Taj Mahal Is Not a Monument but A Shiva Temple: Two Men Arrested for Offering ‘Gangajal’ At Taj Mahal
New Age Islam News Bureau
03 Aug 2024
A video
clip shows one of the accused pours water from a plastic bottle on a closed
staircase leading to the basement of Taj Mahal, which houses original graves of
Shahjahan and Mumtaz Mahal.
-------------
·
Taj Mahal Is Not a Monument but A Shiva Temple:
Two Men Arrested for Offering ‘Gangajal’ At Taj Mahal
·
Uddhav Thackeray's ‘Power Jihad’ Barb at BJP,
Counters Amit Shah's ‘Aurangzeb Fan Club’ Jab
·
Islamic State Seeks Sharia Law Concession for
Crypto: UN Report
·
‘Sacred Rage, Harsh Revenge’ Await Enemies of
Muslims: Chief Commander of IRGC
·
Yihadist Suicide Attack Kills at Least16 People
in Nigeria
India
·
Muslim League Launches App to Collect Funds for
Wayanad Landslide Victims
·
Centre Flags Security of Israeli Facilities Air
India Puts Off Flights to Tel Aviv
·
Travel advisory issued to Indians in Israel
amid escalating tensions in Middle East
·
Avoid travel to Lebanon: Indian Embassy issues
3 advisories in 4 days amid escalating Middle East tensions
--------
Europe
·
'It Can Be Rebuilt but The Lives Lost Cannot',
Says Southport Mosque Chairman Trapped During Protest
·
Far-right overwhelms UK as another city
explodes in anti-Muslim riots
·
Sunderland rioters 'set police office on fire'
and target mosque as officers battle to control crowds
·
Key Black Muslim group backs Kamala Harris for
president over Gaza stance
·
Birmingham Mosque want to 'steer youth away
from destructive paths' after Southport tragedy
·
Muslim Council says 'law and order' isn't
enough to tackle the 'Islamophobic hate' following mosque attacks
·
Explosion kills five, injures 20 in Russian
city (VIDEO, PHOTOS)
--------
Mideast
·
Haniyeh Assassinated After US Green Light;
Israel Savagery Underscored: Iran Intelligence Min.
·
Israel advances most West Bank settlements in
decades: EU
·
Thousands throng Beirut show as Hezbollah vows
revenge
·
Source close to Hezbollah reports Israeli
strikes near Syria-Lebanon border
·
Reuters denies reporting of ballistic missile
attack against Israel
·
Israel Releases Iman Sheikh Ekrima Sabri,
Deports Him from Al-Aqsa Mosque
·
Israeli airstrike kills 5 in West Bank,
including Hamas commander — Palestinian media
·
UAE provides 70 tons of aid to displaced
families in Gaza
--------
Africa
·
At least 13 killed in protests over Nigeria's
economic crisis - Rights group
·
Police Recover Loot from Kano Protests,
Continue Search Operations
·
Boko Haram attacks displace 2,390 persons in
Yobe
·
Christians, Muslims Unite in #EndBadGovernance#
Protest in Plateau
--------
South Asia
·
22 US Senators, Congressmen Write to Blinken On
'Worsening Human Rights Conditions in Bangladesh'
·
At Least 32 Children Killed in Bangladesh
Violence: UNICEF
·
Athletes Stage Power Display to Raise Support
for Flood Victims In Ghor, Afghanistan
·
Iranian authorities close 378 shops operated by
Afghan migrants in Qeshm
·
IOM reports nearly 8 million Afghans have
migrated amid economic collapse
·
Kandahar textile factory resumes operations
after 45 years
·
Israel on High Alert Amid Cyberattacks on Ben
Gurion Airport
·
Door of Gono Bhaban open for protesting
students: PM
--------
Pakistan
·
X Ban May Be Lifted If Social Media Rules
Framed: Punjab I&B Minister Azma Bukhari
·
JI will not join PTI's grand alliance: Hafiz
Naeem
·
Event organised in US to pay tributes to
martyrs of Pakistan
·
Senior leader of Imran Khan's PTI party shot
dead while coming out of mosque after prayers
·
Three judges survive militant attack in Tank
·
Gender-based violence cases doubled in Punjab:
report
·
Balochistan Assembly condemns Hamas leader’s
assassination
·
Govt announces support package of Rs5m for
every family of missing persons
·
Hasan sent on one-day physical remand in
terrorism case
·
Youm-e-Istehsal-e-Kashmir to be observed on
Monday
---------
Southeast Asia
·
Malaysian Festival Organizers Sue The 1975 Over
On-Stage LGBT Incident
·
Anwar’s Stance On Haniyeh’s Killing Shows
Strong Support For Palestine, Boosts Islamic Credentials
·
DAP: Has PAS banned women from performing in
Chinese temples in Terengganu?
·
M’sians to gather again at Arena Axiata
tomorrow to show support for Palestinians
--------
North America
·
Police: Bayonne Man Threw Rock and Knife at
Victims, Spat On Muslim Woman
·
Harris threatens to further alienate Muslim
voters with Shapiro VP pick
·
US defence chief scraps plea agreement for
accused 9/11 mastermind and two other defendants
·
Judge rejects replacing counsel for man charged
with shooting 3 Palestinian college students
·
Iran has already proven its capability to
launch a major attack on Israel: US
--------
Arab World
·
Saudi Ministry Signs Cooperation Agreement with
Nigeria’s Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs
·
Saudi Border Guards Thwart Qat Smuggling
Attempt In Jazan
·
Saudi, Egypt investment ministers hold talks
·
Saudi, Chile conclude talks on mining, industrial
cooperation
·
KSA’s Fayfa Mountains: A Scenic Delight at
2,000 Meters Above Sea Level
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL:
Taj
Mahal Is Not a Monument but A Shiva Temple: Two Men Arrested for Offering
‘Gangajal’ At Taj Mahal
By HT
News Desk
Aug 03,
2024
A video
clip shows one of the accused pours water from a plastic bottle on a closed
staircase leading to the basement of Taj Mahal, which houses original graves of
Shahjahan and Mumtaz Mahal.
-------------
The
Tajganj Police in Agra confirmed arresting the two, who claim themselves to be
associated with Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha, from Taj Mahal premises.
Two
persons from a right-wing organisation were arrested for allegedly offering
Gangajal at the iconic Taj Mahal in Uttar Pradesh's Agra on the occasion of
Sawan month on Saturday. The arrested men claimed that they offered holy water
in plastic bottles considering Taj Mahal as ‘TejoMahalay’, a Shiv temple.
A video
clip shows one of the accused pours water from a plastic bottle on a closed
staircase leading to the basement of Taj Mahal, which houses original graves of
Shahjahan and Mumtaz Mahal.
A video
clip shows one of the accused pours water from a plastic bottle on a closed
staircase leading to the basement of Taj Mahal, which houses original graves of
Shahjahan and Mumtaz Mahal.
The
Tajganj Police confirmed arresting the two, who claim themselves to be
associated with the Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha, from the Taj Mahal premises.
A video
clip purportedly shows one of the accused pours water from a plastic bottle on
a closed staircase leading to the basement of Taj Mahal, which houses original graves
of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal.
They
argued that the Taj Mahal is not a monument but a Shiva temple and the holy
water was poured onto a sticker displaying Om, news agency IANS quote the
police as saying.
They
were arrested by the Central Industrial Security Force entrusted the duty of
Taj Mahal premises security. The men had entered the monument's premises after
purchasing a ticket as tourists who are allowed to bring in water bottles.
Efforts
to rename the Taj Mahal have been ongoing, with occasional attempts made to
conduct aarti or pujas with prayers.
A court
case is currently in progress locally, seeking permission for such religious
offerings. The month of Sawan is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Groups aligned with
Hindutva ideology often refer to the Taj Mahal as ‘TejoMahalay’.
The two
are in custody at the Taj Ganj police station and a probe is on, Agra city
deputy commissioner of police Suraj Rai said.
Earlier
a woman activist of the Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha had marched towards Taj
Mahal carrying water from the Ganga river at Soron in Kasganj but was stopped
by police at a barricade.
In the
past, right-wing activists have recited the 'Shiv Chalisa' within the Taj Mahal
complex during 'Mahashivratri'. Several years ago, members of the Hindu Jagaran
Manch, a saffron organisation, including its district president Gaurav Thakur,
were arrested by police for waving saffron flags inside the monument.
Source: hindustantimes.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/agra-two-men-arrested-for-offering-gangajal-at-taj-mahal-video-goes-viral-101722675163311.html
-----
Uddhav
Thackeray's ‘Power Jihad’ Barb atBJP, Counters Amit Shah's ‘Aurangzeb Fan Club’
Jab
By HT
News Desk
Aug 03,
2024
Shiv
Sena (UBT) party chief Uddhav Thackeray.(Raju Shinde/HT Photo)
------------
Shiv
Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray also accused Home minister Amit Shah of being
the 'political descendent' of Ahmad Shah Abdali.
Shiv
Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday accused the Bharatiya Janata
Party (BJP) of indulging in "power jihad" by breaking political
parties to be in government, reported PTI.
Thackeray,
while addressing party workers in Pune, also hit out at Union home minister
Amit Shah over the latter calling him as the head of the "Aurangzeb Fan
Club".
He also
accused Shah of being the 'political descendent' of Ahmad Shah Abdali – an
Afghan ruler who defeated Marathas in the battle of Panipat.
Thackeray
also hit out at the Eknath Shinde-led Maharashtra government over the
'Mukhyamant
"If
Muslims are with us after we explain to them our Hindutva, then we are
(according to the BJP) the Aurangzeb Fan Club. Then what you are doing is power
jihad," Thackeray was quoted as saying by PTI.
On July
21, Shah, while addressing a BJP conclave in Maharashtra's Pune, had called the
Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance as an "Aurangzeb fan club" and had
alleged that Thackeray was its leader.
"Maha
Vikas Aghadi is Aurangzeb fan club. This Aurangzeb fan club cannot ensure
India's security. Uddhav Thackeray is the leader of this Aurangzeb Fan club.
This Fan Club cannot make Maharashtra and India safe. It's only the BJP that
can ensure the safety and security of all," Shah had said, according to
ANI.
"Uddhav
Thackeray shares his meals with people involved with Kasab, he supports PFI and
stands against renaming Aurangabad as Sambhaji Nagar," he had added.
This was
not the first time when Shah has attacked the Shiv Sena (UBT) chief in public.
He accused Thackeray of leaving ideology for power during the Lok Sabha
elections.
Uddhav
Thackeray had to unceremoniously step down as chief minister in June 2022 after
Eknath Shinde led a rebellion in the Shiv Sena leading to collapse of his
government. In February 2023, the Election Commission of India recognised the
Shinde faction as the real Shiv Sena.
Elections
for the 288-seat Assembly in Maharashtra are expected to take place in the
state later this year.
Source: hindustantimes.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/uddhav-thackeray-power-jihad-barb-at-bjp-counters-amit-shah-aurangzeb-fan-club-jab-101722676255056.html
-----
Islamic
State Seeks Sharia Law Concession for Crypto: UN Report
By
Godfrey Benjamin
3 August
2024
The
Islamic State (IS) group just took its crypto game more seriously by requesting
compliance with its Sharia Law. Precisely, the bloc is asking that the crypto
that supports its terrorist activities must comply with the popular Islamic law
that guides its daily operations.
UN
Members Concerned Over Islamic State Crypto Use
Under
this Sharia law, those who practice the Islamic religion are prohibited from
taking part in several activities. This includes profiting from interest, sales
of pork, or so-called sin stocks linked to gambling, alcohol, and pornography.
Before this time, no part of the law is dedicated to the use of
cryptocurrencies or how to regulate their usage. Hence, it is not yet clear how
the IS group plans to ensure compliance.
According
to a United Nations report, these terrorist groups have started providing their
associates with detailed instructions on how to send digital assets to them.
Also, they even have specialized channels and platforms through which they
receive such transfers. Some of them are CryptoHalal and Umma Crypto on the
fast-rising social media app Telegram.
The
Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team of the United Nation’s
Security Council Committees is charged with tracking Islamic State and
al-Qaeda. Such actions became necessary amidst an increased use of digital
platforms like cryptocurrency exchanges, e-wallets and stablecoin amongst
terrorist group. Members of the UN are very concerned about the activities of
these groups and their strategy of using crypto to finance their war attacks.
Specifically,
UN members highlighted that these groups can conveniently leverage crypto to
obfuscate their financial footprint. This makes it difficult for the
authorities to discover or investigate their illicit activities. Much more,
many of these terrorist groups are now able to evade sanctions like the ones
imposed by the United States Treasury Department Office of Foreign Assets
Control (OFAC).
Bitcoin
And Crypto in US Politics
On the
brighter side, this latest move from the Islamic State underscores the growing
widespread adoption of crypto like Bitcoin. In recent times, the innovative
blockchain industry has become the subject on the lips of many. American
politicians are trying to establish their dominance in the upcoming elections
using crypto as a took.
Notably,
Vice President Kamala Harris for the Democrats party, is currently trying to
reset her relationship with the crypto industry. As a result, her team plans to
attend pivotal roundtable crypto meeting in Washington. Meanwhile, Republican
Party member Donald Trump has brushed off talks of a debate with Vice President
Kamala Harris.
Source: coingape.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://coingape.com/islamic-state-seeks-sharia-law-concession-for-crypto-un-report/
--------
‘Sacred
Rage, Harsh Revenge’ Await Enemies OfMuslims: Chief Commander Of IRGC
Aug 2,
2024
TEHRAN,
Aug. 02 (MNA) – The chief commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps
(IRGC) has strongly warned the Israeli regime of consequences of the
assassination of a senior Hezbollah figure.
Major
General Hossein Salami made the remarks in a message of condolence that he
addressed to the Lebanese resistance movement’s Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan
Nasrallah on Friday.
The
commander described the perpetrators of the atrocity as “the enemies of the
Muslim nation (Ummah), especially the criminal and terrorist Zionist gang.”
Those
and their supporters, he said, “should await sacred fury, harsh revenge, and
vengeance on the part of the devoted, resolute, and determined mujahedeen of
the [various] fronts of the regional resistance.”
The
remarks came after the Israeli attack claimed the lives of Fuad Shukr, a
ranking Hezbollah commander and Nasrallah advisor, and several others,
including Milad Bidi, an Iranian military advisor, in a suburb of the Lebanese
capital Beirut on Tuesday.
Salami
reminded that those behind Shukr’s assassination were also “the murderers of
Gaza’s oppressed women, children, and men.”
He was
referring to a genocidal war that the regime has been conducting with the
United States’ all-out support against the Gaza Strip since last October. The
brutal military onslaught has so far claimed the lives of at least 39,480
Palestinians, mostly women and children.
The
message also followed the regime’s assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, a senior
leader of the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas, in the Iranian capital
Tehran.
Most
recently, Nasrallah said fighting against the regime had entered “a new phase”
after the dual assassinations.
Israel
had “crossed red lines” in the assassinations and it had to expect “rage and
revenge on all the fronts,” he said.
Source: en.mehrnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://en.mehrnews.com/news/218867/Sacred-rage-harsh-revenge-await-enemies-of-Muslims
--------
Yihadist
Suicide Attack Kills At Least16 People in Nigeria
August
2, 2024
Nigerian
Police Forces in the Crime Scene, Aug 2 , 2024 Photo: @RCLatin
-------------
The
detonation “caused 16 deaths, while several others were seriously injured and
admitted to various state government hospitals”
At least
16 people were killed by a bomb explosion in a market in northeastern Nigeria,
where the jihadist group Boko Haram and its split operate, Islamic State in the
West African Province ISWAP, in English.
The
detonation “caused 16 deaths, while several others were seriously injured and
admitted to various state government hospitals” In a statement published by
local media, one of the police spokesmen, Kenneth Daso, said that the police
were trying to find a way out of the situation.
In the
attack, “22 people were injured and taken to hospital,” said Aliyu Monguno, a
member of the Joint Labour Forces (JTF).
Although
the police were unable to detail the circumstances of the events, eyewitnesses
and survivors claimed it was an attack with a suicide vest.
North-east
Nigeria has been the target of Boko Haram attacks since 2009, a violence that
intensified from 2016 with the emergence of ISWAP.
Facing
this violence are groups such as the JTF, which is part of several armed civil
self-defense groups that help the Nigerian Armed Forces in the fight against
jihadism.
Source: telesurenglish.net
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.telesurenglish.net/yihadist-suicide-attack-kills-at-least16-people-in-nigeria/
--------
India
Muslim
League launches app to collect funds for Wayanad landslide victims
August
02, 2024
Malappuram:
The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) on Friday launched a mobile application
to collect funds to support the victims of the Wayanad landslides. Party state
president Panakkad Sayyid Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal launched the platform at his
residence. So far, the party has collected more than Rs 1 crore. IUML is the
first political party to launch an app in support of those people affected by
the massive landslides. Tirunavaya Edakkula native Abdu Samad Babu was the
first to contribute to the fund. He transferred Rs 50 lakh for the relief
efforts.
