Narsinghanand Gives Open Call For Hindus To Form ISIS Like Groups
New Age Islam News Bureau
5 March 2025
Yati Narsinghanand
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· Narsinghanand Gives Open Call For Hindus To Form ISIS Like Groups
· Bannu Cantonment Terrorist Attack: 11 Lives Lost, Houses, Mosque Collapse Due To Intensity Of Blasts, Several Buried Under Rubble
· Hamas Welcomes Arab Summit Proposal For Gaza Reconstruction: Statement
· Saudi Cabinet Rejects Displacement Of Palestinians, Backs Arab Summit’s Gaza Plan
· Manchester United Opens Prayer RoomIn Old Trafford Stadium For Its Muslim Fans
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India
· Allahabad HC Accepts A Verbal Plea Of The Hindu Side To Refer To Sambhal Mosque As ‘Disputed’
· Urdu Name, ‘Jashn-e-Alvida’ For Farewell Function In Rajasthan School Leads To Education Department Probe
· 'Pakistani' Slur Does Not Amount To Hurting Religious Sentiments: Supreme Court
· Minister's Call To Bar Muslim Traders From Hindu Fests Triggers Assam Row
· Sambhal Mosque Committee To Allahabad High Court: ASI’s Claim Of Alterations Is Baseless
· Expansion Of Mosque In NE Delhi Sparks Tension
· Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Azmi booked for praising Aurangzeb, Mahayuti calls out 'treason'
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Pakistan
· ‘Financial crisis’: PTI slashes salaries of secretariat staff by 50%
· Imran Won’t Take Deal, Despite Govt Pressure, Says Imran’s Sister
· Mob-led attacks on Ahmadis growing, says HRCP
· ECP wonders how Imran makes decisions on PTI’s policy
· Pakistan urges UN to unite nations over shared water crisis
· Iraqi scholars visit PSX for collaboration in Islamic finance
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Mideast
· King Abdullah holds talks with leaders at Arab summit on Gaza reconstruction
· Amnesty says Israeli attacks on Lebanon health sector should be probed as war crimes
· Israel security agency acknowledges failure in preventing October 7 attack
· Settlers storm mosque in Kisan, graze their livestock on farms north of Jericho
· Settlers graze their livestock on Palestinian lands & storm mosque in Kisan
· Ayatollah Khamenei Donates Fund to Release Needy Prisoners
· Israel kills three Palestinians in continued West Bank onslaught
· Syria interim president seeks pressure on Israel to withdraw from south
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Arab World
· Saudi deputy minister receives Iraqi ambassador
· Restoration of Qalaa Mosque in Madinah enhances Saudi Arabia’s Islamic heritage
· AlUla festival celebrates celestial heritage, adventure, discovery
· New project focuses on restoring degraded lands in Saudi Arabia
· AI-operated Qur’an-learning project launched in Makkah
· AED installed in 15 spots at Makkah Grand Mosque for rapid response to cardiac arrest cases
· Watch: Dubai Marina welcomes new mosque inspired by Ottoman art
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Europe
· UK Muslim And Community Groups Reject Drumlanrig Accords Between ‘Self-Appointed Leaders’ And Chief Rabbi
· Prime Minister marks Ramadan at ‘difficult time for Muslims in the UK’
· Zelensky vows to 'make things right' with Trump and negotiate peace
· Pope still stable after respiratory failure, Vatican says
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South Asia
· US Congress Members Call For Resumption Of Afghan Resettlement Program
· Denmark donates over $6 million to Afghanistan
· Mullah Turabi Assesses Flood-Affected Areas in Uruzgan Province
· Constituent assembly, nat’l polls can be held together
· 2 killed in Ctg: Deceased were Jamaat members
· UN Envoy Meets Herat Governor, Vows Continued Support
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North America
· Berkeley Rallies After Muslim-Owned Clinic Targeted By Anti-Islam Graffiti
· CAIR-MI Safe Spaces & Islamic Center of Detroit Provide Dates for Incarcerated Muslims Observing Ramadan
· CAIR-LA Welcomes Corona-Norco Unified School District’s Free Ramadan Meal Kit Initiative for Fasting Muslim Students
· Trump will 'probably' cut Mexico and Canada tariffs - US commerce chief
· Trudeau hits out at 'dumb' tariffs as Trump warns of further hikes against Canada
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Africa
· DAM Foundation Provides Packages To Muslims, And Non-Muslim At Ramadan
· Makinde Harps on Peaceful Co-existence, Prayers at Ramadan Lecture
· DGSS Ajayi hosts Muslims, Christians, urges religious tolerance
· “Political And Malicious” – Buratai Opens Up On Allegations Of Misappropriating $1 Billion Weapons Fund As Nigeria’s COAS
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Southeast Asia
· PM Anwar Prioritises Eradicating Hardcore Poverty, Plans State Visits For Madani Initiatives
· Authorities Expose Prison Scam: Fake Officers Con Families Into Paying For ‘Special Meals’
· Umno Youth chief asks why no updates on Harith Iskander, Cecilia Yap probes over alleged remarks on Islam
· Saudi embassy hosts Ramadan iftar dinner to boost ties
· Islamic Finance To Grow, Sukuk Issuance To Ease In 2025 - Moody's
· Ismail Sabri to give statement at MACC tomorrow for corruption investigation, says Azam Baki
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New Zealand
· Teen Charged Over ‘Christchurch 2.0’ Threat To Mosque
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/terrorist-attack-hindus-isis-groups/d/134792
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Narsinghanand Gives Open Call For Hindus To Form ISIS Like Groups
March 4, 2025
Yati Narsinghanand
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In a video, Yati Narsinghanand notoriously known for his vitriolic remarks against Muslims incites Hindus to take up arms and form groups like ISIS in the Middle East.
