The
atmosphere, enhanced by laser displays, buzzed with excitement when American
rap star Don Toliver took the stage. Fans went wild, singing along to every
note.
Thrilled
by the energetic crowd, Toliver remarked during his performance: “It’s amazing
to see such an active crowd who can vibe with me. It was an amazing night
performing for the Jeddah crowd.”
The
night concluded with Swedish DJ Axwell delivering a powerful set with beats and
tracks that kept the crowd engaged until the very end.
MDLBeast
has partnered with Jeddah Season this year to bring the vibrant Onyx Arena
parties to life every Friday until Aug. 16.
The
highlights include performances by Jack Harlow, Salvatore Ganacci, Jeed, and
Saud on Aug. 9, followed by DJ Loush, Bebe Rexha, and Afrojack on Aug. 16.
Equipped
with state-of-the-art technical facilities, sound, and lighting equipment, the
Onyx Arena is designed to host global music parties, events, and conferences.
Iman
Abdullah, a visitor, was thrilled by the event, saying: “I had an incredible
time at the party and couldn’t contain my excitement singing along with Don
Toliver. He’s been my favorite for a long time, and vibing with him was
fantastic. His tracks and energetic performance were outstanding.
“It’s
great to have such entertainment in Jeddah, and the ticket prices were
reasonable. I bought a VIP pass and enjoyed the view and the food.”
Another
visitor, Hanouf Raheem, said: “The arena is huge, and the lighting perfectly
matches the vibe. The best part is that it’s fully air-conditioned, allowing us
to escape Jeddah’s summer heat and enjoy the party to the fullest.
“Everything
was well-managed, and the crowd control was impressive. It’s amazing to have
such options for weekend entertainment. I’ve already purchased passes for the
rest of the parties.”
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2562986/saudi-arabia
--------
Kingdom’s
library brings Saudi culture to Chinese readers
August
05, 2024
RIYADH:
King Abdulaziz Public Library in Riyadh is spearheading an initiative to
introduce Saudi culture to Chinese-speaking audiences through its publishing
program.
A series
of scientific, cultural and literary works in Arabic were selected for
translation into various languages, including Chinese.
The
purpose of the program is to present a comprehensive portrait of contemporary
Saudi culture to Chinese readers, an official statement noted.
The
first volume of “The Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Saudi Arabia” is one of the
most prominent works the library has translated into Chinese, and represents
the first step toward translating all 20 volumes of the encyclopedia.
The
volumes will cover all regions of the Kingdom with a focus on their history,
archeology, culture and geography, economy, social patterns, customs and
traditions, tourism, and wildlife.
The
library also translated the book “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the People’s
Republic of China: A History of Trade Relations between China and the Arabian
Peninsula,” which highlights the contributions of the Arab-Islamic nation and
China, and their scientific achievements in many fields such as astronomy,
sciences, geography, agriculture and medicine, among others.
The book
also shows their long-standing relations before and after the emergence of
Islam, as they exchanged trade and travel via the Silk Road. The book reveals
the reality of their cooperation and mutual understanding and is an important
source for researchers from both civilizations, the official statement
explained.
Among
works selected for translation into Chinese is Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Mana’s book “In
the Footsteps of Al-Mutanabbi,” which documents the locations the Abbasid-era
poet passed through during his journey from Cairo to Kufa.
Some of
the books the library is also translating into Chinese include “Modern Woman in
the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Rights Challenges and Achievements” by Hend
Al-Sudairy.
Al-Sudairy’s
book places women in a broader cultural context, exploring diverse topics and
historical developments and highlighting their social and economic
contributions. It allows readers to gain a more comprehensive understanding of
the reality on the ground by examining and connecting Saudi women’s past with
their present.
Other
works to be translated into Chinese include “The Art of Sadu between the Past
and the Present,” “Saudi Landmarks and Places,” and “Traditional Jewelry of
Women in Central Arabian Peninsula.”
The
library has also completed the translation of 11 children’s stories from Arabic
to Chinese. These stories cover a wide range of topics, offering young Chinese
readers a window into Saudi Arabia’s rich history and culture.