"IUML
social relief systems were active at Wayanad. Ambulances and freezers have been
provided to support the search efforts. We have formed a special committee to
coordinate the relief works. We are The
party will collect funds till August 15. The app will be available on the
Playstore and Appstore and can be accessed by searching 'FOR WAYANAD,' party
officials said.
Source: onmanorama.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2024/08/02/muslim-league-launches-app-to-collect-funds-for-wayanad-landslide-victims.html
--------
Centre
Flags Security of Israeli Facilities Air IndiaPuts Off Flights to Tel Aviv
In their
report, central agencies also mentioned that the US Embassy in Tel Aviv,
Israel, was targeted on July 19 by a drone attack, killing one civilian and
leaving 10 injured.
Written
by Mahender Singh Manral
August
3, 2024
Benjamin
Netanyahu, Gaza Palestine, Israel and Palestine, Israel Palestine conflict,
Israel Palestine relations, Israel-Palestine talks, Palestine-Israel relations,
India news, Indian express, Israeli “In view of the foregoing developments, it
is assessed that there is a strong possibility that the threat to Israeli/Jews’
establishments will increase in different parts of world and all the DGPs of
states and UTs, (and) other agencies are requested to increase security
arrangements…,” an officer said, citing the threat assessment report. (AP)
The back-to-back
assassinations of a Hamas leader and a senior Hezbollah commander have prompted
security agencies in India to take a relook at the safety of Israeli
establishments in the country.
Hamas
leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed in Tehran, where he had gone to attend the
inauguration of the newly elected Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, on July
31. A day earlier, Hezbollah’s Fuad Shukr was killed in an airstrike in
Lebanon’s capital, Beirut.
Central
security agencies in India have since alerted Director Generals of Police of
all states and Union Territories to provide adequate security arrangements to
“Israeli/Jewish facilities, events, premises, workplaces as well as Chabad
houses and large gatherings”, The Indian Express has learnt.
In their
report, central agencies also mentioned that the US Embassy in Tel Aviv,
Israel, was targeted on July 19 by a drone attack, killing one civilian and
leaving 10 injured.
“In view
of the foregoing developments, it is assessed that there is a strong
possibility that the threat to Israeli/Jews’ establishments will increase in
different parts of world and all the DGPs of states and UTs, (and) other
agencies are requested to increase security arrangements…,” an officer said,
citing the threat assessment report.
Since
2021, two low-intensity explosions have taken place near the Israeli Embassy in
New Delhi. On January 29, 2021, a crude bomb went off just around 100 meters
near the Embassy of Israel on Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Road, New Delhi, on a day when
India and Israel marked the 29th anniversary of their diplomatic relations.
The
second incident took place on December 26, 2023, when a low-intensity explosion
was reported near the Israeli Embassy. No one was injured in either incident,
but both cases are still unsolved.
Meanwhile,
Air India has suspended flights to Tel Aviv till August 8. The Tata Group-owned
airline operates four weekly flights to the Israeli city from the national
capital. “In view of the ongoing situation in parts of the Middle East, we have
suspended the scheduled operation of our flights to and from Tel Aviv with
immediate effect up to and including August 8,
2024. We are continuously monitoring the situation…,” the carrier said
in a post on X.
The
airline also said it was extending support to passengers with confirmed
bookings for travel to and from Tel Aviv during this period, with a one-time
waiver on rescheduling and cancellation charges.
Tensions
continue to remain high in the Middle East amid conflict between Israel and
various groups, including Hamas. Earlier this year too, Air India had briefly
suspended flights to Tel Aviv. After nearly five months, the carrier had
recommenced the services to the Israeli city on March 3.
Source: indianexpress.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/centre-flags-security-of-israeli-facilities-a-i-puts-off-flights-to-tel-aviv-9491779/
--------
Travel
advisory issued to Indians in Israel amid escalating tensions in Middle East
August
2, 2024
india
travel advisory israel, indian nationals israel travel advisory, israel travel
warning india, indian embassy israel advisory, hamas israel tensions india
advisory, middle east tensions india advisory, india citizens israel safety,
travel advisory israel indian embassy, israel safety tips for indians, indian
nationals in israelThe Indian embassy in Israel also urged Indian nationals who
have not yet registered with the embassy to do so as soon as possible. (File
photo)
The
Indian Embassy in Israel on Friday issued a travel advisory for all Indian
nationals in the country in light of the escalating tensions in the Middle
East.
The
Embassy advised all Indian citizens in Israel to remain vigilant and follow the
safety protocols put in place by the local authorities.
“In view
of the prevailing situation in the region, all Indian nationals in Israel are
advised to stay vigilant and adhere to the safety protocols as advised by the
local authorities,” the embassy posted on X.
Additionally,
it has urged Indian nationals who have not yet registered with the Embassy to
do so as soon as possible.
Earlier
in the day, Air India suspended its flights to Tel Aviv until August 8 in
response to escalating tensions in the Middle East. The airline, which is part
of the Tata Group, usually operates five weekly flights from Delhi to Tel Aviv.
“In view
of the ongoing situation in parts of the Middle East, we have suspended the
scheduled operation of our flights to and from Tel Aviv with immediate effect
up to and including 08 August 2024. We are continuously monitoring the
situation,” Air India stated on X. The airline is also providing a one-time
waiver on rescheduling and cancellation charges for passengers with confirmed
bookings during this period.
This
suspension follows the cancellation of a flight to Tel Aviv on Thursday.
Earlier this year, Air India briefly suspended flights to the city due to
similar tensions. Services were resumed on March 3 after a suspension that
began on October 7, 2023, following a Hamas attack on the city.
Source: indianexpress.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/indians-israel-travel-advisory-middle-east-tensions-9491458/
--------
Avoid
travel to Lebanon: Indian Embassy issues 3 advisories in 4 days amid escalating
Middle East tensions
The
first advisory was released on July 29, following a devastating rocket attack
in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.
August
2, 2024
In
response to the broader regional tensions, Air India has announced a suspension
of all flights to and from Tel Aviv until August 8. (Representational photo)In
response to the broader regional tensions, Air India has announced a suspension
of all flights to and from Tel Aviv until August 8. (Representational photo)
With the
situation in the Middle East rapidly evolving, the Indian Embassy in Lebanon is
taking proactive measures to ensure the safety of Indian nationals residing in
or traveling to the region. In the past 4 days, the Embassy has issued three
important advisories in response to the escalating conflict.
The
Indian Embassy in Lebanon is closely monitoring the situation and continues to
prioritize the safety and well-being of Indian nationals. For any emergency
assistance, individuals are advised to contact the Embassy at +961-7686-0128 or
via email at cons.beirut@mea.gov.in.
The
first advisory was released on July 29, following a devastating rocket attack
in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. This incident resulted in the tragic
deaths of 12 children and teenagers. The Israeli government has accused
Hezbollah of being behind the strike, though Hezbollah has denied any
involvement. In light of these developments, the Embassy strongly advised
Indian nationals to avoid non-essential travel to Lebanon.
The
situation intensified further with the release of a second advisory on August
1. This was prompted by the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, a prominent Hamas
leader and key figure in Gaza ceasefire negotiations. The Embassy’s advisory
urged Indian citizens to restrict their movements and avoid all non-essential
travel to Lebanon due to the heightened risk of violence and instability.
Later
the same day, the Embassy issued a third advisory, now advising against all
travel to and from Lebanon. This announcement followed Israel’s confirmation of
the death of Hamas commander Mohammed Deif in a July 13 airstrike in Gaza’s
Khan Younis. Given the increasing volatility of the situation, the Embassy
emphasized the importance of staying in close contact with their office in
Beirut.
In
response to the broader regional tensions, Air India has announced a suspension
of all flights to and from Tel Aviv until August 8. For passengers with
confirmed bookings during this period, the airline is offering a one-time
waiver on rescheduling and cancellation fees. For further assistance or
information, passengers are encouraged to reach out to Air India’s 24/7 contact
center at 011-69329333 or 011-69329999.
Source: indianexpress.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/lebanon-indian-embassy-travel-advisory-middle-east-tensions-9490682/
--------
Europe
'It can
be rebuilt but the lives lost cannot', says Southport mosque chairman trapped
during protest
2 August
2024
The
chairman of a mosque attacked when violent disorder broke out in Southport says
"it can be rebuilt but the lives lost cannot".
Ibrahim
Hussein was inside Southport Mosque on Tuesday 30 July when far-right
demonstrators surrounded the place of worship.
Protesters
shouted abuse at the people inside while throwing stones and bricks at the
building.
Mr
Hussein said the focus now is on the families of the victims and not the people
who caused disruption the day after mass stabbings took place.
He said:
"They can destroy this place and we can rebuild it, but the lives that
have been lost, we can't ever bring them back so all our focus should be with
the families."
More
than 50 police officers were injured due to the violence, with 27 officers
taken to hospital, according to North West Ambulance Service.
Violence
broke out just one day after the Southport mass stabbings occurred where three
children died and 10 others were injured.
Nine-year-old
Alice Dasilva Aguiar, six-year-old Bebe King and seven-year-old Elsie Dot
Stancombe died after sustaining serious injuries when a knifeman entered the
Hart Centre during a Taylor Swift-themed dance class Monday 29 July.
Eight
other children suffered stab wounds and two adults were also critically
injured.
The day
after the riots, locals gathered to help rebuild the mosque and clear up the
glass and rubble.
The
muslim community in Southport has been touched by the support and kindness of
their community.
Mr
Hussein continued: "We thank you and we love you very much. We always knew
that you were a decent lot and that's why we are next to you.
"Hopefully,
they know that we have a lot of respect and a lot of love towards them."
Lorna
witnessed the protest unfold on Tuesday night and was determined to show that
the "thugs won't win".
Lorna
said: "There is just so much ugliness going on that i wanted today for
there to be friendliness to show what southport is about.
"We
can't erase those memories, but we would like to replace some of them."
Source: itv.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.itv.com/news/granada/2024-08-02/the-mosque-can-be-rebuilt-but-the-lives-lost-cannot-suothport-chairman-says
--------
Far-right
overwhelms UK as another city explodes in anti-Muslim riots
02-08-24
Rioting
has erupted in Sunderland, northeast England, where police said officers faced
"serious and sustained levels of violence", the latest unrest linked
to a non-Muslim suspect's killing of three young girls earlier this week, an
incident used by far-right groups to fan anti-Muslim frenzy.
According
to the local media, the far-right mob surrounded a mosque in Sunderland and
also chanted Islamophobic slogans.
Eight
people were arrested and three officers required hospital treatment following
hours of "utterly deplorable" disturbances, Northumbria Police Chief
Superintendent Helena Barron said on Friday.
Footage
broadcast by the BBC showed a mob of several hundred rampaging in Sunderland's
city centre, attacking police and setting fire to at least one car and a
building next to a police office.
Other
images shared on social media showed balaclava-clad youths throwing bricks and
other missiles as fireworks and flares were let off.
"The
shocking scenes we have witnessed in Sunderland this evening are completely
unacceptable," Barron said, adding the "disorder, violence and
damage" seen "will not be tolerated".
"A
full investigation is now under way to identify anyone else responsible"
in addition to the eight people arrested, she added.
The
disorder came as police nationwide prepared for planned far-right rallies and
other demonstrations this weekend, after two nights of unrest in several
English towns and cities in the wake of Monday's knife attack.
London's
Metropolitan Police said it had a "proportionate and risk-based" plan
for rival pro-Palestinian and anti-immigration protests on Saturday. Its
officers arrested 111 people as a rally in Westminster turned violent late
Wednesday.
But
Friday night's disturbances in Sunderland, after a calm night nationwide Thursday,
were an ominous sign for the coming days.
Deeply
anxious
Responding
to events there, Interior Minister Yvette Cooper vowed rioters will "pay
the price for their violence and thuggery". She gave police "the full
backing of government to take the strongest possible action and ensure they
face the full force of the law".
"They
do not represent Britain," Cooper said.
Earlier,
Merseyside Police said extra officers had been deployed in and around Liverpool
city centre "to help prevent disorder or criminality" there. Despite
a minor skirmish near a mosque, the evening passed off peacefully.
Liverpool
lies close to the seaside town of Southport where Monday's knife attack
occurred.
Far-right
elements have been blamed for the disturbances in the aftermath of the stabbing
spree targeting children at a dance party.
Officials
have said online disinformation about the British-born 17-year-old suspect Axel
Rudakubana born in Christian family fuelled the unrest.
False
posts circulating on British social media falsely portrayed the suspect as
Muslim, providing a pretext for far-right gangs in the UK to launch a spate of
vandalism against Muslim places of worship.
This
misinformation has incited violence and heightened tensions, targeting
communities already on edge.
Police
have said the case is not being treated as terror-related but have not revealed
a motive.
There
has been growing anti-immigration sentiment on the right of English politics,
pushed by openly Islamophobic far-right figures.
After
violence in Southport late Tuesday, unrest rocked the northern cities of
Hartlepool and Manchester as well as London 24 hours later.
In
Southport, the mob targeted a mosque, prompting hundreds of Muslim places of
worship across the country to step up security amid fears of more anti-Islamic
demonstrators.
Faith
leaders say mosques have been hiring paid security staff and checking their
CCTV cameras are working.
"The
Muslim community is deeply anxious right now," Zara Mohammed,
secretary-general of the Muslim Council of Britain, told AFP.
'Sow
hatred'
Prime
Minister Keir Starmer has accused "thugs" of "hijacking"
the nation's grief to "sow hatred" and pledged that anyone carrying
out violent acts will "face the full force of the law".
In power
for less than a month, Starmer met Friday with local leaders in Southport to
discuss "a package of support for the local community", his Downing
Street office said.
Starmer's
visit came the day after he announced a new "national capability" to
tackle disorder in the wake of the recent disturbances.
The new
measures will allow the sharing of intelligence, wider deployment of
facial-recognition technology and criminal behaviour orders to restrict
troublemakers from travelling.
The
police alert for the weekend comes after far-right social media channels
advertised "enough is enough" anti-immigrant rallies, and anti-facism
groups vowed to stage counter-protests.
"Enough
is enough" has emerged as a rallying online slogan for the far-right and
others following Monday's attack.
South
Yorkshire police said on Friday they knew of a planned protest in the town of
Rotherham, while officers in south Wales said they were preparing for events
being planned for Saturday in Cardiff.
Police
in Northern Ireland noted social media posts calling for roadblocks "using
women and children", as well as a march to an Islamic centre in Belfast on
Saturday.
Source: trtworld.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.trtworld.com/europe/far-right-overwhelms-uk-as-another-city-explodes-in-anti-muslim-riots-18191108
--------
Sunderland
rioters 'set police office on fire' and target mosque as officers battle to
control crowds
2 AUG
2024
A police
office appears to have been set on fire by violent protesters in Sunderland.
Riot
police clashed with protesters in Sunderland city centre following a
demonstration linked to the Southport knife attack.
Hundreds
of individuals, many draped in England flags, congregated in Keel Square on
Friday evening.
The
crowd was heard chanting in support of anti-Islam campaigner Tommy Robinson,
while others hurled insults about Islam.
Police
on horseback and in vans followed the march, navigating through traffic to keep
pace. However, the protest turned violent as some participants set an
overturned car ablaze and targeted a mosque.
Social
media videos seemed to show a fire at a city centre police office, which Google
Maps marked as permanently closed and was no longer listed on Northumbria
Police's station finder.
Officers
in protective gear faced sustained attacks as rioters unleashed fire
extinguishers on High West Street. A stand-off ensued between the police and
protesters outside a mosque on Sunderland's St Mark's Road.
Riot police
were also pelted with stones and beer cans and a police car was targeted and
left with a smashed windscreen.
Some
demonstrators voiced complaints about "two-tier policing" as officers
formed a protective barrier around the mosque.
Meanwhile,
customers in the neighbouring Aldi captured the scenes on their phones from
behind the shop window.
Northumbria
Police said in a post on X that its officers had been “subjected to serious
violence”.
The post
added: “The scenes that we are seeing are completely unacceptable and will not
be tolerated. Ensuring the public’s safety is our utmost priority.”
Sunderland
Central MP, Lewis Atkinson expressed his disgust at the violent incidents,
labelling them "criminal thuggery".
Sharing
his thoughts on social media, he said: "I am appalled by the disorder in
the centre of Sunderland tonight.
"Our
city is not represented by a tiny minority causing trouble.
"Northumbria
Police have my full support as they respond to criminal thuggery and work to
protect all the communities of our city.
"Tomorrow
the people of Sunderland will come together and continue to build the bright
future that we have – a future where every community of our city feels safe and
prospers.
"Our city is not represented by a tiny
minority causing trouble.
"Northumbria
Police have my full support as they respond to criminal thuggery and work to
protect all the communities of our city."