The video recorded from his temple in Uttar Pradesh’s Dasna, the extremist Hindutva leader called for Hindus to unite. Yati claimed that Hindus are under the target of Muslims and asked Hindus to stand up for their religion, family and existence. “Take up arms.
Form your own organisations, if needed. Just like Muslims do, like ISIS, he said.
Inciting hate against Muslims, he stated that if Hindus don’t take up weapons and fight against Muslims, the situation won’t change. He alleged that Hindus were beaten up in Moradabad.
He further stated that he seeks to ask the help of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to provide Hindus with weapons. The video has drawn criticism with people demanding the authorities to take stricter action.
Social media users reacted to the video by noting that despite his constant hate speeches and calls for taking arms, the police didn’t take any action.
Senior journalist, Dr. Mukesh Kumar took to Twitter to express his concerns over a possible threat of civil war breaking out and demanded Narsinghanand’s immediate arrest.
Calling him a terrorist, he said, “ This terrorist is roaming freely. He is spewing venom every day, inciting Hindus to start civil war in the country. This can lead to violence; people can be ready to kill each other. Therefore, he should be immediately booked for treason and sent to jail.”
Mukesh then accused Modi and Amit Shah of granting protection to anti-nationals including Yati. “He won’t be sent to jail. This isn’t the first time he is spewing venom. As long as they have Modi-shah protection, these terrorists will continue to flourish and the people from other religions will be blamed,” he wrote.
Shukat Ali, state president of All India Majlis-e- ittehadul Muslimeen reacted to the video and said, “ This person regularly instigates the Hindus against Muslims, provokes them to take up arms, calls for forming a terrorist organisation like ISIS, yet no action is taken against him.
Is the police scared of taking action against him or is he open to say anything because he belongs to a majority community,” he questioned.
Source: muslimmirror.com
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https://muslimmirror.com/narsinghanand-gives-open-call-for-hindus-to-form-isis-like-groups/
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Bannu Cantonment Terrorist Attack: 11 Lives Lost, Houses, Mosque Collapse Due To Intensity Of Blasts, Several Buried Under Rubble
Ghulam MursalinMarwat
March 5, 2025
BANNU: People gather outside a hospital as an ambulance brings in those injured after terrorists targeted the cantonment area with explosives-laden vehicles, on Tuesday. — Reuters
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• Terrorists ram two explosives-laden vehicles into Cantonment gates; six shot dead
• Dead include children and women; over 20 wounded, including 10 troops
• Nearby houses, mosque collapse due to intensity of blasts, several buried under rubble
LAKKI MARWAT: At least 11 people — five women and four children — lost their lives and 22 sustained injuries after terrorists rammed two explosives-laden vehicles into the perimeter of Bannu Cantonment in an attempt to enter the high-security zone, on Tuesday evening.
Sources told Dawn that six attackers were also killed in the ensuing shoot-out, which took place in the jurisdiction of the Bannu Cantonment police station.
The militants blew up the vehicles at the gate after they were intercepted by security personnel, posted at the entrance to the cantonment area.
Official sources said the blasts were followed by “an unspecified number of militants” trying to infiltrate the camp, resulting in a gun battle. “The attack started at 6:30pm, minutes after Iftar. Militants fired RPGs and grenades during the attack; additional troops and SSG commandoes have been rushed to the area,” the statement added.
Sources also confirmed the number of deceased and wounded, including 10 security men. The wounded were evacuated to the DHQ and KGN hospitals in Bannu, while the injured troops were moved to the CMH.