Since
establishing its branch at Peking University in China six years ago, the
library has been engaged in numerous activities aimed at introducing Chinese
audiences to various elements of Saudi, Arab and Islamic culture.
The
initiatives include facilitating seminars and workshops on traditional Saudi
arts and the Arabic language.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2562981/saudi-arabia
--------
Saudi
crown prince, French president discuss de-escalation in region
August
06, 2024
RIYADH:
Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has received a phone call from
French President Emmanuel Macron, the Saudi Press Agency said early Tuesday.
The pair
reiterated the importance of de-escalation and sparing the region the risk of
expanding the conflict.
They
also reviewed the latest development in Gaza and the efforts aimed at a
ceasefire in the war-torn territory.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2563336/saudi-arabia
--------
Civil
Defense warns of torrential rain, high winds in Saudi Arabia until Friday
August
05, 2024
RIYADH:
The General Directorate of Civil Defense has urged citizens and residents to
exercise caution and prioritize their safety by avoiding areas prone to torrents,
marshes, and valleys.
It
strongly advised not to swim in these areas as they are unsuitable and pose a
significant danger, and emphasized that individuals should strictly adhere to
instructions given through various media and social network platforms.
This
advice is particularly relevant as thunderstorms are expected to continue in
some regions of the Kingdom until Friday, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The
directorate has said that the Makkah region will experience moderate to heavy
rainfall, resulting in torrential rains and hail, and strong winds that will
cause dust storms. This will primarily affect several governorates.
Makkah
city and surrounding areas will experience light to moderate rainfall, SPA
reported.
The
Civil Defense has forecast light to moderate rainfall and gusty winds that may
raise dust for the Riyadh region. These weather conditions will also impact
various governorates.
The
directorate said that Asir, Baha, and Jazan regions will have moderate to heavy
rainfall, while the regions of Madinah and Najran will get moderate rainfall.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2562951/saudi-arabia
--------
Saudi
Arabia is now self-sufficient in fig production, says agriculture ministry
August
05, 2024
RIYADH:
Saudi Arabia has achieved self-sufficiency in fig production, with annual
output exceeding 28,000 tonnes on 1,421 hectares of land across the country,
the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture has announced.
In a
statement posted on its website over the weekend, the MEWA said Jazan and
Riyadh are the biggest producers with annual production in tonnes of 9,906 and
8,010, respectively.
Asir is
third with 3,970, Makkah 1,635, Hail 1,033, Al-Jouf 874, Al-Baha 790, Qassim
737, Najran 645, Tabuk 348, Madinah 245, and the Northern Border 36.
Fig
production season is from February to November, with the Madani, Turkish,
Waziri, Kadota, and White King varieties the most popular, in addition to local
ones.
Figs are
known to have multiple health benefits, including helping to prevent
Alzheimer’s disease, regulate blood pressure, strengthen bones, and improve
hair and skin, according to the MEWA statement.
The
ministry is working to develop the production, processing and marketing of figs
through the Sustainable Agricultural Rural Development Program across the
country.
The
government wants to raise awareness about the Kingdom’s diverse fruit options,
and to support farmers by improving marketing and distribution.
Local
farmer Bassam Al-Haboub, who has also joined the production initiative, planted
1,200 fig trees in two years.
He said
he focuses on having high-quality soil and water, and cultivates a fig variety
known for its abundant yield, firmness and transportability.
A
graduate in agriculture, Al-Haboub has leveraged his expertise to market his
produce locally.
He
thanked the MEWA for organizing festivals that provide a platform for farmers
to display their products and access valuable support services.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2562741/saudi-arabia
--------
North America
CAIR
Expresses Solidarity with UK Muslims Targeted by Racist, Far-Right Rioters
August
5, 2024
The
Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil
rights and advocacy organization, today expressed its solidarity with Muslims
in the UK who have been targeted by mobs in the riots that have spread across
the country, sparked by false claims that a Muslim migrant was responsible for
a recent deadly stabbing attack on children.