"Tomorrow
the people of Sunderland will come together and continue to build the bright
future that we have a future where every community of our city feels safe and
prospers.
Source: chroniclelive.co.uk
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/sunderland-rioters-set-police-office-29669548
--------
Key
Black Muslim group backs Kamala Harris for president over Gaza stance
3 August
2024
Kamala
Harris has won the backing for her presidential bid of a key US Muslim
organization that had declined to endorse Joe Biden before he withdrew from his
re-election campaign.
The
switch to Harris was a sign that those who voted “uncommitted” instead of
actively voting for Biden in the primary, because of their objections to his
response to Israel’s war on Gaza, may have found an ally in his vice-president.
The
group is the political action arm of the non-profit organization the Black
Muslim Leadership Council, which was created in March to put pressure on the
Biden administration to call for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.
Salima
Suswell, the founder and chief executive of the Black Muslim Leadership Council
Fund, told NBC on Thursday: “[Harris] has shown more sympathy towards the
people of Gaza then both President Biden and Former President Donald Trump.
“During
Prime Minister Netanyahu’s address to Congress, she decided not to attend. She
has repeatedly called for a ceasefire, and I believe she has also expressed
empathy towards civilian life and has been very caring as it relates to getting
aid to the people of Gaza.”
The move
signals growing support for a Harris presidency from Democratic groups that
were reluctant to support or were outright against another Biden term.
The
Harris campaign said it was “grateful to BMLC for their support”.
“The
vice-president is committed to combating Islamophobia wherever it exists and
advancing opportunity for black Americans,” a Harris campaign spokesperson said
in a statement. “We look forward to working with BMLC to win this November and
defeat Donald Trump’s divisive, unpopular agenda.”
Although
Muslim Americans make up a small percentage of the electorate, they can prove
to be crucial in battleground states in which they represent a large swath of
the population.
Muslims
voted overwhelmingly for Biden in 2020, but many have since withdrawn their
support due to the US’s strong support for Israel in its war in Gaza.
Palestine, with a Muslim-majority population, and the rights of Palestinians,
remain key issues for Muslim voters in the US.
Harris
has repeatedly called for a ceasefire in Gaza and a two-state solution for
Israel and Palestine as the way forward to achieve sustainable Middle East
peace.
Harris
has voiced support for Palestinians and said she “condemn[s] any individuals
associating with the brutal terrorist organization Hamas”, but she has not explicitly
broken with the Biden administration stance to condemn Israel for the killing
and forced relocation of tens of thousands of Palestinian civilians in Gaza.
Neither Biden nor the vice-president have called for an arms embargo on Israel
– a point many Muslim, Arab American and progressive voters take issue with.
In a
meeting with Netanyahu in Washington last week Harris said she told him she
“will always ensure that Israel is able to defend itself, including from Iran
and Iran-backed militias, such as Hamas and Hezbollah”.
But she
added: “Israel has a right to defend itself, and how it does so matters.” She
also said she would “not be silent” about civilian deaths and suffering in
Gaza.
A
movement to vote uncommitted in the Democratic presidential primaries took off
in swing-state Michigan and spread, garnering more than 700,000 ballots for the
uncommitted cause.
The
Uncommitted National Movement is pushing for representation at the Democratic
national convention later this month in Chicago.
Abbas
Alawieh, an uncommitted delegate from Michigan, told the Guardian that Harris
had “expressed a level of concern about the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza
that perhaps we weren’t seeing from the president”.
Alawieh
added: “We’re getting more engagement than we did under President Biden being
at the top of the ticket, and so I’m hopeful that we can move in a direction
that leads to her engaging directly.”
Source: uk.news.yahoo.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://uk.news.yahoo.com/key-black-muslim-group-backs-195305740.html
--------
Birmingham
Mosque want to 'steer youth away from destructive paths' after Southport
tragedy
2 AUG
2024
Green
Lane Mosque have condemned the riots following the Southport tragedy claiming
violence and knife crime are 'not specific to any race or religion'. GLMCC
expressed grief over the deaths of Alice Dasilva Aguiar, Bebe King and Elsie
Dot Stancombe after a knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in
Southport.
Axel
Rudakubana, 17, has been charged with their murders, however violent protests
broke out just after the tragedy. Rioters hurled bricks at police and attacked
a Mosque on July 30, mistakenly believing the attacker was Muslim.
This
claim has been debunked however. GLMCC released a statement saying: "GLMCC
is deeply saddened by the tragic deaths of Alice Dasilva Aguiar, Bebe King and
Elsie Dot Stancombe. They and their families are in our thoughts, and we pray
the remaining victims make a full recovery.
"Our
focus should be on supporting the victims' families and respecting their
requests for calm to allow the authorities to carry out their work. Instead, we
witness further disturbances caused by a racist minority, intent on inciting
violence against minority communities.
"They
have attempted to hijack legitimate outpourings of anger and grief towards the
horrific Southport murders, for their own bigoted cause. Judge Menary KC was
correct in calling out the "idiotic rioting" and revealing the
Stockport suspect's identity in order "to dispel misinformation that
exists, especially online".
"The
wider Southport community that turned out to clean and repair the local mosque
that was targeted due to the spread of misinformation, is a true reflection of
who we are as UK citizens. We should be troubled when seeing mobs attack police
and emergency workers.
"Such
violence detracts from our collective efforts to steer youth away from these
destructive paths. Violence and knife crime are not specific to any race or
religion.
"Once
again, we have witnessed the devastating effect of this epidemic. It profoundly
affects us all and must be tackled robustly.
"That
is why GLMCC continues to address this issue directly. GLMCC has been running a
knife campaign for over three years and has successfully delivered various
sermons and youth workshops on the dangers of gangs and crime.
"GLMCC
calls for all communities, regardless of ethnicity or background to support its
youth. We also call for stricter laws on the spreading of misinformation that
sadly surfaces the deep thread of religious, Islamophobic and racial hatred
amongst us.
"We
hope to see the new government handle this type of extremism with a correct and
fair response."
The
Mosque mentioned a youth awareness talk on July 27 which resulted in an
anonymous passer-by handing in a machete to the Mosque's caretaker. West
Midlands Police meanwhile are bracing themselves for copycat protests in the
region knowing communities are on high alert.
Hundreds
of mosques across the country have strengthened their security, according to
the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB), over fears Islamic places of worship could
be targeted again.
Source: birminghammail.co.uk
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/birmingham-mosque-want-steer-youth-29667463
--------
Muslim
Council says 'law and order' isn't enough to tackle the 'Islamophobic hate'
following mosque attacks
2 August
2024
The
violence happened after hundreds of people gathered in the town centre to pay
tribute to those killed in the knife attack at a Taylor Swift dance class,
laying flowers and toys.
Three
girls were killed in the attack while eight children were injured, with five of
them in critical condition in hospital.
Two
adults who tried to protect them also remain in critical condition.
Axel
Rudakubana appeared in court on Thursday to face charges of multiple murders
and attempted murders.
Following
the knife attack, within 30 hours of lies being circulated on social media, 53
police officers had been injured, with online misinformation turning into
offline harm.
Prime
Minister Keir Starmer promised that the “full force of the law” would be used
against the rioters.
Referencing
the far-right, anti-Muslim protesters which targeted Southport mosque - setting
vehicles and wheelie bins on fire and attacking a local shop - Mohammed spoke
of their "ideological" motivations.
Bottles
and bricks were thrown at police, who linked the rioters to the English Defence
League, a group that has sometimes staged violent demonstrations against Islam.
Mohammed
called the scenes "terrifying" and told Shelagh Fogarty on LBC:
"There is an issue on how people view others...what we saw was a really
strong both Islamophobic sentiment, but also an anti-immigrant sentiment, that
really kind of kicked the story off and then lots of misinformation around it.
"I
think what's really important is dispelling the misunderstandings and myths
around what are you really afraid of, what is this doing to your society.
"It's
been very distressing. I think people have been really really upset and really
worried and also terrified about what they saw at Southport.
"You
know the fact that this was a fake news story and...was so quickly vilified to
an extent that these mobs and thugs were coming out to target a mosque, and now
we've heard lots across social media of more planned attacks. It's really so
co-ordinated.
"I
think people have been really really upset.
"There
seems to be this really strong undercurrent of Islamophobic hate,
anti-immigrant hate and that's really boiling up...and the law and order
approach isn't going to tackle that."
"There's
got to be another approach. In the immediate we're going to need extra policing
and that security in place.
"There
is that sense of people power and community. Unfortunately not everyone is
going to want a cup of tea."
She also
urged caution in case of further instances of unrest, adding: "If there's
big hoards and gangs of people, just be really careful...we just hope that it
doesn't escalate beyond what we've already seen."
Speaking
about the mosque as a community hub, she said: "The mosque is not just
somewhere we go for prayers, but actually many of the elderly in our community,
will go for that elderly care, having a cup of tea and a biscuit.
"Many
young people will go for classes, both educational, but also summer programmes
and fairs.
"But
also many women, like myself, will go for our own classes and groups. There's
so much activity happening particularly in the summer."
She went
on to say: "We are part of a wonderfully diverse Britain and that works
because all of us are working together and this constant demonisation and
choosing the framing around mosques isn't actually true.
"They're
you're neighbours, they're your friends."
Source: lbc.co.uk
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/muslim-council-says-law-and-order-isnt-enough-to-tackle-the-undercurrenislamapho/
--------
Explosion
kills five, injures 20 in Russian city (VIDEO, PHOTOS)
2 Aug,
2024
Five
people, including three children, have died after a gas explosion caused a
residential building to partially collapse in the city of Nizhny Tagil in
Russia’s Urals, the Emergencies Ministry (EMERCOM) said on Friday. The blast
destroyed two sections of a five-story apartment building that contained 15
flats.
EMERCOM
confirmed that 15 people had been recovered from rubble by rescue teams
overnight, along with several pets. A total of 20 people sustained injuries and
were taken to local hospitals for treatment. Five people, including three
minors, remain missing.
Footage
from the scene shows rescue teams working to clear the rubble. The emergency
services have evacuated the remaining blocks of the apartment building, which
house 70 more people, warning that there is a threat of further collapse. The
regional authorities have organized temporary accommodation for the evacuees in
a local hotel.
More
than 550 emergency workers and several canine teams are currently involved in
the search and rescue operation, according to the ministry.
Nizhny
Tagil Mayor Vladislav Pinaev has promised that everyone affected by the tragedy
would receive psychological and financial assistance. The city has already
allocated over 240 million rubles ($2.8 million) to aid the victims, TASS
reported, citing authorities.
The
local prosecutor’s office has launched a criminal probe following the incident.
According to preliminary reports from investigators, the blast took place in an
apartment on the third floor of the building on Thursday. A malfunction of gas
equipment or violation of the rules of its operation are considered possible
causes of the explosion. Investigators are also looking into reports that two
gas technicians were seen at the site shortly before the blast.
Nizhny
Tagil is located some 1,000km east of Moscow and is famous for being home to
Uralvagonzavod, a major Russian manufacturer of tanks and armored vehicles.
Source: rt.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.rt.com/russia/602032-russia-building-collapse-gas/
--------
Mideast
Haniyeh
assassinated after US green light; Israel savagery underscored: Iran
intelligence min.
02
August 2024
Iran’s
intelligence minister says the Israeli regime’s assassination of senior Hamas
leader, Ismail Haniyeh, in Tehran was carried out with Washington's approval.
Ismail
Khatib made the remarks on Friday in a message of condolence that he issued on
the occasion of Haniyeh’s martyrdom.
The
assassination claimed the lives of Haniyeh, the Palestinian resistance
movement’s Political Bureau chief, and one of his bodyguards in the Iranian
capital on Wednesday.
The
resistance leader was in the city to attend the inauguration ceremony of
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
“Martyr
Ismail Haniyeh’s assassination took place at the hands of the usurping Zionists
with the United States’ greenlight,” he said.
Throughout
decades, Washington has unexceptionally defended the regime against punitive
international measures, served as its biggest arms purveyor, and provided it
with close intelligence cooperation toward both protecting it and facilitating
its desired atrocities.
“The
assassination once again put the Zionist regime’s bestial nature on display,”
Khatib added.
The
minister also suggested that the Israeli regime had perpetrated the
assassination in reprisal for the resistance’s successful implementation of the
al-Aqsa Storm operation.
The operation
saw the Gaza Strip’s resistance movements, including Hamas, staging a uniquely
daring retaliatory attack against the occupied Palestinian territories on
October 7, capturing hundreds of Israeli troops and settlers.
The
assassination “is beyond doubt an indication of al-Aqsa Storm’s victory and a
sign of the regime’s disintegration,” Khatib said.
The
remarks echoed those made by the late Hamas’s leader following the operation,
during which he said, “The Al-Aqsa Storm operation marked the beginning of the
disappearance of the occupation of our land.”
Source: presstv.ir
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2024/08/02/730554/Iran-Israel-United-States-assassination-Hamas-leader-Haniyeh
--------
Israel
advances most West Bank settlements in decades: EU
August
03, 2024
JERUSALEM:
Israel advanced last year the highest number of settlements in the occupied
West Bank since the Oslo Accords of the 1990s, the European Union’s
representative office in the Palestinian territories said on Friday.
Plans
for 12,349 housing units moved toward approval in the West Bank, the EU office
said, warning of the impact on a potential two-state solution for the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Another
18,333 units moved forward in the planning process in annexed east Jerusalem,
the EU office said.
The
total — 30,682 units in both the West Bank and east Jerusalem — is the highest
since 2012, it added.
The
report comes at a time of heightened tensions in the West Bank and east
Jerusalem over the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip, which has been raging
since October 7.
“The EU
has repeatedly called on Israel not to proceed with plans under its settlement
policy and to halt all settlement activities,” the EU office said.
“It
remains the EU’s firm position that settlements are illegal under international
law.
“Israel’s
decision to advance plans for the approval and construction of new settlement
units in 2023 further undermines the prospects of a viable two-state solution.”
All of
Israel’s settlements in the West Bank, occupied since 1967, are considered
illegal under international law, regardless of whether they have Israeli
planning permission.
Dozens
of unauthorized settlements have sprung up in the territories — ranging from a
few tents grouped together to prefabricated huts that have been linked to
public electricity and water supplies.
Excluding
east Jerusalem, some 490,000 Israeli settlers now live in the West Bank
alongside some three million Palestinians. Far-right parties in Israel’s
governing coalition have pressed for an acceleration of settlement expansion.
Since
the start of the Gaza war, violence between Palestinians and Israeli troops and
settlers has intensified.
At least
594 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli troops and settlers in the West
Bank since October 7, according to an AFP tally based on Palestinian health
ministry figures.
At least
17 Israelis, including soldiers, have been killed by Palestinian attacks in the
West Bank over the same period, according to official Israeli figures.
The
landmark Oslo Accords codified mutual recognition of Israel and the Palestinian
Liberation Organization, as well as interim Palestinian self-government.
Last
year Norwegian peace worker Jan Egeland, one of the deal’s architects, told AFP
that he now considered the accords dead.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2561576/middle-east
---------
Thousands
throng Beirut show as Hezbollah vows revenge
August
03, 2024
BEIRUT,
Lebanon: As Hezbollah’s leader threatened Israel with crushing retaliation for
killing their top commander, thousands in Beirut flocked to a dance
extravaganza in a stark illustration of Lebanon’s deep divisions.
In the
capital’s southern suburbs — a Hezbollah stronghold — tens of thousands of
black-clad women and men in military uniform joined Thursday’s funeral
procession for slain commander Fuad Shukr.
Across
the city on the Beirut waterfront, nearly 8,000 people attended a spectacular
dance show that evening by the Mayyas troupe that won the “America’s Got
Talent” television contest in 2022.
“I am
sad people are dying in southern Lebanon and Gaza, but resistance is not just
about carrying a gun and fighting,” said 45-year-old Olga Farhat.
“Joy,
art and celebrating life is also a form of resistance,” the human rights
activist told AFP.
Fireworks
opened the dance show, hours after Hezbollah buried Shukr, who was killed in an
Israeli air strike in the southern suburbs on Tuesday.
The show
entitled ‘Qumi’ — rise up in Arabic — was an ode to the Lebanese capital that
has endured decades of conflict, upheaval and a years-long economic crisis.
“There
is a split in the country between those who don’t care for war and feel that...
Hezbollah wants to impose its collective identity on them, while the other
group is fighting,” Farhat said.
“I
understand both points of view, but we are tired of wars and crises, we want to
enjoy life.”
In the
southern suburbs, thousands of Hezbollah supporters chanted “Death to America”
and “Death to Israel.”
Across
the city, dozens of Mayyas dancers performed a moving tribute to war-battered
south Lebanon, from where Hezbollah has been exchanging near-daily cross-border
fire with the Israel army since the Gaza war began on October 7.
“I grew
up during Lebanon’s (1975-1990) civil war and I was raised to believe in the
Palestinian cause,” Farhat said.