Six militants were killed by security forces on various entry points of the cantonment, sources said, adding that the rest of the attackers had been encircled by the security forces.
According to a source, the Jaish-i-Fursan Muhammad, a faction of the outlawed Hafiz Gul Bahadur group, claimed responsibility for the attack on social media. However, the claim could not be independently verified.
Several houses collapse
Due to the intensity of explosions, the roofs and walls of several houses in the vicinity collapsed, burying over a dozen people under the rubble. A mosque adjacent to the entrance of the cantonment also caved in and several worshippers were reportedly trapped beneath the debris. Rescue efforts were underway to retrieve them from the rubble.
A rescue official said that the medical teams along with ambulances were dispatched to the area to launch a rescue operation. “People are trapped under the debris of the destroyed houses and a mosque and the rescuers are trying to pull them out,” he added.
A district administration official said that the total number of casualties could not be confirmed yet, as nine dead and 22 injured had been reported from hospitals so far. They said that emergency had been declared in all hospitals, and doctors and paramedics had been called out on duty.
The Pakistan Army’s media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations, had not issued an official statement by the time this report went to press.
Bannu has witnessed several militant attacks over the past several months.
Last year, on October 14, five militants wearing burqas and suicide vests were killed as four police officials embraced martyrdom in an attempt to foil a gun and bomb attack on Iqbal Shaheed Police Lines. On November 20 last year, 12 troops were martyred in a suicide attack on a security check post in the Mali Khel area of the district. On February 8, this year, two policemen were martyred when terrorists attacked a police post in the Fatehkhel area of the district.
PM expresses sorrow
In a statement, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif paid tribute to security forces and expressed sorrow and grief over the martyrdom of innocent civilians in the incident. He prayed for the highest ranks of the martyrs and patience for their families and the speedy recovery of those injured in the incident.
“Cowardly terrorists who target innocent civilians in the holy month of Ramazan do not deserve any concessions,” the premier said. The banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan is the enemy of Pakistan and its evil intentions would never be allowed to succeed.
In a separate statement, KP government spokesperson Barrister Saif said all attackers had been killed by the security forces. “The roof of a nearby mosque collapsed as a result of the explosions, causing the martyrdom of worshippers,” he said, adding that the total number of the slain was being determined.
He said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur had issued instructions for an inquiry into the incident, adding that the provincial government shared the grief of the families and the martyrs.
Source: dawn.com
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https://www.dawn.com/news/1895825/11-lives-lost-as-bannu-survives-deadly-attack
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Hamas welcomes Arab summit proposal for Gaza reconstruction: statement
March 04, 2025
A handout picture provided by the Egyptian Presidency shows a family picture during the Arab League summit on Gaza, in Cairo, on Mar. 4, 2025. (AFP)
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DOHA: Hamas on Tuesday said it welcomed a plan adopted by Arab leaders for the reconstruction of Gaza and the creation of a committee to oversee rebuilding and governance in the war-battered Palestinian territory.
“We welcome the Gaza reconstruction plan adopted in the summit’s final statement and call for ensuring all necessary resources for its success,” the Palestinian militant group said in a statement, also expressing its “support for the formation of the Community Support Committee to oversee relief efforts, reconstruction and governance in Gaza,” referring to a temporary administrative body outlined by the Arab League summit in Cairo.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2592447/middle-east
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Saudi Cabinet rejects displacement of Palestinians, backs Arab summit’s Gaza plan
March 05, 2025
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Cabinet on Tuesday affirmed full support for the decisions of the extraordinary Arab League summit in Cairo that rejected the displacement of Palestinians from their land, and aimed to end the disastrous repercussions resulting from the war.
It reiterated the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and to obtain their legitimate rights, including their right to establish their independent state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.
The final statement adopted by the summit called for the deployment of an international protection and peacekeeping force in the Palestinian territories.
It adopted the plan submitted by Egypt with regard to Gaza, in full coordination with Palestine and Arab countries.
It also emphasized the achievement of a just and comprehensive peace that fulfills the rights of the Palestinian people.
During the weekly Cabinet session chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh, ministers condemned Israel’s decision to stop the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza, calling on the international community to assume its responsibilities towards these serious violations, activate international accountability mechanisms, and ensure sustainable access to aid.
The Cabinet tackled the joint statement issued after President Joseph Aoun’s visit to Riyadh regarding the importance of fully implementing the Taif Agreement, which ended Lebanon’s civil war and was negotiated in Saudi Arabia in 1989, and relevant international resolutions.