“CAIR
stands with those in the UK being targeted by far-right hate. Islamophobia,
racism and hate all deserve to be in the gutter of history,” said CAIR Research
and Advocacy Director Corey Saylor. “Today, we urge the authorities to ensure
people and property are protected. Once public safety is assured, then we think
it is time for the UK to reflect on how demonizing Muslims, immigrants and
others for political gain resulted in the tragic violence we are witnessing.”
Saylor
called on the Biden administration to condemn the attacks and appoint a special
envoy to combat Islamophobia.
He noted
that CAIR previously joined an international coalition of Muslim advocacy
organizations to issue a joint declaration commemorating March 15th, the first
UN-recognized International Day to Combat Islamophobia.
CAIR’s
mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote
justice, and empower American Muslims.
La
misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del
Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados
Unidos.
Become a
Fan of CAIR on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/CAIRNational
Subscribe
to CAIR’s Email List
https://action.cair.com/a/newsletters
Subscribe
to CAIR’s Twitter Feed
http://twitter.com/cairnational
Subscribe
to CAIR’s YouTube Channel
http://www.youtube.com/cairtv
Follow
CAIR on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/cair_national
Donate
to CAIR
https://action.cair.com/a/donate
Do you
like reading CAIR press releases and taking part in our action alerts? You can
help contribute to CAIR’s work of defending civil rights and empowering
American Muslims across the country by making a one-time contribution or
becoming a monthly donor. Supporters like you make CAIR’s advocacy work
possible and defeating Islamophobia an achievable goal. Click here to donate to
CAIR.
You are
receiving this email due to your interest selection from commercial media
databases. If you would like to join CAIR’s media list, please sign up here:
https://action.cair.com/a/newsletters — For more information, email:
info@cair.com, CC ihooper@cair.com
Source: cair.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-expresses-solidarity-with-uk-muslims-targeted-by-racist-far-right-rioters/
--------
Community
Advisory: CAIR Urges Muslim Voters to Meet Lawmakers During August
Congressional Recess
August
5, 2024
The
Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil
rights and advocacy organization, today called on Muslim voters and community
leaders to meet with lawmakers in their home districts during the August
Congressional recess. CAIR is offering its 2024 August Recess Toolkit as a
resource designed to empower American Muslims and allies to engage their
members of Congress during the recess.
READ THE
TOOLKIT
Every
year, Congress takes a summer break in August and resumes the week after Labor
Day. This year, the recess begins on August 5th and will continue until
September 8th.
In the
toolkit, CAIR discusses how community members can successfully connect with
their members of Congress to join us in advocating against the current
challenges Muslims face in Congress, including:
McCarthyism
2.0: The Republican-led House Committees on Oversight and Accountability and
Education and Workforce are investigating more than 20 Muslim, Palestinian, and
Jewish nonprofit advocacy organizations. These investigations are based on
accusations from far-right, pro-Israel conspiracy theorists and have been
criticized as “McCarthyism 2.0.” The targets are Americans advocating for
Palestinian human rights.
Legislative
Threats: Congress has attempted to pass legislation to reclassify First
Amendment-protected speech and protests as hate speech or material support for
terrorism.
H.R.
6408 / S. 4136: This bill allows the President to strip nonprofit
organizations, including mosques, of their tax-exempt status based on claims of
supporting terrorism. It has been adopted by the House.
Antisemitism
Awareness Act (H.R. 6090 / S. 4127): This act conflates criticism of the
Israeli government with antisemitism, using the IHRA’s definition. It could
silence student protests and has been adopted by the House.
Countering
Antisemitism Act (H.R. 7921 / S. 4091): This act proposes a task force to
combat antisemitism, potentially targeting Arab Americans and pro-Palestine
activists using the IHRA’s definition.
Source: cair.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.cair.com/press_releases/community-advisory-cair-urges-muslim-voters-to-meet-lawmakers-during-august-congressional-recess/
--------
Rep.