“But
today I say ‘Lebanon first’.”
The raid
that killed Shukr and an Iranian military adviser also cost the lives of three
women and two young siblings, authorities said.
In a
video clip circulating online, their bereaved mother said their lives were a
“sacrifice for you, Sayyed (Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah).”
Speaking
from the southern suburbs, Hussein Nasreddine, 36, said: “We love life like
everyone else... but if Israel drags us into war, it is our duty to die as
martyrs.”
The
cross-border violence since October has killed at least 542 people in Lebanon,
most of them fighters but also including 114 civilians, according to an AFP
tally.
On the
Israeli side, the army reports 47 dead, including on the annexed Golan Heights.
In June,
the head of the Hezbollah bloc in the Lebanese parliament, Mohammad Raad, who
lost a son in the border clashes, lambasted Lebanese “who want to go to night
clubs... beaches, and enjoy their lives” as war rages in the south.
This
week, independent lawmaker Mark Daou angered Hezbollah supporters by posting a
photograph of Thursday night’s show with the comment: “The strongest response
to Israel is the culture of life and beauty.”
Daou,
who was elected after mass protests against the political leadership
responsible for the country’s slide into economic crisis, told AFP he refused
to “reduce Lebanon to a battlefield.”
Many
politicians, especially from Lebanon’s Christian community, have criticized
Hezbollah for risking war with Israel.
Peace-building
expert Sonia Nakad said “the bigger the tragedy, the greater the division” in
Lebanon.
In
Lebanon, power is shared according to sectarian quotas, with communities so
divided about the country’s past that events following 1943 are missing from
official history books.
Each party
“wants the other to be an exact copy of them to be able to co-exist, while they
are opposites in everything,” she said.
“The
Lebanese have yet to renounce using violence against each other, no matter how
big their disagreements,” she said.
Foreign
airlines have suspended or canceled flights to Beirut but many Lebanese
expatriates are still pouring in, although some have cut their holidays short.
Rabab
Abu Hamdan said she planned to go back to the Gulf after feeling “very stressed
in the past few days.”
“Despite
the difficult circumstances, Lebanon remains the best vacation destination,”
she said.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2561586/middle-east
--------
Source
close to Hezbollah reports Israeli strikes near Syria-Lebanon border
August
03, 2024
BEIRUT,
Lebanon: A source close to Lebanese militant group Hezbollah said late Friday
that Israel carried out strikes on a convoy of trucks entering Lebanon from
Syria.
“Three
Israeli strikes targeted a convoy of tanker trucks on the Syrian-Lebanese
border in the Hawsh el-Sayyed Ali area, injuring one Syrian driver,” the source
told AFP.
It was
the latest in a series of Israeli strikes in the border area, the source added.
The
Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor also reported Israeli strikes
inside Syria near the border with Lebanon, without mentioning any casualties.
Iran-backed
Hezbollah has a strong presence on both sides of the eastern stretch of the
Lebanese-Syria border, where it supports the regime of Syrian President Bashar
Assad.
The
group has been exchanging near-daily fire with Israel since its Palestinian
ally Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, sparking war in Gaza.
The
group had muted its attacks following the killing of its military chief Fuad
Shukr in Beirut on Tuesday and Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran
on Wednesday.
The
Lebanese group claimed responsibility for five attacks on military positions in
northern Israel on Friday.
Hezbollah
chief Hassan Nasrallah addressed the funeral of Shukr on Friday, warning that
Israel and “those who are behind it must await our inevitable response” to the
twin killings.
Fighting
between Israel and Hezbollah since October has killed at least 542 people on
the Lebanese side, most of them fighters but also including 114 civilians,
according to an AFP tally.
At least
22 soldiers and 25 civilians have been killed on the Israeli side, including in
the annexed Golan Heights, according to army figures.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2561626/middle-east
---------
Reuters
denies reporting of ballistic missile attack against Israel
August
03, 2024
WASHINGTON:
Reuters denied on Friday that it had reported on imminent preparations for a
ballistic missile attack against Israel, after reports circulated on social
media citing the news agency as saying this.
“Any
claims that Reuters reported imminent preparations for a ballistic attack by
Iran, including that satellites and radars have picked up ballistic missiles
and drones leaving Iran, Yemen and Iraq toward Israel, or that Turkiye and Iraq
have closed their airspace, are false. Reuters did not report this,” a
spokesperson said.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2561596/middle-east
--------
Israel
releases Iman Sheikh Ekrima Sabri, deports him from Al-Aqsa Mosque
02.08.2024
JERUSALEM
Al-Aqsa
Mosque preacher Sheikh Ekrima Sabri was released by Israeli authorities on
Friday after being detained for several hours and ordered to be deported from
the mosque.
His
lawyer Khaled Zabarka told Anadolu that the Israeli authorities released Sheikh
Ekrima and ordered his deportation from the mosque until Aug. 8, with a
possibility to extend his deportation for six months.
Earlier
on Friday, Sheikh Ekrima Sabri was arrested early Israeli police for mourning
and eulogizing slain Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh.
Haniyeh
was assassinated on Wednesday in Tehran, Iran’s capital. While Hamas and Iran
blamed Israel for the killing, Tel Aviv has not confirmed or denied its
responsibility.
One of
Sabri's relatives told Anadolu that Israeli police stormed into his house in
occupied East Jerusalem and arrested him.
Following
the Friday prayer at Al-Aqsa Mosque, Sabri led a funeral prayer in absentia for
Haniyeh.
"The
people of Jerusalem and the environs of Jerusalem from the pulpit of the
blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque mourn the martyr Ismail Haniyeh," he said while
giving a sermon.
The
85-year-old preacher had previously been detained by Israeli forces and was
barred from entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem for months.
Sabri is
a staunch critic of the decades-long Israeli occupation of the Palestinian
territories. He had previously held the position of mufti of Jerusalem and the
Palestinian territories from 1994 to 2006.
Source: aa.com.tr
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https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/israel-releases-iman-sheikh-ekrima-sabri-deports-him-from-al-aqsa-mosque/3293728
--------
Israeli
airstrike kills 5 in West Bank, including Hamas commander — Palestinian media
August
03, 2024
RAMALLAH:
An Israeli airstrike on a vehicle in the occupied West Bank killed a commander
in the Palestinian armed group Hamas on Saturday, Hamas media reported, while
Palestinian news agency WAFA said four other men were also killed.
The
identities of the others were not clear, according to the WAFA report, which
cited health officials.
The
Israeli military said it had carried out an airstrike against a militant cell
around the West Bank city of Tulkarm. Hamas media said a vehicle carrying
fighters had been struck and that one of the commanders of its Tulkarm brigades
was killed.
Violence
in the West Bank was on the rise before the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza began on
Oct. 7 and has risen since, with frequent Israeli raids in the territory, which
is among those that the Palestinians seek for a state.
Regionwide
tensions have soared this week after the assassination of Hamas’ leader, Ismail
Haniyeh, in Teheran on Wednesday, a day after an Israeli strike in Beirut
killed Hezbollah senior military commander Fuad Shukr.
Haniyeh’s
death was one in a series of killings of senior Hamas figures as the war in
Gaza between the Palestinian militants and Israel nears its 11th month and
concern grows that the conflict is spreading across the Middle East.
Hamas
and Iran have both accused Israel of carrying out the assassination and have
pledged to retaliate against their foe. Israel has neither claimed nor denied
responsibility for the death.
Hezbollah,
like Hamas, is backed by Iran and has also vowed revenge.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2561691/middle-east
--------
UAE
provides 70 tons of aid to displaced families in Gaza
August
03, 2024
DUBAI:
UAE’s ‘Chivalrous Knight 3’ aid mission in Gaza provided 70 tons of aid to
families in Gaza, reported state news agency WAM on Friday.
The aid
included dozens of shelter tents to house families who have been displaced by
the ongoing fighting.
The
volunteers also distributed food boxes to displaced Palestinian families in
shelter camps to help them cope with food shortages.
Operation
‘Chivalrous Knight 3’ aims to provide food and essential aid for families and
children in Gaza amid the fierce fighting that killed over 39,000 Palestinians.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2561681/middle-east
--------
Africa
At least
13 killed in protests over Nigeria's economic crisis - Rights group
02-08-24
At least
13 protesters were killed during mass protests in Nigeria against the country's
economic crisis that turned violent in several states, a rights group said
Friday.
Authorities
confirmed four people killed by a bomb and the arrests of hundreds in the
protests that triggered curfews in several states.
Amnesty
International’s Nigeria director Isa Sanusi said in an interview that it
independently verified the deaths that were reported by witnesses, families of
the victims and lawyers.
More
than 300 protesters were arrested and curfews imposed in the northern states of
Kano and Katsina after the looting of government and public properties,
Nigerian police said.
One
police officer was also killed and several others injured.
The
protests were mainly over food shortages and alleged bad governance in the
country. Nigeria’s public officials, frequently accused of corruption, are
among the best paid in Africa, a stark contrast in a country that has some of
the world's poorest and hungriest people, despite being one of the continent’s
top oil producers.
Carrying
placards, bells and Nigeria’s green-and-white flag, protesters chanted songs as
they listed their demands, including the reinstatement of gas and electricity
subsidies whose removal as part of the government’s audacious reforms to grow
the economy has had a knock-on effect on the price of just about everything
else.
Source: africanews.com
Please click the following URL to read
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https://www.africanews.com/2024/08/02/at-least-13-killed-in-protests-over-nigerias-economic-crisis-rights-group/
--------
Police
Recover Loot From Kano Protests, Continue Search Operations
3 August
2024
The Kano
State Police Command, on Friday, directed its operatives to initiate a house-to-house
search to recover items stolen during the #EndbadgovernanceinNigeria protest in
Kano.
Naija
News reports that the protest, which started peacefully, was hijacked by
suspected hoodlums who embarked on a looting spree.
The
looters raided stores, houses, and government establishments, including the
yet-to-be-inaugurated office of the Nigerian Communication Commission, taking
away furniture, electronic items, and more.
They
also vandalised streetlights and other public decorations.
In
response, the police arrested over 400 suspects and recovered some stolen
items.
Social
media user, Sa’adatu Baba Ahmad, reported that policemen stormed the Yakasai
and Durumin Zungura areas in Kano Municipal to retrieve the stolen goods on
Friday.
She
wrote, “Since 10:30am, looted items are being recovered from the houses of
people who stole property of the government and innocent people in the name of
protest. Up till now, they are there invading the houses.”
At a
briefing earlier on Friday, the Kano Police Command reiterated its commitment
to ensure that perpetrators of the mayhem which broke out during the protest
are brought to book.
Source: naijanews.com
Please click the following URL to read
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https://www.naijanews.com/2024/08/03/police-recover-loot-from-kano-protests-continue-search-operations/
--------
Boko
Haram attacks displace 2,390 persons in Yobe
August
2, 2024
About
475 households and 2,390 people from four different communities within Mafa
Ward in Tarmuwa Local Government of Yobe State have been displaced due to
attacks by Boko Haram insurgents
The
Executive Secretary of the Yobe State Emergency Management Agency (YOSEMA), Dr.
Mohammed Goje, who disclosed this said, the affected communities include Mafa,
Bangaro, Ngoyo, and Billiri communities in the LGA.
He said
the displaced persons are currently being housed in various locations within
Babban Gida Town, the capital of Tarmuwa LGA.
“The
Yobe SEMA team, in collaboration with several partners, is conducting a rapid
assessment to address the immediate needs of the displaced persons.
“The
initial focus will be on providing essential food items, non-food items (such
as mattresses, blankets, mosquito nets, mats, buckets, and dignity kits), and
ensuring the safety and dignity of those affected.”
He said
the National Emergency Management Agenmcy (NEMA) has provided shelter in an
emergency response to the recent displacement in Mafa community of Tarmuwa LGA
as a result of attack by suspected Boko Haram members.
The
Executive Secretary said SEMA team visited the temporary site where displaced
persons are currently sheltered, following the recent unfortunate incident of
attack in Mafa town.
He said
two persons were killed in the incident and displacement of survivors as well.
Source: 21stcenturychronicle.com
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https://21stcenturychronicle.com/boko-haram-attacks-displace-2390-persons-in-yobe/
--------
Christians,
Muslims Unite in #EndBadGovernance# Protest in Plateau
02-08-24
As the
ongoing protest against hunger and bad governance in Nigeria enters the second
day Friday, there is a larger turnout of protesters than the first day as
Christians and Muslims in Jos, the Plateau State capital, put aside their
age-long differences to ensure that the exercise is a success.
Like the
first day, the protest was largely peaceful as the protesters were orderly and
listened to the directives of their leaders, former Minister of Youth and
Sports, Mr. Solomon Dalung and the General Overseer of EBOMI International
Ministries, Prophet Isa El-Buba.
The duo
cautioned the protesters not to destroy any property as they marched from Old
Airport Roundabouts to the Secretariat junction.
When it
was afternoon and time for Muslim Jumat prayers, one of the Imams in the
protest called for the suspension of the protest to allow the Muslim protesters
observe their Jumat prayers.
Their
Christian counterparts provided security for the Muslims to observe the prayers
before they resumed the protest.
The
protesters observed that the struggle has nothing to do with religion or tribe
but with reversing government bad policies that have visited hunger and general
hardship on Nigerians.
The
security personnel were on ground and also very cooperative to ensure that
nothing was allowed to get out of control.
Source: thisdaylive.com
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https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2024/08/02/christians-muslims-unite-in-endbadgovernance-protest-in-plateau/
--------
South Asia
22 US
senators, Congressmen write to Blinken on 'worsening human rights conditions in
Bangladesh'
Aug 3,
2024
In the
letter, they urged the US to work with the international community to prevent
further deterioration of democracy in Bangladesh and human rights situation.
The
letter also made several "allegations against the current
government".
In the
letter dated August 2, they said, "Bangladesh has suffered one of the
worst outbreaks in violence in years as the government cracked down on students
protesting a quota system that allocates up to 30 percent of government jobs
for relatives of veterans that fought in the country's war of independence in
1971. Police, protestors, opposition activists, and pro-government supporters
clashed in the capital of Dhaka and cities across the country, with at least
170 people killed, thousands arrested, and thousands injured."
The
Bangladeshi government responded to the student protests by sending out the
previously sanctioned paramilitary Rapid Action Battalion, allowing riot police
to use tear gas, rubber bullets, and sound grenades against demonstrators,
enforcing a strict curfew with military force, issuing
"shoot-on-sight" orders, and shutting down mobile and Internet
services nationwide, the letter said.
"Given
these alarming and continuing trends, we hope that you will lead the US
Department of State in upholding the shared democratic principles that have
long underpinned the US-Bangladeshi relationship. The United States must
condemn all acts of violence, ensure critical civil liberties, such as the
freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, are protected, and take action to
hold complicit government officials accountable for the above abuses against
the Bangladeshi people," they said.
The
letter further said that the United States must work with the international
community to support the right of the Bangladeshi people to a representative
democratic government that upholds human rights and respects individual
freedoms in order to prevent the further deterioration of democracy in
Bangladesh.
Senators
Edward J Markey, Chris Van Hollen, Richard J Durbin, Tim Kaine, Tammy Baldwin,
Jeffrey A Merkley, and Christopher S Murphy co-signed the letter in the Senate,
and Representatives William R Keating, James P McGovern, Seth Moulton, Lori
Trahan, Joe Wilson, Dina Titus, Grace Meng, Gerald E Connolly, Gabe Amo,
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Nydia M Velázquez, Daniel T Kildee,
Barbara Lee, and James C Moylan co-signed the letter in the House of
Representatives.
Here's
the full letter:
Dear
Secretary Blinken:
We write
with grave concerns regarding the state of democracy and human rights in
Bangladesh and urge the US Department of State to redouble its efforts to
support the democratic aspirations of the Bangladeshi people. Our concerns have
only become more acute following recent deadly clashes between student protestors
and security forces and Bangladesh's national elections on January 7, 2024,
which the United States, United Nations (UN), and other observers have rightly
criticized as being neither free nor fair.
Since
their inception, US-Bangladeshi relations have been predicated on mutual
respect for the rule of law, the promotion of democracy, and the protection of
human rights. Core priorities have also included strengthening people-to-people
ties, enhancing regional security, and bolstering inclusive economic growth and
development. Since Bangladesh's independence in 1971, with support from the
United States and other international partners, it has made great strides in
improving the lives of its citizens. Over the past 50 years, ties between our
two countries have grown stronger and deeper and have been enriched by the
contributions of a growing and vibrant Bangladeshi American community.
Consequently, we have watched with growing alarm as these shared principles
have come under threat in Bangladesh as the ruling Awami League and Bangladeshi
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have acted in an increasingly authoritarian manner
since returning to power in 2009.