The joint statement also stressed the importance of ensuring Lebanon’s sovereignty over all its territories, restricting weapons to the Lebanese state, supporting the Lebanese army’s national role, and calling for the withdrawal of the Israeli occupation forces from all Lebanese territories.
Aoun was welcomed at Al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh on Monday, where discussions with the crown prince focused on strengthening bilateral relations.
During their talks, both leaders agreed to study obstacles affecting the resumption of exports from Lebanon to Saudi Arabia and procedures to facilitate Saudi travel to Lebanon. They also reaffirmed their commitment to Lebanon’s economic recovery and the implementation of reforms aligned with international standards.
In a diffident matter, the Cabinet affirmed the state’s continued support for the social services system and national initiatives that aim to provide adequate housing for qualifying families, praising in this regard the cooperation and integration of roles between government, private and non-profit entities, in addition to community members, to achieve the goals of the Jood Regions campaign.
The Jood Regions campaign was first launched during Ramadan 2024 to provide more than 10,000 housing units for the most needy families across the Kingdom’s 13 provinces.
King Salman and the crown prince have donated a total of SR150 million ($40 million) to the second Jood Regions campaign, launched at the start of this year’s Ramadan.
The Cabinet reviewed the progress of major development and service projects that aim to enhance the comprehensive development process in the Kingdom.
The ministers offered congratulation on the opening of the first phase of Sports Boulevard project in Riyadh, which will contribute to consolidating the position of the city among the best global cities.
The project, led by the Sports Boulevard Foundation, is now 40 percent complete, with 83 km of the route being accessible to visitors since Feb. 27.
The initiative, launched by King Salman in March 2019, aligns with the country’s Quality-of-Life Program, outlined in Saudi Vision 2030, by creating greener, more sustainable cities that encourage participation in activities like walking, cycling, and horse riding. It also aims to transform Riyadh into one of the world’s most livable cities by blending sports with cultural, artistic, and environmental opportunities.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2592459/saudi-arabia
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Manchester United Opens Prayer RoomIn Old Trafford Stadium For Its Muslim Fans
04 Mar 2025
Manchester United Club opened a new room inside its headquarters to allow the great English club's Muslim fans to perform prayers.
According to the international network "ESPN", Manchester United Club has allocated a room in Old Trafford Stadium to enable its Muslim fans to perform prayers while they are in the stadium.
Manchester United Club officials coordinated with the club's Muslim Fans Association to prepare this room, which can accommodate up to 20 fans to perform prayers.
Source: saba.ye
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https://www.saba.ye/en/news3446314.htm
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India
Allahabad HC Accepts A Verbal Plea Of The Hindu Side To Refer To Sambhal Mosque As ‘Disputed’
Mar 5, 2025,
PRAYAGRAJ: The Allahabad high court on Tuesday accepted a verbal plea of the Hindu side lawyer to refer to the Sambhal Jama Masjid as a 'disputed structure'. However, the written order passed by Justice Rohit Ranjan Agarwal called it a 'disputed mosque'.
Hearing an application moved by the mosque management committee seeking permission for whitewashing and cleaning of the masjid, the court on Tuesday fixed March 10, 2025 for the next hearing.
As the order for the day was being dictated by the court, counsel for the Hindu side -- Hari Shankar Jain -- requested the bench to refer to the mosque as a "disputed structure." The court accepted his request and instructed his stenographer to use the term "disputed structure" for the mosque. However, the term ‘structure of disputed Masjid' has been used by the court in the order passed on Tuesday.
According to Jain, this is a legal process and when there is a case about a disputed structure, it cannot be called a mosque or anything else until the court gives a decision.
When the matter was taken up, counsel for the masjid committee informed the court that he had filed his objection to the report of Archaeological Survey of India, on which the counsel for ASI sought time to reply the same. Earlier on Friday, the high court had directed the ASI to clean the premises but did not pass any order for whitewashing and painting.
The counsel for masjid committee also said that in pursuance of earlier order of the court, the cleaning work was going on under the supervision of the ASI.
The advocate general Arun Kumar Misra submitted before the court that the law and order had been maintained in and around the structure of the disputed masjid by the state authorities.
The matter is now scheduled to be heard on March 10, when the ASI will respond to the objections raised by the masjid committee regarding the ASI's report, which denied any necessity for the whitewashing of the mosque.
On February, 28,2025 a report was submitted by Archaeological Survey of India to the effect that "the inspection was conducted in presence of Mutwallies of the Masjid and it was found that the interior of the mosque was painted with thick layers of enamel paint of sharp colours like golden, red, green and yellow concealing the original surface of the monument".