Bill Huizenga to Newsmax: Shapiro Alienates Swing-State Muslims
If Vice
President Kamala Harris picks Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro as her running
mate, Muslim voters in battleground states will be shunned, according to Rep.
Bill Huizenga, R-Mich., on Newsmax.
"Where
I think it gets very interesting, and this is where her VP pick absolutely
figures into this, [is] Michigan is home to the largest Arab American
population outside the Middle East, but we are also home to the sixth largest
Jewish population of any state," Huizenga told Monday's "Wake Up America."
"If it's Gov. Shapiro, who is an observant Jew, who believes that the
pro-Hamas demonstrations on college campuses aren't right and believes that
Israel needs to defend itself, that could cause some significant problems
within that other portion of their voting base.
"We
had [Rep.] Rashida Tlaib [D-Mich.] here in Michigan leading a charge to vote
against [President] Joe Biden in the Michigan primary and having someone like
Shapiro on that ticket is going to do nothing but cement that sentiment in my
mind," he said. "So, I think it becomes very dicey."
If
Shapiro is chosen as Harris' vice presidential candidate, "it probably
locks up Pennsylvania, but probably puts Michigan in [former President] Donald
Trump's column," Huizenga said.
The
Michigan congressman also mentioned Rep. Tim Walz, D-Minn., who is another
Harris vice president contender, and how his selection could impact election
results in Wisconsin or Minnesota.
"I
think this might be an election where the VP pick could actually influence and
affect, not just their home state, but a couple of other states," he said.
According
to a recent Morning Consult/Bloomberg poll, Harris has an 11-point lead over
Republican rival Donald Trump in Michigan. Huizenga said he's not buying it.
"That
seems an exaggeration," he said. "Again, I think that is coming off
of that switch-over and that high that they had."
What is
happening, however, he said, is the Democratic Party "is being
fragmented."
"We
have union votes that have gone to Donald Trump and are going to stay in Donald
Trump's column," he said. "I see Kamala Harris, or whoever her VP
pick [is], not pulling those people away.
"Where
I do think she helps is in the African American community, especially African
American women, but we've got a growing divide among African Americans, with
African American men saying, You know, actually, the economy was better for me;
it actually did help us out here in Michigan and in a lot of other places, and
that guy that was at the helm was Donald Trump."
Source: newsmax.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.newsmax.com/newsmax-tv/democrats-muslims-voters/2024/08/05/id/1175291/
--------
Biden
meets national security chiefs as Mideast war fears grow
August
06, 2024
WASHINGTON:
US President Joe Biden held crisis talks with his national security team on
Monday as fears grew that an Iranian counterattack on Israel could spark an
all-out war in the Middle East.
Biden
and Secretary of State Antony Blinken engaged in frantic diplomacy to try to
ease tensions sparked by a suspected Israeli attack that killed Hamas political
leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.
The
81-year-old Biden flew back to the White House from a weekend in Wilmington,
Delaware, and after a kiss for First Lady Jill Biden, he headed straight into
the Oval Office without commenting to reporters.
The
meeting in the heavily-secured situation room with officials including Vice
President Kamala Harris would “discuss developments in the Middle East,” the
White House said.
Earlier,
Biden called King Abdullah II of Jordan while Blinken called the prime minister
of Qatar and foreign minister of Egypt, the two key players in ceasefire
negotiations between Israel and Hamas.
“It’s
important that all parties take steps over the coming days to refrain from
escalation and calm tensions,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told
reporters, describing Blinken’s calls with officials in the region.
Biden
and the Jordanian king meanwhile “discussed their efforts to de-escalate
regional tensions, including through an immediate ceasefire and hostage release
deal,” the White House said in a readout of the call.
Hopes of
a ceasefire between key US ally Israel and Hamas in Gaza have suffered a major
blow with the assassination of Haniyeh and the killing of Hezbollah military
chief Fuad Shukr in Beirut hours earlier.
The
United States has deployed extra fighter jets and warplanes to the region to
support Israel, as reports suggested Iran could respond militarily as soon as
Monday.