We have
been heartened by actions taken by President Biden and his Administration to
bolster human and civil rights in Bangladesh. These include the December 10,
2021 imposition of sanctions on the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), following
widespread allegations that it committed grave human rights abuses as part of
the Bangladeshi government's war on drugs. As supporters of Bangladesh's
democracy, we also welcomed the May 24, 2023 announcement of a new US visa
policy that restricts the issuance of visas for any Bangladeshi individual
believed to be involved in undermining the democratic election process in
Bangladesh, including current and former officials, members of political
parties, and members of law enforcement, security services, and the judiciary.
In addition to these actions, we also appreciate the consistent messages
conveyed to Bangladeshi officials over the past years urging them to allow free
and fair elections and to improve respect for human rights, including the
rights of workers. Sadly, the Bangladeshi government has continued to take
actions that undermine democratic processes, including by holding deeply flawed
elections in January, failing to improve labor regulations, and, most recently,
violently cracking down on demonstrations using guns, tear gas, and imposing a
near-total shutdown of Internet services.
The
January 7, 2024 election was largely boycotted by Bangladesh's political
opposition, which itself was hamstrung by a wave of arrests following
demonstrations on October 28, 2023. According to widespread reporting, tens of
thousands of opposition leaders and activists were arrested and detained in the
weeks leading up to elections. While some opposition activists and leaders have
been freed since the election, many still remain in prison, with little
prospect of receiving justice in a politicized legal system even if they do
make bail. Additionally, journalists and online critics of the government have
seen their freedom of expression come under serious attack through harassment,
surveillance, physical assaults, and a draconian digital censorship law. Most
importantly, the election was marred by violence and not supported by a large
swath of the Bangladeshi electorate, with voter turnout at about 40 percent
when the polls closed compared to 80 percent in the previous national election
in 2018.
Beyond
members of the political opposition, workers and trade unionists have long
faced violence, repression, and labor rights violations in Bangladesh. Workers
who attempt to form or join trade unions are met with threats and mass
dismissals, government labor inspectors fail to sufficiently monitor millions of
workplaces, employers fail to pay livable wages, and sexual violence in the
workplace is rampant. Wage discrimination persists and unsafe working
conditions in the country's largest employment sectors, which include the
garment, shipping, and leather industries, result in millions of workplace
injuries and tens of thousands of workplace deaths annually. After the November
2023 killing of Imran Hossain, a factory worker and unionist, by police during
a crackdown against fair wage protests, we welcomed the State Department's
statement condemning violence against workers in Bangladesh and expressing
concern about the ongoing repression of workers and union members. However, the
Bangladeshi government has yet to amend its labor laws to protect workers'
freedom of association in line with the United Nations' International Labor
Organization's conventions and standards.
Most
recently, Bangladesh has suffered one of the worst outbreaks in violence in
years as the government cracked down on students protesting a quota system that
allocates up to 30 percent of government jobs for relatives of veterans that
fought in the country's war of independence in 1971. Police, protestors,
opposition activists, and pro-government supporters clashed in the capital of
Dhaka and cities across the country, with at least 170 people killed, thousands
arrested, and thousands injured. In responding to the student demonstrations,
the Bangladeshi authorities deployed the previously sanctioned paramilitary
Rapid Action Battalion; condoned the use of tear gas, rubber bullets, and sound
grenades by riot police against protestors; imposed a strict, military-enforced
curfew and "shoot-on-sight" orders; and shut down Internet and mobile
services across Bangladesh.
Given
these alarming and continuing trends, we hope that you will lead the US
Department of State in upholding the shared democratic principles that have
long underpinned the US- Bangladeshi relationship. The United States must
condemn all acts of violence, ensure critical civil liberties, such as the
freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, are protected, and take action to
hold complicit government officials accountable for the above abuses against
the Bangladeshi people. Moreover, in order to prevent the further deterioration
of democracy in Bangladesh, the United States must partner with the
international community to support the right of the Bangladeshi people to a
representative democratic government that upholds human rights and respects
individual freedoms. Thank you for your attention to this important matter.
Source: thedailystar.net
Please click the following URL to read
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https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/22-us-senators-congressmen-write-blinken-worsening-human-rights-conditions-bangladesh-3668561
--------
At least
32 children killed in Bangladesh violence: UNICEF
Aug 3,
2024
UNICEF
has confirmed that at least 32 children were killed during July's protests,
with many more injured and detained.
"This
is a terrible loss. UNICEF condemns all acts of violence. On behalf of UNICEF,
I extend my heartfelt condolences to families mourning the loss of their sons
and daughters," said UNICEF Regional Director for South Asia Sanjay
Wijesekera in a statement issued from Kathmandu on Friday.
He has
just returned from a week in Bangladesh and said he is deeply concerned about
the impact of recent violence and ongoing unrest on children.
In his
meetings with government, UNICEF partners and organisations working for and
with young people, he emphasised that the UN Convention on the Rights of the
Child recognises the right of children to freedom of association and to freedom
of peaceful assembly.
"Children
must be protected at all times. That is everyone's responsibility," he
said.
The UN
Convention on the Rights of the Child is the most widely ratified human rights
treaty in history.
Bangladesh
has demonstrated a strong commitment to children's rights since becoming a
signatory to the Convention almost 34 years ago.
"I
am aware of reports that children are being detained, and remind authorities
that for a child, coming into contact or conflict with the law can be very
frightening," Wijesekera said.
In line
with international human rights and the UN Convention on the Rights of the
Child to which Bangladesh is a signatory, and based on research into the
effects of detention on children, UNICEF urged an end to the detention of
children in all its forms.
This
means that children should not be arrested or detained based on their mere
presence in any location or because of their background, religion, or acts or
beliefs of their family members, he said.
Supporting
children caught up in the violence is a priority for UNICEF, he said, adding
that he visited the UNICEF-supported Child Helpline 1098 which has seen a 250
per cent increase in demand since the violence started.
"I
saw how trained counsellors listen to children's concerns, refer to them the
appropriate support and services - and follow up with them," Wijesekera
said.
In
addition, 1,100 social workers, trained by UNICEF, under the Department of
Social Services, are providing psychosocial help for children whose mental
health has been affected by the violence and curfews.
One of
the best ways to help children recover from violence and to keep them safe is
to reopen all schools, restart learning, and reunite children with their
friends and teachers, he said.
30
million students from pre-primary to secondary school have missed 10 days of
school.
These
learning losses are compounded by school closures earlier this year due to
heat, cyclones and floods.
While
UNICEF welcomes the reopening of primary schools in many parts of Bangladesh
from 4 August, there will still be around 15.5 million school children who are
unable to resume learning.
"The
longer children are out of school, especially girls, the less likely they are
to return, jeopardizing their future," Wijesekera said.
He said
children and young people are the future of Bangladesh. "They should be
protected when they speak up."
Source: thedailystar.net
Please click the following URL to read
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https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/rights/news/least-32-children-killed-bangladesh-violence-unicef-3668301
--------
Athletes
stage power display to raise support for flood victims in Ghor, Afghanistan
August
3, 2024
Several
athletes from Ghor Province organized a power display on Friday morning, August
2nd, to raise awareness and gather aid for flood victims in the province at the
“Flood Victims’ Town” in the city of Firuzkuh, the provincial capital.
Abdul
Qasim Ferdowsi, a boxer from Ghor, stated, “Many residents of Ghor who lost
everything due to devastating floods and are now living in the
‘Pasht-e-Gaomurk’ area of Firuzkuh need shelter, food, clean drinking water,
and other necessities.
We
athletes from boxing, parkour, and Muay Thai organized these power displays to
attract the attention of the central government and aid organizations to these
displaced people.”
Mr. Ferdowsi,
also known as the “Snowman of Afghanistan,” expressed concern about the
situation of the flood victims in Ghor and emphasized the need for urgent
assistance from both the government and national and international aid
organizations.
Nazemuddin
Nizemi and Zubair, two other athletes from Ghor, also expressed deep concern
for the flood victims, stating that these people are currently living in very
difficult conditions.
Meanwhile,
the displaced persons now residing in the Flood Victims’ Town in Firuzkuh have
complained about their dire living conditions.
Subhan, a resident of Marghab District in Ghor
whose entire possessions were destroyed by the flood, said, “We have been
living in ‘Pasht-e-Gaomurk’ for about five weeks, and we have received no help from
the government or organizations. We have no shelter, no clean drinking water,
our children have no access to education, and most importantly, we have no
food.”
Mohammad
Hussain, another flood victim from Marghab District in Ghor, said, “We have
been living under the sun for over a month with no assistance so far. We
currently have nothing.”
The
displaced people are also concerned about the rise in diseases in the flood
victims’ camp, stating that many children are ill.
Recently,
local officials in Ghor reported that 400 families displaced by the destructive
floods, who had left their original areas, have settled in Firuzkuh and the
Flood Victims’ Town. They also mentioned ongoing efforts to provide the best
services for disaster survivors and to build shelters for the flood victims.
The
recent devastating floods in Ghor Province have resulted in numerous
casualties, including women and children. Many homes and shops have been
destroyed, agricultural lands and orchards have been lost, and thousands of livestock
have perished.
The dire
situation faced by the flood victims in Ghor underscores the urgent need for
coordinated relief efforts and support from both national and international
communities.
The
efforts by local athletes to raise awareness are commendable, but substantial
aid and resources are required to address the immediate needs of the displaced
families.
Source: khaama.com
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https://www.khaama.com/atheltes-stage-power-display-to-raise-support-for-flood-victims-in-ghor-afghanistan/
--------
Iranian
authorities close 378 shops operated by Afghan migrants in Qeshm
August
2, 2024
According
to an Iranian official in Qeshm, Iran, about 378 shops operated by
“unauthorized refugees” have been closed.
Omid
Mahdavi-Majd, the Prosecutor of Qeshm, Iran, announced the closure of 378 shops
that were operated by “unauthorized migrants.”
He
stated that these closures were executed in collaboration with the Islamic
Republic’s security forces.
According
to Tasnim News Agency, Mahdavi-Majd indicated that renting commercial and
residential properties to unauthorized Afghans constitutes a “crime” and that
those involved will face legal consequences.
Additionally,
Mahdavi-Majd emphasized that employing undocumented Afghans in Qeshm is
prohibited. The order to halt the employment of unauthorized Afghans has been
communicated to all business units in Qeshm.
The
prohibition on housing and employing Afghans extends to several provinces
including East Azerbaijan, West Azerbaijan, Ardabil, Zanjan, Kurdistan,
Kermanshah, Ilam, Lorestan, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, Kohgiluyeh and
Boyer-Ahmad, Gilan, Mazandaran, Sistan and Baluchestan, Hormozgan, and Hamadan.
The
stringent measures against undocumented Afghan migrants in Iran have
exacerbated their precarious situation, leading to further economic hardship.
With
many now left without livelihoods or legal protection, the humanitarian crisis
for these migrants deepens.
The
international community must address the dire plight of Afghan refugees facing
forced deportation.
As they
are pushed back into a deteriorating situation in Afghanistan, urgent and
coordinated efforts are needed to provide them with support and protect their
fundamental rights amidst the escalating crisis.
Source: khaama.com
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https://www.khaama.com/iranian-authorities-close-378-shops-operated-by-afghan-migrants-in-qeshm/
--------
IOM
reports nearly 8 million Afghans have migrated amid economic collapse
August
2, 2024
Since
2020, nearly 8 million Afghans have migrated, with 85 percent moving to
neighboring countries, primarily Iran, and almost one million heading to
Europe, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
IOM
reported that approximately 70 percent of Afghans migrating to Iran cited a
lack of job opportunities as their primary reason for leaving their home
country.
Since
the Taliban took power in August 2021, Afghanistan has faced significant
economic contraction and an increase in poverty levels. As of early 2024, over
half of Afghanistan’s population is living in poverty.
The
World Bank estimates that nearly 36 percent of the Afghan population cannot
afford sufficient food, highlighting the dire economic conditions within the
country.
IOM also
noted a consistently high number of returnees from Iran, with nearly 1 million
Afghans returning in 2023. Of these, 70 percent were undocumented, and 60
percent were forcibly returned.
Many
Afghans are migrating through unofficial routes due to difficulties in
obtaining passports and visas. They often rely on smugglers to cross informal
borders.
Smugglers,
aiming to increase their profits, frequently overload their vehicles, putting
the lives of migrants at significant risk, as reported by IOM.
The
humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan has intensified the refugee situation, with
many Afghans facing severe hardship and danger during their migration journey.
As
neighboring countries grapple with the influx of Afghan refugees, forced
deportations and inadequate support exacerbate the crisis, contributing to the
already dire conditions faced by these displaced individuals.
The
plight of Afghan refugees remains a critical issue, with neighboring countries
struggling to manage the influx and provide adequate support. The forced
deportations and perilous migration conditions highlight the urgent need for
international assistance and a comprehensive solution to address the ongoing
humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.
Source: khaama.com
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https://www.khaama.com/iom-reports-nearly-8-million-afghans-have-migrated-amid-economic-collapse/
--------
Kandahar
textile factory resumes operations after 45 years
August
2, 2024
A
Kandahar textile factory has resumed operations after a 45-year hiatus,
provincial officials confirmed on Thursday.
The
factory, which has 3,000 machines in total, currently has 400 machines
operational and is actively producing fabric. This revival follows decades of
inactivity caused by ongoing conflict.
The
reactivated factory is set to supply fabric and clothing to key Afghanistan
ministries, including public health, national defense, interior, and the
general directorate of intelligence.
Factory
officials stated that with contracts from these ministries, they could expand
operations to up to 2,600 machines and create job opportunities for 12,000
people.
Among
the 400 operational machines, 64 are dedicated to processing cotton, capable of
producing large quantities of fabric.
The
reopening of the factory has been positively received by Kandahar residents,
who anticipate that it will create local job opportunities and boost the
regional economy.
Originally
established in 1975, the factory was forced to shut down due to the war. Its
reopening symbolizes progress in overcoming past industrial disruptions.
The
revival of the Kandahar textile factory represents a significant step towards
restoring Afghanistan’s industrial capabilities.
However,
the industrial revival in Afghanistan faces numerous challenges. Entrepreneurs
and employers in the country struggle with severe hardships, including
unreliable electricity, inadequate facilities, and a high tax rate that burdens
businesses.
Additionally,
Afghanistan’s dependency on exports from neighboring countries and a lack of
governmental focus on industrial development exacerbate the difficulties faced
by businesses. Addressing these issues is crucial for sustaining economic
growth and improving the conditions for local entrepreneurs.
Source: khaama.com
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https://www.khaama.com/kandahar-textile-factory-resumes-operations-after-45-years/
--------
Israel
on High Alert Amid Cyberattacks on Ben Gurion Airport
2024-08-03
KABUL(BNA):
According to Israeli media reports, Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport has
experienced significant cyberattacks, leading to widespread flight disruptions
and cancellations over the past 24 hours.
The reports
indicate that the airport’s website has been compromised, severely affecting
flight operations.
Moreover,
Israeli and international media have reported that the Israeli Ministry of
Health is on high alert, preparing for a possible major attack.
The United
States has also issued a warning to its citizens to exercise caution while
traveling in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories.
The
heightened threat of an attack on Israel follows the recent assassinations of
Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and a Hezbollah commander in Lebanon, with speculation
that Iran or Hezbollah could be responsible for a potential retaliatory strike.
Source: bakhtarnews.af
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https://www.bakhtarnews.af/en/israel-on-high-alert-amid-cyberattacks-on-ben-gurion-airport/
--------
Door of
Gono Bhaban open for protesting students: PM
Aug 3,
2024
Prime
Minister Sheikh Hasina today called upon the agitating students to sit with her
at Gono Bhaban to end the violence centring the quota reform movement.
"I
want to sit with the protesting students and listen to them. I want no
conflict," she said.
The
prime minister made the remarks at a meeting with the central leaders of
Peshajibi Somonnoy Parishad (Professionals Coordination Council) at Gono Bhaban
in the morning.
Source: thedailystar.net
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https://www.thedailystar.net/bangladesh/news/door-gono-bhaban-open-protesting-students-pm-3668571
--------
Pakistan
X Ban
May Be Lifted If Social Media Rules Framed: Punjab I&B Minister Azma
Bukhari
August
3, 2024
LAHORE:
Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari has said the government may lift the
ban on X (formerly Twitter) if social media rules and regulations are framed.
“We are
not against social media, but we are talking about rules and regulations. If
the (social media) rules and regulations are made, the ban on X will be
removed,” Ms Bokhari told journalists here on Friday.
The
Shehbaz government had shut down X in February this year following allegations
of change of general election results by the Election Commission of Pakistan
(ECP).
The
federal government, however, had defended the ban on the popular social media
platform, saying that the move was “legitimate” when it came to addressing
national security concerns.
Ms
Bokhari further said that many countries had laws governing social media. “In
every country laws are made to solve the problems and freedom of expression is
abused. There are distorted traditions in our society,” she said and added the
social media accounts were regulated all over the world.