According to the inspection taken, the modern enamel paint is still in good condition. The ASI report also enumerates that there seems to be some signs of deterioration at the entrance gate as well as in the chambers located behind and the northern side of the prayer hall.
SFA Naqvi, senior advocate appearing for the committee, asked for time to file counters and had also submitted that they only wanted whitewashing and lighting. On which, the court asked the ASI for cleaning the dust and overgrown grass in the premises.
Earlier, on Feb 27, the court directed the ASI to inspect the masjid site and submit its report by Friday, Feb 28.
The Sambhal mosque gained attention when unrest took place in the district on Nov 24, 2024, following a survey of the Mughal-era Jama Masjid by a team led by an advocate commissioner on the orders of a local court.
The violence, where protesters opposing the survey of the masjid clashed with security personnel, resulted in the deaths of four persons. The protesters torched vehicles and pelted the police with stones while the security personnel used tear gas and batons to disperse the mob.
Later, the Uttar Pradesh govt constituted a three-member judicial commission comprising retired Allahabad HC judge Devendra Kumar Arora, retired IAS officer Amit Mohan Prasad, and retired IPS officer Arvind Kumar Jain to enquire into the incident.
Source: indiatimes.com
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/hc-accepts-hindus-plea-to-call-sambhal-mosque-disputed/articleshow/118716158.cms
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Urdu Name, ‘Jashn-e-Alvida’For Farewell Function In Rajasthan School Leads To Education Department Probe
by Hamza Khan
March 5, 2025
Officials of the Rajasthan Education Department visited a school in Baran district on Tuesday as they investigated it in connection with a school function that was given an Urdu name.
A programme at the Mahatma Gandhi Government School in Baran’s Shahabad area sent out invitation cards for a February 28 function with the title, ‘Jashn-e-Alvida’, or ‘celebration of a farewell’, written in Hindi. The invitation cards also had an image of Goddess Saraswati.
As photos of the card went viral, the Baran’s District Education Office set up a three-member team to conduct an inquiry. According to the order issued by the office, ‘Jashn-e-Alvida’ was inscribed on the invitation card “contrary to the departmental guidelines”.
The investigation committee is led by Devendra Singh, Chief Block Education Officer, Kishanganj, and has principals from two other schools as members. They visited the school on Tuesday.
Devendra Singh said the probe report was being prepared and would be submitted soon. He did not elaborate on the findings.
School principal Vikesh Kumar told The Indian Express that the event was a ceremony to recognise talent and bid farewell to class 12 students.
“There are some Muslim students in the school, and they suggested and gave this title for the function. Then, at the School Development Management Committee (SDMC) meeting, the parents also consented to the name,” Kumar said.
However, after the invitation cards were printed, Kumar said it was felt that the name was not in line with “government parlance”.
“We withdrew the cards, but a few were left with the students who made them viral. It was also picked up by the media,” the principal said.
He said that officials conducting the investigation came to the school on Tuesday and “collected various things… including the proposal by students, the staff meeting details, the videos of the programme, newspaper cutting, etc.”
Journalists, SDMC members and others were also present during the investigating committee’s visit, Kumar said.
Source: indianexpress.com
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https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/jaipur/urdu-name-for-farewell-function-in-rajasthan-school-leads-to-education-department-probe-9868938/
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'Pakistani' slur does not amount to hurting religious sentiments: Supreme Court
R. Balaji
05.03.25
The Supreme Court has ruled that calling a person “Pakistani” or “miyan-tiyan” does not amount to hurting religious sentiments although “undoubtedly” such statements are in “bad taste”.
The court quashed the criminal case against Hari Nandan Singh, 80, who had used such words during an argument with a government employee in Jharkhand.
“...The appellant is accused of hurting the religious feelings of the informant by calling him ‘miyan-tiyan’ and ‘Pakistani’. Undoubtedly, the statements are in poor taste. However, it does not amount to hurting the religious sentiments of the informant. Hence, we are of the opinion that the appellant shall also be discharged under IPC Section 298 (which makes it illegal to intentionally insult someone’s religious feelings),” a bench of Justices B.V. Nagarathna and Satish Chandra Sharma said in a recent order.
The name of the complainant is not mentioned in the judgment.
The court also did not find Singh guilty of the charge of assault or use of criminal force against a public servant. “Evidently, there was no assault or use of force by the appellant to attract Section 353,” it said.
“Additionally, we find that the appellant cannot be charged under IPC Section 504 as there was no act on his part that could have provoked a breach of peace,” the
court added.
Singh had approached the Supreme Court challenging the refusal of a sessions court and Jharkhand High Court to quash the criminal cases registered against him by the government employee.