Iran has
blamed the Tehran assassination on Israel, which has not directly commented on
the attack.
Blinken
told his counterparts from the G7 nations on Sunday that any attack, which he
expected to be a joint undertaking between Hezbollah and Iran, could happen
within 24 to 48 hours, as early as Monday, US news site Axios reported.
Blinken
asked his counterparts to place diplomatic pressure on Tehran, Hezbollah and
Israel to “maintain maximum restraint,” it added.
Blinken
also emphasized the need to calm regional tensions in a call with Prime
Minister Mohamed Shia Al-Sudani of Iraq, where some Iran-aligned groups
targeted US troops earlier in the Gaza war, the State Department said.
White
House Deputy National Security Adviser Jon Finer said on Sunday that the United
States was “doing everything possible to make sure that this situation does not
boil over.”
But the
turmoil has deepened as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Biden are
increasingly at odds, despite a meeting at the White House less than two weeks
ago.
Biden
has backed Israel since Hamas’s October 7 attacks on Israel.
But
Biden said on Thursday that he had a “very direct” call with Netanyahu urging
him to reach a ceasefire deal, adding that the assassination of Haniyeh had
“not helped” tensions.
The
conversation became heated, with Netanyahu pushing back against suggestions
that he was deliberately trying to sabotage efforts to reach a ceasefire and
hostage release deal, The New York Times and Axios said.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2563341/world
--------
US
military completes withdrawal from final base in Niger
August
06, 2024
NIAMEY,
Niger: The US military withdrew from a final base in jihadist-hit Niger on
Monday, more than a year after coup leaders in the African country demanded its
troops leave.
After
nearly 800 soldiers pulled out of a base in the capital Niamey in early July,
around 200 had remained at the large Agadez base in northern Niger.
The
“withdrawal of US forces and assets from Air Base 201 in Agadez is complete,”
the Pentagon said in a joint statement with Niger’s defense ministry.
“This
effort... will continue between US and Nigerien armed forces over the coming
weeks to ensure the full withdrawal is complete as planned,” it added.
Deputy
Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh told reporters that around “less than
two dozen folks” were still on the ground in Niger.
The
remaining personnel are at the US embassy and are performing “administrative
work in preparing for the completion of the withdrawal,” she said.
Niger’s
Air-Info news site confirmed the departure of the last American forces from
Agadez.
It said
officers from both countries attended a handover ceremony, which ended with the
taking-off of the last US army plane.
US Major
General Kenneth Ekman, who is coordinating the withdrawal from Niger, had
previously announced the US troop exit would be completed in early August,
ahead of the mid-September deadline.
Niger in
recent years has been a lynchpin in US and French strategy to combat jihadists
in West Africa, especially since the military seized power in Mali and Burkina
Faso, becoming hostile to Western armed forces.
The July
26, 2023 coup in Niger — which overthrew the democratically elected president
Mohamed Bazoum — has seen the new regime move closer to its two neighbors and
force out the French and US military from the country.
The
three military-led nations have since formed the Confederation of Sahel States
(AES).
The US
withdrawal from Niger kicked off in May, two months after the government said
it was ending a military cooperation agreement with Washington, claiming the
presence of US soldiers was now “illegal.”
Ekman
has said the United States will continue to work with other nations, such as
Ivory Coast who face a violent extremist threat.
Niger’s
regime under General Abdourahamane Tiani is reviewing its foreign policy while
declaring it is on a march to “sovereignty.”
It has
tilted notably toward Russia — as has Burkina and Mali — which has sent
instructors and military equipment this year.
Niger
has also tightened relations with Turkiye and Iran.
For
around a decade, Niger has been grappling with bloody violence by armed groups
linked to Daesh and Al-Qaeda.
It also
has to contend with violence in its southeast from Boko Haram and Daesh West
African offshoot.
According
to Acled, which tracks conflict, jihadists have killed some 1,500 civilians and
soldiers in the past year in Niger, compared with 650 in the year to July 2023.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2563316/world
--------
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/sheikh-hasina-bangladesh-illegal-motha-founder/d/132879