Punjab
minister says govt backs ‘regulated’ social media
“Digital
terrorism is carried out through social media accounts. All accounts must be
governed by the rules and regulations,” the minister declared.
About
the PTI’s incarcerated founder, Ms Bokhari said: “Imran Khan is mentally
disturbed in jail. On the one hand, he is saying that the army should appoint
its representative for talks with the PTI, and on the other, he is saying that
Mohsin Naqvi is the representative of the army.”
She
said, “Imran Khan should apologise first [over May 9 incidents]. Let him first
admit that they have done all this and he has made a mistake.”
Source: dawn.com
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https://www.dawn.com/news/1849767/x-ban-may-be-lifted-if-social-media-rules-framed-azma-bukhari
--------
JI will
not join PTI's grand alliance: Hafiz Naeem
August
02, 2024
Hafiz
Naeem ur Rehman, the emir of the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), ruled out the
possibility of joining Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) proposed grand
alliance, pointing out that past experience shows these alliances are often
driven by the self-serving motives.
Speaking
during Geo News' programme "Capital Talk" on Thursday, the JI chief
said: "We will have the same stance as the opposition parties on some
issues and hold meetings with them, but we will not become part of any
alliance."
PTI's
senior leader Asad Qaiser has said that incarcerated party founder Imran Khan
gave the nod for forming a "grand opposition alliance" and that they
would "gather all opposition parties to run a powerful anti-government
movement".
The PTI
leader also said that they support JI's sit-in against the massive hike in
power bills.
The JI
is also holding protests and is on the streets against inflated electricity
bills and high taxes. The government is engaging with the party to address its
concerns in a bid to end its Rawalpindi sit-in.
In his
conversation with "Capital Talk's" host Hamid Mir, the JI emir said
that parties, who are members of an opposition alliance, later act in their
self-interest, which hurts the cause.
"The
government also thinks that we came here for a day or two, but let me tell
them: we will not leave until our demands are met," Hafiz Naeem, who was
appointed as JI's top leader in April, said.
Naeem
lamented that the government's "lack of seriousness" is seen in the
negotiations, however, his party conveyed its concerns in the best way
possible.
"The
government officials requested us to end the sit-in but we asked them to show
us the IPPs' (Independent Power Producers) contracts," he said.
"We
believe there is something dubious in the IPPs' contracts," said the JI
chief, asserting that his party will continue to hold sit-ins if their demands
are not met.
Hafiz
Naeem reiterated that keeping in view the past experiences, his party will not
be a part of any alliance; however, it will do whatever it can to provide relief
to the masses.
Source: thenews.com.pk
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https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1215823-ji-will-not-join-ptis-grand-alliance-hafiz-naeem
--------
Event
organised in US to pay tributes to martyrs of Pakistan
August
03, 2024
Women
Wing of Overseas Pakistanis Global Foundation organized a special event in the
United States to pay tributes to the martyrs of Pakistan.
The
event was chaired by President of Women Wing of Overseas Pakistanis Global
Foundation Tahira Deen.
On the
occasion, the women appreciated and paid tribute to the services of Pakistan
Army and martyrs of Pakistan.
Tahira
Deen said the women are proud of the martyrs who sacrifice their lives for the
sanctity of the homeland.
Source: radio.gov.pk
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https://www.radio.gov.pk/03-08-2024/special-event-organised-in-us-to-pay-tributes-to-martyrs-of-pakistan
--------
Senior
leader of Imran Khan's PTI party shot dead while coming out of mosque after
prayers
03.08.24
A senior
leader of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf
party was shot dead in Lahore while he was coming out of a mosque after
offering Friday prayers, the police said.
“Dr
Shahid Saddique Khan was coming out of a mosque in Valancia Town in Lahore
after offering Friday prayers when four unidentified men opened fire on him and
fled on two motorcycles.
He was
shifted to a hospital where he succumbed to his wounds,” a Lahore police
spokesperson told PTI.
The
spokesperson said that the Lahore police chief has constituted a special team
to probe the incident.
Khan was
the owner of a private hospital and former information secretary of PTI’s
Punjab chapter.
IGP
Punjab Dr Usman Anwar has directed the Lahore police to immediately arrest the
killers. The PTI has been at loggerheads with the authorities ever since the
May 9, 2023, riots in which party workers attacked the state and military
installations following the arrest of Khan in an alleged corruption case.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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--------
Three
judges survive militant attack in Tank
August
3, 2024
DERA
ISMAIL KHAN/LAKKI MARWAT: Three judges going in a convoy from Tank district to
Dera Ismail Khan narrowly escaped a militant gun attack, leaving two policemen
martyred on Friday, while a traffic constable was shot dead by unidentified
assailants in Lakki Marwat.
Police
said that the three judges, including acting district and sessions judge of
Tank Malik Hasnain, acting district and sessions judge of South Waziristan
Malik Asghar and senior civil judge of South Waziristan Tahira Zainab, were
going in a convoy to Dera Ismail Khan when militants attacked them in the
Bhagwal area of Tank.
During
an exchange of fire with the attackers, two policemen guarding the convoy
embraced martyrdom. The militants escaped the area after the shooting.
The
martyred policemen were identified as Constable Abdullah and Constable Abdus
Samad.
According
to officials, three judges are close relatives. Senior civil judge Tahira
Zainab is the wife of judge Malik Asghar and sister of judge Malik Hasnain.
A
contingent of police along with Rescue-1122 personnel was sent to the spot soon
after police received information about the incident.
Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi strongly condemned the attack on the
judges’ convoy and expressed grief over the martyrdom of two policemen in the
attack.
Also,
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sardar Ali Amin Khan Gandapur condemned the
attack on the convoy of judges near Tank.
Mr
Gandapur said he saluted the martyred policemen for their bravery to guard the
three judges.
It
should be noted that the district and sessions judge of South Waziristan was
abducted a few months ago near Hathala on Dera-Tank road. He was later set
free.
In Lakki
Marwat, a traffic policeman was martyred in an attack near Mela Shahabkhel
village on Friday.
Police
said constable Anwar Sher was going to Lakki city on his motorbike when he was
targeted by armed motorcyclists near Mela Shahabkhel. They sped away after the
shooting.
He
belonged to Zangikhel area.
Funeral
Deputy
Commissioner Fahad Wazir, DPO Aqeeq Hussain, SP Investigations Murad Khan and
relatives of the deceased later attended his funeral in Tajazai.
The body
of the martyred policeman was then taken to Zangikhel for burial with full
official honour.
Meanwhile,
the Peshawar High Court has summoned additional chief secretary home and KP IGP
pertaining to immediate increase in the security of judicial officers.
An
emergency meeting in this connection was held under the chairmanship of PHC
Chief Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim.
Justice
Ijaz Anwar, Justice S.M. Atiq Shah, Justice Shakeel Ahmed, Justice Syed Arshad
Ali, registrar Akhtar Khan and additional registrar Mamreez Khan Khalil
attended the meeting.
The
participants insisted on taking measures for providing security to judicial
officers in the merged districts of the KP province.
Addressing
the meeting, the chief justice said that judicial officers were his first
priority and their protection and security is the responsibility of the
government.
Source: dawn.com
Please click the following URL to read
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https://www.dawn.com/news/1849758/three-judges-survive-militant-attack-in-tank
--------
Gender-based
violence cases doubled in Punjab: report
August
3, 2024
ISLAMABAD:
The Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan (LJCP) on Friday expressed grave
concern over significant increase in gender-based violence (GBV) nationwide
while citing a recent report titled, “Unveiling Shadows: An Overview of
Gender-Based Violence Cases, 2023”.
The
report, which provided an in-depth analysis of GBV trends throughout the
country, focuses on cases adjudicated under the Pakistan Penal Code and the Prevention
of Electronic Crimes Act, 2016 (Peca) during 2023.
In
response to the urgent need for action, the commission proposed a key
initiative in 2019 and the National Judicial Policy Making Committee (NJPMC)
directed the establishment of specialised courts dedicated to GBV cases across
the country.
This
report evaluates the effectiveness of these 480 courts established across the
country.
On case
statistics, the report mentioned the backlog of unresolved GBV cases increased
significantly from 21,891 to 39,655 by year-end, an 81 per cent rise.
Punjab
saw its backlog nearly double from 16,958 to 34,350 cases. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s
backlog increased by 14pc from 2,230 to 2,547 cases. Sindh’s backlog grew by
3pc from 1,453 to 1,495 cases, while Balochistan and Islamabad reported
slight increases of 2pc and 1pc, respectively.
The part
of the report reviews the types of GBV cases addressed during the year.
Sexual
violence remains the most pressing issue, with ongoing challenges in
resolution.
Gender-based
killings have risen, though the backlog in gender-based harm cases has
decreased. Marriage-related offences have seen an increase in pending
cases, while economic violence cases have decreased.
Gender-based
intimidation and threats have fallen, whereas gender-based electronic crimes
have risen, the LJCP stated in its findings.
Low
conviction rate
On the
judicial outcomes, the report revealed a troublingly low conviction rate of 5pc
and a high acquittal rate of 64pc. This trend is consistent across provinces
and indicates systemic issues requiring immediate reform.
The
report concludes with recommendations for addressing these issues, including a
thorough review of acquittal cases, enhanced training for judicial officers and
prosecutors, strengthened victim support services, increased public awareness,
improved case management practices, legislative review, better resource
allocation, and robust monitoring and accountability systems.
Overall,
this report is essential for understanding the current state of GBV cases in
Pakistan and will inform future actions and reforms, the LJCP said, adding that
it remains committed to transparency, accountability, and the protection of
human rights.
A
comprehensive follow-up report will be developed at the end of the year,
continuing efforts to foster a just and equitable society free from fear and
violence.
Additionally,
the LJCP said it issued “Gender-Inclusive Legislation: Framework for Equity,
Empowerment and Justice”. This essential compendium provides a comprehensive
overview of federal and provincial laws and rules aimed at advancing women’s
rights, including key legislation on gender-based violence, discrimination,
economic empowerment, and political participation.
By
enhancing understanding and implementation of these laws, the document
reaffirms the LJCP’s commitment to fostering gender equality and an inclusive
society.
It
serves as a vital resource for policymakers, legal practitioners, and
advocates, underscoring the ongoing need to address systemic barriers and
ensure the full realisation of women’s rights.
Source: dawn.com
Please click the following URL to read
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https://www.dawn.com/news/1849766/gender-based-violence-cases-doubled-in-punjab-report
--------
Balochistan
Assembly condemns Hamas leader’s assassination
August
3, 2024
QUETTA:
The Balochistan Assembly has passed four resolutions condemning the assassination
of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran, vandalism of Pakistan’s consulate in
Germany, and the desecration of national flag.
The
resolutions adopted on Thursday late night also called for the construction of
a dam in Washuk, as well as relocation of the trauma centre outside Quetta.
One of
the resolutions, moved by Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) lawmaker Shahida Rauf on
behalf of various MPAs including Mir Younus Aziz Zehri, Asghar Ali Tareen and
Mir Zabid Ali Reki, strongly condemned the assassination of “the great leader
of the Palestinian liberation movement and Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh”.
The
lawmakers said the martyred Hamas leader had dedicated his life to advocating
for the rights and freedom of the oppressed Palestinian people and highlighted
the Palestinian issue on the international stage while exposing Israel’s
aggressive actions.
The
members paid tribute to his selfless services to the Palestinian people and
expressed heartfelt sympathy and condolences to his family and the Palestinian
people.
Another
resolution, tabled by BAP lawmaker Farah Azim Shah and adopted unanimously,
condemned the desecration of the Pakistani flag and vandalising of the
consulate in Germany.
Ms Shah
said it was a planned attack by a few miscreants, stressing that flags are
symbols of a country’s identity and must be respected by everyone. This
shameful act has hurt Pakistanis worldwide, she added.
She said
the assembly not only strongly condemns this incident but also urges the
federal government to contact the German government immediately to ensure that
the perpetrators are promptly arrested and given punishment to prevent such
incidents in future.
Mir Asim
Kurd Gelo, Haji Ali Madad Jatak, Syed Zafar Agha, Meena Majid, Hadiya Nawaz and
other lawmakers said Pakistan’s integrity is dear to all of them, and such
incidents are unacceptable. The German government and embassy should ensure the
protection of Pakistanis and take measures to prevent such events, they
demanded.
The
resolution presented by JUI-F’s Zabid Ali Reki called for constructing a dam in
Washuk district. He said that due to the declining underground water levels,
there is a water shortage in almost all districts of Balochistan. Most
districts, especially Washuk, lack sufficient dams, leading to water wastage.
Therefore,
the assembly recommends that the provincial government approach the federal
government to take practical steps for constructing the Tangi Zorati dam in
Washuk to boost agriculture in the district.
The
resolution moved by National Party’s Mir Rahmat Saleh Baloch sought relocation
and expansion of the trauma centre outside Quetta city. He explained that the
trauma centre, located inside the Civil Hospital, provides emergency medical
care to patients from across the province. Since Quetta experiences heavy
traffic, patients coming from remote areas face significant difficulties in
reaching the trauma centre.
Considering
these difficulties, the resolution recommended that the provincial government
take immediate steps to relocate the trauma centre outside Quetta and expand it
to a 200-bed provincial trauma centre.
Source: dawn.com
Please click the following URL to read
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https://www.dawn.com/news/1849761/balochistan-assembly-condemns-hamas-leaders-assassination
--------
Govt
announces support package of Rs5m for every family of missing persons
August
02, 2024
The
government has announced a support package worth Rs5 million to each family of
missing persons, stepping up efforts to provide legal and financial assistance
to them, said Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar on Friday.
The
minister remarked while briefing the media on the decisions taken in the
federal cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz earlier today in
Islamabad.
Tarar
said the federal cabinet discussed the issue of missing persons and approved
the support package and added that the premier approved the package in light of
the recommendations made by the previous committees on the issue of missing
persons.
The law
minister said two reports about the missing persons were presented before the
cabinet today, adding that the cabinet also approved the constitution of a
special committee to examine genuine cases of families in need of support after
reviewing the final report of the committees.
He
further said the new committee will address the problems being faced by the
missing persons' families.
The
assistance announced today is not a remuneration, he clarified, adding it is an
attempt by the government to share the grief of missing persons' families and
resolve their problems.
The
federal minister said that there are a lot of "complicated" reasons
behind the issue of missing persons, adding that the government has taken
strict measures to resolve the issue and most of the cases have been tackled
through the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances (COIED).
The
government is committed to resolving all issues of missing persons by tapping
into all resources, Tarar added.
The
minister also claimed last month that “only 23% of missing persons’ cases are
pending", adding that 10,200 cases of missing persons were registered in
the COIED out of which around 8,000 cases have been addressed.
Earlier,
Information Minister Atta Tarar had said that in 2011, the Supreme Court formed
an inquiry commission about missing persons which sorted out 7,900 cases out of
10,023 cases and now 23% of the cases are pending.
In its
report presented in January this year, the missing person's inquiry commission
said that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reported 3,485 cases of missing persons, making it
the highest number in the country. Causalities in drone attacks and the spike
in militancy were the key reasons behind the disappearances, as per the report.
In
Balochistan, 2,752 cases related to enforced disappearance were lodged, the commission
had said, adding that besides other reasons, fleeing abroad without informing
their families, due to the prevailing situation in the province, was among the
causes of these cases.
The
government's announcement came as the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) activists
demanding the recovery of missing persons, called off their sit-in in Gwadar
earlier today after successful negotiations with the local administration.
The
protesters announced ending their sit-ins in Gwadar and across the province
after an agreement was signed by Dr Mahrang Baloch — from the protesters’ side
— and Gwadar district’s deputy commissioner.
Source: thenews.com.pk
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https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1215926-govt-announces-support-package-of-rs5m-for-every-family-of-missing-persons
--------
Hasan
sent on one-day physical remand in terrorism case
August
02, 2024
ISLAMABAD:
An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in the federal capital extended Pakistan
Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) Information Secretary Raoof Hasan's physical remand by
one more day in a terrorism case.
The
reserved verdict was announced by ATC Judge Tahir Abbas Supra after he heard
Raoof's petition seeking bail in the case.
The
judge said that the PTI information secretary will be produced before the court
tomorrow. He was present in the court today after the completion of his two-day
physical remand.
Hasan
was taken into custody by the counter-terrorism department (CTD) on July 31.
Prosecutor
Raja Naveed requested the court for another seven-day physical remand of the
PTI leader, saying that they have to find out the names of other co-accused.
"Raoof
Hasan's custody is required to gain access to the suspects," the
prosecutor apprised the court.
Hasan's
lawyer Ali Bukhari told the court that gunpowder was not recovered from his
client. "CTD launched a raid and kept Raoof Hasan in custody for two
days," he said.
Bukhari
reiterated that nothing was recovered from the PTI leader. He demanded to bring
forth the statement of the complainant.
The
lawyer said that Raoof Hasan is unable to climb stairs and he would die if he
doesn't take medicine for two days. He then requested the court to release
Hasan.