“We set aside the order of the high court which has sustained the order of the trial court and, consequently, allow the application filed by the appellant herein and discharge the appellant from all the three offences alleged against him,” the apex court said.
The complainant, posted as an Urdu translator and acting clerk (right to information) in the sub-divisional office at Chas in Bokaro, had alleged that Singh had assaulted and insulted him when he went to his house to deliver a copy of the reply to an RTI query. The complainant alleged that instead of accepting the reply, Singh abused him and misbehaved with him, forcing him to lodge an FIR. The FIR was registered at the Bokaro Sector-IV police station.
Allowing Singh’s appeal, the apex court said: “We do not find that any ingredients of the offences alleged against the appellant herein find place in the FIR registered
against him.”
Justice Nagarathna, who authored the judgment, cited the top court ruling in the Sajjan Kumar vs CBI case of 2010 wherein it was held that while dealing with criminal cases, the trial court “cannot act merely as a post office or a mouthpiece of the prosecution but has to consider the broad probabilities of the case, the total effect of the evidence and the documents produced before the court”.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/pakistani-slur-does-not-amount-to-hurting-religious-sentiments-supreme-court-prnt/cid/2087071
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Minister's Call To Bar Muslim Traders From Hindu Fests Triggers Assam Row
Mar 5, 2025
GUWAHATI: Assam health minister Ashok Singhal's alleged remarks against "Miyas" triggered uproar and disruption in Assam assembly Tuesday, with Badruddin Ajmal-led AIUDF seeking a breach of privilege motion against him. AIUDF accused the BJP minister of inciting communal divisions and hatred.
In Assam, Miya is a euphemism, used disparagingly to refer to Bengali-speaking immigrant Muslims of Bangladeshi origin - a community of over one crore people, and central to the state's anti-foreigner agitation of the 1980s.
The controversy erupted after Singhal allegedly said at a meeting in his constituency - Dhekiajuli, an area with a large population of immigrant Muslims - that Miyas should not be allowed to operate shops during Hindu festivals.
Singhal allegedly said he had "zero support" for them and urged people to side with him for his cooperation, while discouraging interactions between communities. A video circulating online also shows him saying, "Don't give it (shops) to Miyas. Give it to our youths. How can Miyas enter our festival? Our boys do not enter in Eid... I am not with them. If you mingle with them, I am not with you."
AIUDF MLA Rafiqul Islam, who attempted to move the privilege motion, accused Singhal of violating his oath by showing bias. "He cannot continue as minister," Islam said, questioning if Singhal would also withdraw doctors from Miya-inhabited areas. However, the Speaker disallowed the motion, stating it didn't meet the criteria.
Islam warned that Singhal's comments could lead to discrimination against the community in government schemes.
Source: indiatimes.com
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/ministers-call-to-bar-muslim-traders-from-hindu-fests-triggers-assam-row/articleshow/118718312.cms
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Sambhal mosque committee to Allahabad High Court: ASI’s claim of alterations is baseless
by Manish Sahu
March 5, 2025
The management committee of the Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal in a submission to the Allahabad High Court on Tuesday claimed that the Archaeological Survey of India’s allegations of unauthorised alterations to the mosque’s structure were “false and baseless”.
The committee filed an affidavit days after the ASI submitted an inspection report in the court, claiming “additions and alterations to the historical structure” when repair and renovation work was carried out in the 16th-century mosque.
The committee also claimed that unauthorised individuals were present during the ASI’s inspection and they might have influenced the team of officials, thus making the report “unreliable and liable for rejection”.
The inspection was conducted on February 27 on the High Court’s order on a petition filed by the management committee seeking permission for whitewash, additional lighting and installation of decorative lights on the mosque premises.
The ASI had submitted its report the next day.
The High Court then directed the ASI to undertake daily maintenance of the mosque, including cleaning, dust removal, and clearing vegetation growth in and around the premises.
The ASI in its inspection report had stated that the mosque’s interior has been coated with thick layers of enamel paint and there was no immediate need for repainting since it was in a good condition.
The agency Tuesday submitted that the cleaning work, as directed by the court, has already started.
Source: indianexpress.com
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https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/lucknow/sambhal-mosque-committee-to-allahabad-high-court-asis-claim-of-alterations-is-baseless-9869016/
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Expansion Of Mosque In NE Delhi Sparks Tension
Mar 4, 2025,
New Delhi: Tension prevailed in northeast Delhi's Seelampur over a dispute about the expansion of a mosque on Brahmpuri's Lane No. 12. More than a dozen Hindu families have put up "House for sale" posters, fearing communal clashes, especially with a Shiv temple located nearby.
Radha Verma, 60, whose house bears the ‘Makanbikauhai' sign, reflected on lingering fears. "I remember when riots broke out here — my daughter-in-law was pregnant and we were terrified. No one should have to live in that kind of fear. While the mosque expansion might seem like a small issue, in a place where tensions escalate quickly, we feel we have to sell our houses and leave as soon as possible."
Pandit Shankar had similar forebodings. "We have lived here for years, but don't want to take chances," he said. "With Ramzan going on and Holi approaching, we fear that religious processions might turn violent like in 2020. The Shiv temple on Lane No. 12 is just 10 steps away from the mosque on Lane No. 13, which they are trying to expand to an adjacent plot on Lane No. 12.
Sushila, 40, said, "These lanes are already too narrow and a larger mosque will only worsen disputes over space." But residents of the Muslim-majority Lane No. 13 defended the mosque's expansion. "We pooled money to buy the adjacent plot because the mosque isn't big enough for all of us," said Sahil. "Many people are forced to pray on the streets. They have complained about that, saying that they feel uncomfortable and understandably so. That is why we decided to expand the mosque. Rumours are floating about a new entrance but that's false — the existing gate on Lane No. 13 will remain the only access."
Mohammad Anzar, 30, insisted, "We are all very clear on the entrance issue and will ensure no further problems. There will be only one entrance, which is the existing one. We don't want our neighbours who we have lived with for decades to leave."
Some are questioning the legality of the new construction. Vishal, 39, who runs a grocery shop at the end of Lane No. 12, disclosed the unease among residents, "My family has run this shop for three generations, and we've seen small disputes over balcony extensions, parking issues or just quarrels. We, therefore, fear that even a minor issue can spiral out of control."
Police are alert to the situation. A local reported, "Barricades were put up from 10am to 3pm on Tuesday and police closed the lane for a few hours. They removed the barricades when things calmed down. Overall, there is peace. Just a few people are trying to escalate the tensions unnecessarily."
Meanwhile, the municipal corporation has apparently pasted a stop-work notice at the site.
Ashish Kumar Mishra, DCP (North East), said, "Al Mateen Welfare Society obtained MCD approval for construction of the mosque but concerns were raised about a new gate in lane No. 12. The managing body has agreed not to open it. Keeping in mind local sensitivities, construction was also halted and MCD issued a stop-work notice." He added: "A later complaint alleged stone pelting on the intervening night of March 2-3, but CCTV footage and inquiries found no corroboration, nor was any PCR call made. No formal complaints or specific wrongdoing were cited, but police officers are patrolling on ground to ensure that law and order is maintained."
Source: indiatimes.com
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/expansion-of-mosque-in-ne-delhi-sparks-tension/articleshow/118716693.cms
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Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Azmi booked for praising Aurangzeb, Mahayuti calls out 'treason'
Pheroze L. Vincent
05.03.25
Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Azmi has been booked in Maharashtra for contesting the popular culture portrayal of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb as anti-Hindu and cruel.
Asked about the blockbuster film Chhaava, based on the life of 17th-century Maratha ruler Chhatrapati Sambhaji who was executed by Aurangzeb, Azmi told reporters outside the Maharashtra Assembly on Monday: “Wrong history is being shown. Aurangzeb, Rahmatullah (one who is in Allah’s mercy), got many temples made. In Benaras, when one of his soldiers wanted to marry the daughter of a pandit, he got him crushed by an elephant. The pandits built a mosque for him there.”
When reporters asked Azmi, the president of the Maharashtra unit of the SP, if he didn’t think of Aurangzeb as a “cruel ruler” for executing Sambhaji, he replied: “I do not at all consider Aurangzeb a cruel ruler…. The kings back then used to struggle for power and property, but it was not Hindus versus Muslims.”
Chhatrapati Shivaji and his son Sambhaji are revered in Maharashtra. The Vicky Kaushal-starrer Chhaava, while being critically acclaimed and commercially successful, has found itself in the middle of a Right-wing communal drive. Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently praised the film.
Azmi, who has frequently made controversial and misogynistic remarks in the past, iterated and expanded on his statements in subsequent bytes to TV channels, insisting that he was stating historical facts and meant no disrespect to Maratha rulers.
He has been booked under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Sections 299 (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings by insulting religion or religious beliefs), 302 (uttering words with deliberate intent to wound religious feelings) and 356(1) and 356(2) that relate to defamation.
The FIR has been registered at Marine Drive police station and involves an MLA of the Eknath Shinde faction of the Shiv Sena, which is part of the ruling Mahayuti helmed by the BJP.