In
another hearing, Supra also rejected party's coordinator for international
media Ahmad Waqas Janjua's bail petition.
A day
earlier, a court granted bail to Hasan in the anti-state propaganda case
against bail bonds worth Rs50,000.
The PTI
information secretary and others, on July 22, were taken into custody by the
Islamabad Police and subsequently handed over to the Federal Investigation
Agency (FIA).
Source: thenews.com.pk
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https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1215847-raoof-hasan-sent-on-one-day-physical-remand-in-terrorism-case
--------
Youm-e-Istehsal-e-Kashmir
to be observed on Monday
August
03, 2024
Kashmiris
on both sides of Line of Control and World over will observe
Youm-e-Istehsal-e-Kashmir on Monday to register their protest against Narendra
Modi-led Indian government's illegal and fraudulent action taken on this day in
2019.
The
observance of Youm-e-Istehsal is aimed at conveying a message to the world that
Kashmiris do not accept India's illegal occupation and reject Indian illegal
moves of 5 Aug 2019 when it repealed the special status of Indian illegally
occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
Meanwhile,
All Parties Hurriyat Conference has urged Kashmiri people to observe
Youm-e-Istehsal Kashmir as Black Day to reaffirm their commitment to the UN recognized
right to self-determination.
Source: radio.gov.pk
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the text of the original Story
https://www.radio.gov.pk/03-08-2024/youm-e-istehsal-e-kashmir-to-be-observed-on-monday
---------
Southeast Asia
Malaysian
Festival Organizers Sue The 1975 Over On-Stage LGBT Incident
August
2, 2024
Kuala
Lumpur. The 1975 is being sued after Matty Healy's kiss of a bandmate in an
on-stage protest shut down a music festival last year in Malaysia.
Healy
used profanities as he criticized Malaysia's stance against homosexuality
before kissing bassist Ross MacDonald during the band's headline performance at
the Good Vibes Festival in Kuala Lumpur. Homosexuality is a crime in Malaysia,
punishable by up to 20 years in prison and caning.
The
lawsuit from the festival organizer Future Sound Asia seeks 1.9 million pounds
($2.5 million) for breach of contract and losses. It filed the lawsuit against
The 1975 Productions LLP and all four of the band members in the High Court in
London on July 23, lawyer David Dinesh Mathew said Thursday.
The
government slammed Healy's conduct, blacklisted the band from the country and
canceled the three-day festival. Some in the LGBTQ+ community also criticized
the band, saying Healy had disrupted the work of activists pushing for change
and had endangered the community.
In its
lawsuit, FSA said the band previously performed at the festival in 2016 and had
been reminded that performance rules included no swearing, smoking, drinking
alcohol, talking about politics and religion, or indecent action such as
kissing.
Malaysian
authorities initially refused to let the band perform amid reports about
Healy's drug addiction and his subsequent recovery but relented after the band
promised Healy would adhere to all guidelines and regulations, FSA said.
The
band's fee for its one-hour show was $350,000, of which the bulk was paid, but
their conduct was a "clear and deliberate breach" of their contract,
FSA said.
Representatives
for The 1975 did not respond to requests for comment on the lawsuit.
The
lawsuit came after attempts to claim compensation from the band last year
failed. Mathew said the defendants are expected to file their defense in
September.
The band
canceled shows in Taiwan and We The Fest Indonesia last year after the fiasco
in the Malaysian capital.
Source: jakartaglobe.id
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://jakartaglobe.id/lifestyle/malaysian-festival-organizers-sue-the-1975-over-onstage-lgbt-incident
--------
Anwar’s
stance on Haniyeh’s killing shows strong support for Palestine, boosts Islamic
credentials
AUG 03,
2024
KUALA
LUMPUR – Since the Israel-Gaza war started last October, Malaysian politicians
and some newscasters have regularly donned chequered black-and-white scarves –
a symbol of the Palestinian struggle for a homeland – during public
appearances.
Thousands
of Malaysians have also taken part in several peaceful marches in the country
in support of Palestine, and calls are often made in local mosques and online
for donations to ease the suffering of people trapped in Gaza.
At some
road junctions in Kuala Lumpur, new and tattered Palestinian flags and slogans
are hung side by side, by those calling for “Free Palestine” or another public
protest.
Thus, it
was quite natural for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to lead the country in
strongly condemning the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh on July
31.
Hours
after the killing in Tehran made global headlines, Mr Anwar uploaded a video
recording of his previous call with the late Hamas leader on social media. The
Cabinet and Foreign Ministry also issued written condemnations.
Mr Anwar
called the assassination “murder of the most heinous kind” and one that would
derail peace talks in Gaza.
He is
slated to attend a huge government-organised Palestinian Liberation Rally in
Kuala Lumpur’s main stadium on Aug 4.
Mr
Anwar’s stance showed his sincere championing of Palestinian rights, while also
boosting his Islamic credentials with the domestic Malay community and wider
Muslim world, analysts said.
In
contrast, Indonesia offered a relatively low-profile response. President Joko
Widodo condemned the killing as “intolerable” in a media doorstop, but with no
official statement from him on social media.
Dr
Norshahril Saat, a senior fellow at ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute, said the
political situation in Malaysia and Indonesia determines the respective
leadership’s response.
“Every
Malaysian prime minister wants to portray themselves as the defenders of the
Malays domestically, a Muslim leader globally. It’s been consistent since the
premiership of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad,” he told The Straits Times.
But
while Indonesia is also a strong backer of Palestine, Dr Norshahril said there
is some diversity in views over the Gaza war.
“They
have several pressure groups such as Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and Muhammadiyah…
Some NU members went to visit key leaders in Israel that created an uproar.
Some say this is a strategic move. Others believe it is wrong.”
An
Instagram post in early July showed five members of NU, a 95-million-strong
Muslim organisation that is Indonesia’s largest, met Israeli President Isaac
Herzog to discuss the Gaza war and Indonesia-Israel relationship.
After
receiving a public backlash, NU president Yahya Cholil Staquf apologised while
Jakarta distanced the visit from its official position on condemning Israeli
violence and providing aid to Palestinians.
Indonesia’s
largest mosque, Masjid Istiqlal in Jakarta, on Aug 2, held special prayers for
Haniyeh. Similar prayer sessions are being held in mosques across Malaysia.
Universiti
Malaya sociopolitical analyst, Dr Awang Azman Awang Pawi, said Indonesia
practises a cautious foreign policy unlike Malaysia’s stronger stance in the
Gaza war.
“Indonesia...
tends to adopt a more moderate stance to maintain diplomatic relations with
various countries” such as the United States, the associate professor told ST.
For
Malaysia, Dr Awang Azman opined that the outspokenness of Mr Anwar on
Palestinian issues is not only about appealing to the Islamic world, but is
also aimed at a domestic audience.
The
prime minister met Haniyeh in Doha, Qatar on May 24. He defended the engagement
with Hamas, a designated terrorist organisation in major Western countries, as
a crucial move to secure hostages’ release and a ceasefire.
“Internationally,
it enhances Malaysia’s image as a champion of Muslim causes, reinforcing
Anwar’s role as a global Islamic leader,” said Dr Awang Azman. “By being vocal
about the Palestinian issue, Anwar aligns himself with the broader Muslim
electorate in Malaysia.”
The
multi-coalition ruling alliance led by Mr Anwar has been struggling to gain
Malay support, although he has been prime minister for 20 months.
In the
2023 elections in six of the 13 Malaysian states, opposition alliance Perikatan
Nasional (PN) successfully defended the Malay majority states of Kelantan,
Terengganu and Kedah. It made inroads in constituencies in Selangor, Penang and
Negeri Sembilan – three states governed by Mr Anwar’s alliance.
His
Pakatan Harapan-led alliance suffered another setback in the July 6 by-election
of Sungai Bakap, a 60 per cent Malay electorate state seat in Penang, with a
lowered vote share of 41.4 per cent against 47.4 per cent in 2023.
PN was
seen as having retained strong support among Malay voters while the Anwar-led
alliance lost support among its traditional vote base in the Chinese and Indian
communities.
In the
upcoming Nenggiri by-election in the state of Kelantan on Aug 17, PM Anwar’s
Palestine charm offensive is unlikely to make any dent among the voters – 86
per cent are Malays – said independent analyst Adib Zalkapri.
“I don’t
think it matters much domestically because all sides of the political divide
are supportive of the Palestinian cause,” he told ST, adding that Malaysia is
seen to be more vocal due to Mr Anwar’s keen interest in the issue.
Source: straitstimes.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/anwar-s-stance-on-haniyeh-s-killing-shows-strong-support-for-palestine-boosts-islamic-credentials
--------
DAP: Has
PAS banned women from performing in Chinese temples in Terengganu?
03 Aug
2024
KUALA
LUMPUR, Aug 3 — The PAS administration in Terengganu must clarify if women have
been prohibited from performing in Chinese temples there, DAP vice chairman
Teresa Kok said over a report alleging such a restriction today.
Citing a
China Press article on the matter, Kok said it mentioned new regulations at the
Kuala Terengganu Municipal Council (MPKT) prohibiting female singers from
performing within its jurisdiction.
“I
request that the state government say if this ban on female singers is a new
policy and whether restrictions on entertainment programmes now encompass
non-Muslims including their Taoist and Buddhist temples,” she said in a
statement today.
Kok said
that although the PAS government there has introduced more religious-based
regulations such as gender segregation, these only applied to Muslims.
While
PAS leaders previously insisted that their religious by-laws and policies would
not affect Muslims, Kok said the alleged ban on women singers at the Guan Di
Temple in the state showed that this may no longer be true.
Kok
called such a prohibition unconstitutional and unlawful, before reminding the
PAS government of its obligation to preserve multiracial unity and
interreligious harmony in any policy introduced.
“I urge
the PAS government in Terengganu to revoke these orders and policies and
respect the culture and values of the non-Muslim community, fulfilling PAS's
slogan ‘PAS For All’ in its administration.”
Source: malaymail.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2024/08/03/dap-has-pas-banned-women-from-performing-in-chinese-temples-in-terengganu/145914
--------
M’sians
to gather again at Arena Axiata tomorrow to show support for Palestinians
03-08-
2024
KUALA
LUMPUR: Malaysians will once again gather at Arena Axiata in Bukit Jalil from 6
pm tomorrow to show solidarity and unwavering support for the Palestinian
people.
The
rally for Palestine liberation dubbed ‘Himpunan Pembebasan Palestin’ is also
aimed at sending a strong message to the world that Malaysia condemns the
killing of Hamas Political Bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh and the ongoing
brutality of the Zionist regime.
During
the assembly, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is expected to deliver a
speech to express support for the Palestinian struggle, along with several
other leaders who will be present.
Anwar
has consistently affirmed Malaysia’s stance in supporting the Palestinian
people, including on the global stage.
Yesterday,
the Prime Minister joined about 3,000 worshippers for funeral prayers in
absentia for Haniyeh at the National Mosque, held immediately after Friday
prayers, led by the Grand Imam of the National Mosque, Ehsan Mohd Hosni.
Haniyeh
was reported to have been killed in an Israeli airstrike targeting his
residence in northern Tehran at around 2 am Iran time on July 31.
He was
in the Iranian capital to attend the swearing-in ceremony of the new President
of Iran, Masoud Pezeshkian.
In May,
Anwar had the opportunity to meet Haniyeh and convey his condolences over the
loss of family members in the brutal bombing by the Zionist regime.
Yesterday,
Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu, who is tasked
with leading the assembly, urged the public to show support for the Palestinian
people in the wake of Haniyeh’s killing.
Communications
Minister Fahmi Fadzil, who is also the spokesperson for the Unity Government,
called on all parties, including members of Parliament and the Senate
regardless of political affiliation, to attend the assembly.
Palestinian
Ambassador to Malaysia Walid Abu Ali also expressed gratitude to Anwar and the
Malaysian people for their support of the Palestinian struggle, describing the
event on Sunday as a continuation of Malaysia’s ongoing efforts to support the
country.
On Oct
24 last year, the ‘Malaysia with Palestine’ gathering was held at Axiata Arena,
bringing together political leaders from both the Unity Government and the
opposition to show solidarity with the Palestinian people.
Over
15,000 Malaysians from various backgrounds, religions, and races attended the
assembly.
Prior to
that, the ‘Solidarity with Gaza’ assembly was held at the National Mosque on
Oct 13, 2023, which also saw political leaders from both the Unity Government
and the opposition coming together to express support for the Palestinian
people.
Source: thesun.my
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://thesun.my/local-news/m-sians-to-gather-again-at-arena-axiata-tomorrow-to-show-support-for-palestinians-JK12810977
--------
North America
Police:
Bayonne man threw rock and knife at victims, spat on Muslim woman
Aug 3,
2024
A
Bayonne man is facing charges for allegedly attacking several people Tuesday
morning and harassing a Muslim woman.
Officials
say Bayonne police officers were called to the area of 12th Street and Broadway
for the incident around 7:30 a.m. They say Moustafa Nossier threw a rock at one
victim and threatened him with a knife. Nossier then allegedly threw a 12-inch kitchen
knife at another victim. He then allegedly spit on a police officer as he was
taken into custody.
Police
also said earlier that day, Nossier walked up to a woman, spit on her and said
“[Expletive] Muslim.”
Nossier
faces multiple charges, including aggravated assault and bias intimidation.
Source: newjersey.news12.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://newjersey.news12.com/police-bayonne-man-threw-rock-and-knife-at-victims-spat-on-muslim-woman
--------
Harris
threatens to further alienate Muslim voters with Shapiro VP pick
AUGUST
2, 2024
In
Pennsylvania, a critical swing state won by President Biden by a slim margin of
just over 80,000 votes in 2020, Vice President Kamala Harris faces challenges
over voter concerns about the Biden-Harris administration’s handling of Gaza.
The
consideration of Governor Josh Shapiro, who has been vocal in his support of
Israel’s military actions and has controversially labeled pro-Palestine speech
as “hate speech,” as her running mate has alarmed pro-Palestine advocates. This
choice could jeopardize Harris’s electoral prospects further by alienating
voters.
Pressure
is mounting on Harris to call for a permanent ceasefire, as voters also express
grave concerns about her stance on Israel which oscillates between tacit
approval to direct backing.
The
potential selection of Shapiro as a vice-presidential candidate is stirring
significant debate within the Muslim and Arab-American community. Despite
widespread opposition from both communities to Shapiro, Salima Suswell, senior
advisor to Emgage, a Muslim-American advocacy organization, and founder and
chief executive of the Black Muslim Leadership Council (BMLC), endorsed him in
a statement posted to Facebook. Suswell’s positive portrayal of Shapiro against
the backdrop of over possibly 186,000 dead Palestinians, is particularly
jarring for many Muslims in the base who figures like Suswell claim to advocate
for and on behalf of.
“As we
enter the last 100 days of this presidential campaign, it is important that we
not become single-issue voters,” Suswell wrote. “Our community contains
multitudes, and the needs, opportunities, and challenges facing each of us vary
greatly. I am confident that Governor Shapiro has the best experience to ensure
that our community is valued and heard in any political role he pursues.”
“She
reduced one of the worst genocides to a ‘single issue voter’ pejorative,’ said
a representative from the Texas-based Fort Bend Coalition for Palestine (FBCP).
“Our greatest challenge is standing firmly against injustice, because as the
great black preacher MLK stated ‘injustice anywhere is a threat to justice
everywhere.’ The challenges facing the Muslim ummah (nation) is Islamaphobia
which is directly related to the genocide in palestine.”
Suswell’s
statement, which focused on the African American community and omitted mention
of Palestine, reflects a broader trend within the Democratic Party where
Palestinian rights are often marginalized, even by progressive members.
Shapiro’s
tenure strained by Arab, Muslim relations
Suswell’s
praise of Shapiro for hosting iftar dinners typifies tokenism and overlooks his
Islamophobic and anti-Palestinian sentiments, signified by his disproportionate
targeting and silencing of the voices in those communities. By revising his
administration’s code of conduct to prohibit “scandalous or disgraceful”
behavior, Shapiro has created a broad and vague standard in his state aimed at
suppressing pro-Palestinian free speech.
Shapiro’s
anti-Palestinian stance, evident since his days as a college student and later
as an attorney general, aligns with broader anti-Muslim and Arab policies. From
investments in Israeli bonds to legislation against boycotts, Israel’s
influence pervades domestic policies, impacting community relations and
minority rights.
Suswell’s
own presence at the controversial White House iftar and support for figures who
are negatively impacting Muslim and Palestinian rights through their policies,
have drawn wider criticism from the community. Suswell’s long standing
relationship with Shapiro includes roles on his gubernatorial transition team
and the Commission on Women. Despite Shapiro’s administration establishing
commissions for various demographic groups, there is a conspicuous absence of
one for Arab or Muslim Pennsylvanians.
Suswell,
however, is not the only prominent figure in the community who has aligned
themselves with Shapiro. Marwan Kreidie, executive director of the Philadelphia
Arab American Development Corporation, also endorsed Shapiro based on
superficial actions, such as attending Ramadan events and making crisis calls,
while glossing over Shapiro’s harmful policies.
Hamza,
29, who prefers not to disclose his last name, embodies a typical young voter
on the left and voter a strong advocate for political accountability. “They
should not be gaslighting people from their own community by not listening to
them when they say that we need better candidates,” he said, referring to
figures like Suswell and Kreidi.
Hamza
told Mondoweiss he feels disillusioned by community leaders endorsing
politicians who don’t genuinely support the pro-Palestinian movement. “For the
first time, I’m not voting for Democrats. I’ll be voting for the Green Party.
In Texas, there’s a low chance for a Democratic win, so my vote will protest
the Democratic Party.”
Shifting
voter dynamics
Hamza is
not alone. Many Arab-American voters are leaving the democratic party, at least
for this election, over the Biden-Harris adminstration’s support for Israel’s
genocide in Gaza.
A recent
survey by the ADC, Molitico, and Community Pulse of 43,500 Arab-American
members revealed 45.3% support for Green Party candidate Dr. Jill Stein. With
18% undecided and 6% not voting, Harris, secured 27.5%.
These
numbers indicate a significant shift in support for Harris, compared to the low
numbers Biden was polling among Arab voters prior to his dropping out of the
race. If she addresses key issues like Gaza substantively, Harris could win
back some disillusioned voters, potentially boosting turnout and engagement,
particularly where solidarity with Palestine is pivotal.
And
while the presidential policy direction ultimately rests with Harris, the
choice of VP will no doubt influence voter sentiment significantly. Shapiro’s
selection threatens to further alienate key voter segments, dampening their
already lackluster enthusiasm and participation in the Democratic party.
A
34-year-old Palestinian organizer from Arizona, speaking anonymously, said,
“Shapiro has a record of blatantly violating the Constitution in favor of
Israel, particularly the First Amendment. He sought to hold Ben & Jerry’s
accountable for refusing to sell their ice cream in illegal settlements.” The
organizer also mentioned he will be voting for a third party in the upcoming
presidential election.
Progressive
U.S. leaders from across the U.S. have rallied behind Harris, while stressing
the importance of selecting a VP who embodies Democratic values and appeals to
a broad electorate. Governors Tim Walz and Andy Beshear are favored for their
rural appeal and adherence to core party principles, whereas Shapiro’s
controversial stances on school choice and environmental issues are viewed
negatively by some in the base. It is clear that addressing the situation in
Gaza is crucial for engaging young, progressive voters who care about an array
of issues.
Moreover,
selecting the right VP should not be reduced to tokenism. Palestinians and
Muslims will and must demand a policy shift that holds Israel accountable and holds
the U.S. government responsible to international law.
Emad
Sabbab, a prominent Palestinian American leader from Georgia who collaborates
with African American communities, states, “If Shapiro is the VP choice, I will
completely oppose Kamala Harris and believe many in the Muslim community will
rally behind a third party.” He added, “If Jill Stein chooses a Muslim VP, many
in our community will support her.”
Even if
Harris were to choose a different VP pick than Shapiro, for many young voters,
the situation is beyond repair. The current administration’s support of the
genocide has caused total disillusionment with the Democratic Party and the
American voting system as a whole. Pew Research shows that one-third of adults
under 30 sympathize more with Palestinians, highlighting the importance of this
demographic for Democrats.
Last
week, several young protesters voiced
their disillusionment during Harris’s visit
in Houston to the American Federation of Teachers Convention. Expressing
dismay over Harris’s support for Israel, some declared their intention to
withdraw from electoral politics. “I don’t see myself in the Democratic Party,”
one protester stated. “I’m not voting because I’m not respected as a
constituent.”
Moving
beyond symbolism towards intersectional justice
Suswell
(and many other leaders in the Muslim community) fail to recognize the
potential Palestine has to galvanize and empower voters around a cause that
intersects with numerous policy areas, including education, environmental
justice, and human and civil rights. Many overlook the broader, interconnected
impact Palestine can have on mobilizing a diverse electorate, not just Muslim
and Arab voters.
Suswell
is part of a long line of Muslims who vie to be the authoritative voice for
their community; however, a growing electorate is increasingly discerning about
the difference between symbolic inclusion and genuine policy impact,
particularly since the Gaza genocide.
Commitment
to intersectional justice must extend beyond rhetoric to decisive actions and
policies, engaging marginalized communities, which includes Palestinians. By
selecting a candidate strong on Palestinian rights and anti-racism, Harris can
galvanize progressive voters.
Solidarity
among marginalized groups, especially within diverse Muslim communities, is
essential for building long term collective power. By uniting, these
communities can more effectively assert their demands and achieve the outcomes
they seek.
The 2024
election is a chance to redefine the nation’s global role and adhere to
international law. Failing this risks losing critical swing states by Democrats
and further erodes the party’s moral ground. For a party claiming to champion
diversity and human rights, the test is clear: Will they include Palestinian
voices in their vision of justice, or sideline them for political expediency?
Muslim
and Arab voters will remember the poignant words of Gaza’s poet, Refaat
Al-Areer, whom Israel killed, as they head to the polls. “The Democratic Party
and Biden are responsible for the Gaza genocide perpetrated by Israel.”
Source: mondoweiss.net
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://mondoweiss.net/2024/08/harris-threatens-to-further-alienate-muslim-voters-with-shapiro-vp-pick/
--------
US defense
chief scraps plea agreement for accused 9/11 mastermind and two other
defendants
August
03, 2024
WASHINGTON:
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Friday overrode a plea agreement reached
earlier this week for the accused mastermind of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and
two other defendants, reinstating them as death penalty cases.
The move
comes two days after the military commission at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, announced
it had reached plea deals with Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and two accused
accomplices, Walid bin Attash and Mustafa Al-Hawsawi, in the attacks.
Letters
sent to families of the nearly 3,000 people killed in the Al-Qaeda attacks said
the plea agreement stipulated the three would serve life sentences.
Some
families of the attack’s victims condemned the deal for cutting off any
possibility of full trials and possible death penalties. Republicans were quick
to fault the Biden administration for the deal, although the White House said
after it was announced it had no knowledge of it.
Austin
wrote in an order released Friday night that “in light of the significance of
the decision,” he had decided that the authority to make a decision on
accepting the plea agreements was his. He nullified the agreements.
“I have
determined that, in light of the significance of the decision to enter into
pre-trial agreements with the accused... responsibility for such a decision
should rest with me,” Austin said in a memorandum addressed to Susan Escallier,
who oversaw the case.
“I
hereby withdraw from the three pre-trial agreements that you signed on July 31,
2024 in the above-referenced case,” the memo said.
Mohammed
and the other defendants had been expected to formally enter their pleas under
the deal as soon as next week.
The US
military commission overseeing the cases of five defendants in the Sept. 11
attacks have been stuck in pre-trial hearings and other preliminary court
action since 2008. The torture that the defendants underwent while in CIA
custody has slowed the cases and left the prospect of full trials and verdicts
still uncertain, in part because of the inadmissibility of evidence linked to
the torture.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2561621/world
--------
Judge
rejects replacing counsel for man charged with shooting 3 Palestinian college
students
August
03, 2024
WASHINGTON:
A Vermont judge on Friday denied a request to replace the public defenders for
the man charged with shooting and wounding three college students of Palestinian
descent in Burlington in November, saying it’s premature.
Judge
Kevin Griffin also denied Jason Eaton’s request to hold a private hearing on
the matter with just his attorneys and the judge, excluding the prosecution and
media.
“Mr.
Eaton is certainly entitled to counsel at state expense but he’s not entitled
to counsel of his choosing,” Griffin said.
Eaton
then told the judge that he would like to represent himself but Griffin said he
was not prepared to grant that request. He told Eaton that he can file motions
and the court can consider whether he’s competent to represent himself.
“Right
now you have two great lawyers and a great office to represent you. This is
about as serious as it gets so I’m not going to make such a decision on the
fly,” he said.
Eaton
has pleaded not guilty to three counts of attempted murder and has been held
since his arrest.
The
three men, all age 20, were spending their Thanksgiving break in Burlington,
and were out for a walk while visiting one of the victims’ relatives when they
were confronted by a white man with a handgun, police said. The victims were
speaking in a mix of English and Arabic and two of them were also wearing the
black-and-white Palestinian keffiyeh scarves when they were shot, police said.
The most seriously injured is now paralyzed from the chest down..
One of
his lawyers, Sarah Varty, told the judge that Eaton has expressed a lack of
confidence and trust in his counsel but in explaining why he would impact his
right to a fair trial and attorney-client privilege.
After
Griffin denied his request for a private hearing, Eaton read an argument that
he said he was comfortable presenting in the public, saying his lawyers should
be replaced because the case has drawn significant media attention; the charges
carry potential punishment of up to 60 years to life in prison; and the
workload of his counsel, among other things.
Eaton
moved to Burlington last summer from Syracuse, New York, and legally purchased
the gun used in the shooting, Police Chief Jon Murad told reporters at the
time. According to a police affidavit, federal agents found the gun in Eaton’s
apartment. Eaton came to the door holding his hands, palms up, and told the
officers he’d been waiting for them, authorities said.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2561616/world
--------
Iran has
already proven its capability to launch a major attack on Israel: US
01
August 2024
The
United States has warned about Iran’s capability to target the occupied
Palestinian territories again in response to deadly adventurism on the part of
the Israeli regime.
“Iran
has already proven it is capable and willing to launch a major attack on
Israel,” White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby told
MSNBC on Thursday.
He was
referring to Operation True Promise, a multi-pronged attack that was launched
by the Islamic Republic against the occupied territories on April 13.
The
attack saw the country firing more than 300 drones and missiles towards the
territories in response the regime’s earlier assassination of two generals of
the Quds Force of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) and their
companions in the Syrian capital Damascus.
In
another instance of deadly aggression, however, the regime assassinated Ismail
Haniyeh, head of the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas’s Political Bureau
at his residence in Tehran on Wednesday.
Leader
of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei responded by warning
the regime of a "harsh response," and asserting that it was the
Islamic Republic's duty to avenge the blood of the resistance leader.
“We must
take the Leader's warning about revenge seriously,” Kirby said.
“We are
taking all necessary precautions to ensure the defense of ourselves and our
allies in the region,” he added.
Iran is
not the only party to have threatened the regime with a response.
Lebanon’s
Hezbollah resistance movement has also vowed to avenge the blood of Fuad Shukr,
one of its senior military commanders, who was likewise assassinated by the
regime in an attack against Beirut on Tuesday.
Most
recently, Hezbollah’s Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said fighting
against the regime had entered “a new phase” after the dual assassinations.
Israel
had “crossed red lines” in the assassinations and it had to expect “rage and
revenge on all the fronts,” he said.
Also on
Thursday, the flight-tracking website Flight Aware showed that 18 flights had
been canceled at Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport.
According
to the site, Air India had also canceled all Tel Aviv flights, while other
carriers appeared to have halted some flights but not all.
The
cancellations came as the Israeli regime’s so-called national security council
said in a new travel warning that Iran, Hamas, and Hezbollah could seek to
target its interests abroad in the coming days.
Source: presstv.ir
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the text of the original Story
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2024/08/01/730516/United-States-warning-Iran-attack-Israel-assassinations-Hamas-Hezbollah-Haniyeh-Shukr
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Arab World
Saudi
Ministry signs cooperation agreement with Nigeria’s Supreme Council for Islamic
Affairs
August
01, 2024
JEDDAH:
The Saudi minister of Islamic affairs, dawah and guidance, Abdullatif
Al-Asheikh, signed an agreement with Nigeria’s Supreme Council for Islamic
Affairs in Jeddah on Thursday, with the aim of strengthening cooperation
between the nations in efforts to promote the understanding of Islam and its
message of tolerance, and raising cultural awareness among Muslims.
The deal
will include training for Nigerian imams and other religious figures in topics
such as preaching and teaching of the Arabic language. It also covers
collaboration in affairs relating to mosques, including construction,
maintenance and restoration, and the training and development of mosque staff.
The two
countries will share their experience and expertise in online preaching and
work together to counteract websites that incite violence and extremism, or
otherwise misrepresent Islam.
Nigeria
was represented at the signing of the agreement by Sheikh Al-Hajj Yahaya
Abubakar, a member of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, and officials
from both countries were also present.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2560926/saudi-arabia
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Saudi
border guards thwart qat smuggling attempt in Jazan
August
02, 2024
JAZAN:
The Saudi Border Guards in Al-Ardah in the Jazan region recently thwarted an
attempt to smuggle 380 kilograms of the narcotic substance qat into the
Kingdom.
After
the completion of the initial legal procedures, the qat was handed over to the
relevant authorities.
Meanwhile,
security patrols in Jazan arrested a citizen in Al-Dayer governorate for
attempting to smuggle 41 kg of qat hidden in the vehicle he was driving.
After
taking the completion of initial legal procedures, he was referred to the
relevant authorities.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2561476/saudi-arabia
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Saudi,
Egypt investment ministers hold talks
August
02, 2024
CAIRO:
The Kingdom’s Investment Minister Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al-Falih has been
holding talks with his Egyptian counterpart Hassan El-Khatib in El-Alamein, the
Saudi Press Agency reported on Friday.
The
ministers discussed investment opportunities and cooperation in several
sectors.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2561151/saudi-arabia
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Saudi,
Chile conclude talks on mining, industrial cooperation
August
02, 2024
RIYADH:
The Kingdom’s Industry and Mineral Resources Minister Bandar AlKhorayef has
concluded his visit to Chile where he held talks with leading private and
public sector officials on boosting cooperation, the Saudi Press Agency
reported on Friday.
There were
discussions held on the transfer of knowledge, the latest innovative
technologies in mining, and mutual investment opportunities in the production
and processing of minerals, particularly lithium, copper, and iron ore, the SPA
reported.
At a
meeting with Chile’s Mining Minister Aurora Williams, AlKhorayef focused on
cooperation in sectors with high export and import potential including
chemicals, auto parts and electronics.
AlKhorayef
invited the minister to participate in January’s ministerial roundtable of the
International Mining Conference to be held in Riyadh.
With
Chile’s Finance Minister Mario Marcel, AlKhorayef discussed ways to enhance
trade, as well as the Kingdom’s endeavor to become a leader in the
electric-vehicle industry.
They
reviewed the sectors and objectives of the National Industrial Strategy and the
Kingdom’s mining strategy.
During a
meeting with Economy, Development and Tourism Acting Minister Veronica Pardo,
AlKhorayef highlighted mutual investment opportunities and the aims of the
Saudi Vision 2030 economic diversification plan.
The two
sides looked at opportunities to enhance the export of Saudi Arabia’s phosphate
fertilizers to Chile, given their importance in the agricultural sector for
food security.
AlKhorayef
also held talks held with Foreign Affairs Acting Minister Gloria de la Fuente;
and participated in a roundtable meeting with the South America nation’s
industrial federation SOFOFA, which was attended by representatives from major
mining companies.
In addition,
AlKhorayef met with Ruben Alvarado, CEO of mining giant CODELCO, to discuss
investment opportunities in the production and processing of minerals,
particularly lithium and copper.
CODELCO
is one of the world’s largest copper producers and has a significant presence
in major markets, including Asia, Europe and the US.
The
Kingdom and CODELCO have a partnership through the Almar Water Solutions
company, owned by Abdul Latif Jameel. This project focuses on processing raw
materials for the manufacture of EV batteries.
AlKhorayef
also held a series of meetings with leaders of major Chilean and multinational
mining companies, including Antofagasta, SQM, Advanced Mining Technology
Center, and the Anglo American Mining Control Center.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2561131/saudi-arabia
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KSA’s
Fayfa Mountains: A scenic delight at 2,000 meters above sea level
August
02, 2024
JAZAN:
The Fayfa Mountains in Jazan region are a stunning natural wonder, boasting
lush greenery, abundant rainfall, and dramatic cloud formations.
Its
iconic agricultural terraces, a cherished heritage passed down through
generations, have cemented Fayfa's status as a top tourist destination. This
summer, visitors across Jazan and beyond are flocking to this enchanting
escape.
Recent
rains have cooled temperatures, drawing more tourists to Fayfa's attractions.
Perched
at approximately 2,000 meters above sea level, sites like Al-Absiya, Al-Samaa,
Al-Khatm, and many more offer breathtaking panoramas of mountains, valleys, and
the region’s distinctive stone houses.
Visitors
can also immerse themselves in nature at the local tourist park, which offers
green spaces, walking paths, and essential amenities.
Jazan
municipality has further enhanced the appeal by developing Al-Dhafra, Bardan,
and Fountain parks.
Source: arabnews.com
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the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2561016/saudi-arabia
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URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/taj-mahal-monument-shiva-temple-arrested/d/132856