Deputy chief minister Shinde said: “His (Azmi’s) statement is wrong and should be condemned. Aurangzeb tortured Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj for 40 days. Calling such a person good is the biggest sin. Abu Azmi should apologise. Our CM has taken this matter seriously. He (Azmi) should be charged with treason.”
The Assembly was adjourned on Tuesday with BJP and Shiv Sena members demanding Azmi’s expulsion and prosecution for “treason”. Opposition Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) MLAs also joined the chorus.
The SP left the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi after the Assembly polls last year, citing the eulogising of the Babri Masjid demolition by MLAs of the Uddhav faction of the Sena.
Naresh Mhaske, the Shinde Sena MLA who has complained against Azmi, said the SP leader had “no right to stay in India”. BJP leader Navneet Rana called for Aurangzeb’s tomb in Maharashtra’s Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district to be demolished. The district was earlier named Aurangabad, after Aurangzeb. In 2022, the then Aghadi government rechristened the district.
On Tuesday, Azmi attempted to pacify his detractors, saying: “If my statement has hurt people, I take it back. I have never spoken ill of great leaders (such as Sambhaji). It would be an injustice to the people of Maharashtra to stop Assembly proceedings over this issue. I take back my statement.”
In an interview to The Telegraph in 2018, Aurangzeb’s biographer Audrey Truschke, a historian at the Rutgers University in the US, had said: “And the reason people believe it (the representation of Aurangzeb as a Hindu baiter) is because it does have a scholarly basis. But a major point of that (scholarship) was to make the British look better. The other reason is it serves modern-day purposes. The villainisation of Aurangzeb, projecting him to be this Islamic bigot, is bad history but it is a good storyline if you are trying to achieve Hindu rashtra.”
Heramb Chaturvedi, former head of Allahabad University’s history department and author of several books on the Mughals, told this newspaper on Tuesday: “If Aurangzeb ordered the destruction of temples, he also conferred grants on many temples, including those to Someshwar Mahadev Arail, the Balaji temple in Chitrakoot, the Mahakal temple in Ujjain and the temples in Bagambari and Varanasi’s Jangambari. To the Balaji temple, he not only conferred a grant but also gave revenue-free land. The edict says that this was for the continuous burning of ghee lamps so prayers could be offered for the perpetuation and prosperity of the empire.”
Asked about Azmi’s comments and the actions taken against him, Chaturvedi said: “Colonial historiography gave rise to communal historiography and this accentuated after the 1857 uprising as the British realised that they could not remain here if Hindus and Muslims came together. If there is a call today to reject colonial history, then we should not go back to this communal historiography.”
Shivaji Sawant’s novel Chhaava, on which the film is based, gives a nuanced understanding of the multi-faceted Sambhaji beyond the popular folklore of his military exploits. Critics say the film has remained true to the novel — a product of the reformist and egalitarian post-Independence historiography of Maharashtra.
The release of the film has also led to another controversy in Maharashtra with historian Indrajit Sawant being threatened after he cited French records that it was a Brahmin clerk, and not a landlord, who betrayed Sambhaji to the Mughals.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/samajwadi-party-mla-abu-azmi-booked-for-praising-aurangzeb-mahayuti-calls-out-treason-prnt/cid/2087072
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Pakistan
‘Financial crisis’: PTI slashes salaries of secretariat staff by 50%
By Haider Sherazi
March 04, 2025
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has slashed the salaries of staff at its secretariat by 50% amid the reported “financial crunch” being faced by the former ruling party, said well-placed sources on Tuesday.
In addition to this, other perks and privileges, including fuel allowance, of the PTI secretariat employees have been abolished with immediate effect, the sources added.
“Salaries of at least 25 employees of the PTI secretariat have been reduced,” it added.
Reacting to the reports, PTI Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akam said that he was personally not in favour of the suggestion that the salaries be slashed by 50%.
The “difficult decision” was made against the backdrop of the party’s frozen accounts and financial crisis, Akram added. He said that staff salaries would be raised again once the situation normalises.
The relationship between PTI founder Imran Khan and the establishment started worsening after the ouster of the former from power in April 2022.
Later, the May 9 riots — which were triggered almost across the country after deposed prime minister Imran Khan's arrest in the £190 million settlement case — further widened the difference between the two sides.
Hundreds of PTI workers and senior leaders were put behind bars for their involvement in violence and attacks on military installations.
During the protests, the miscreants targeted the civil and military installations including — Jinnah House and the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi. The military termed May 9 "Black Day" and decided to try the protesters under the Army Act.
Following the violent protests, scores of party leaders and workers were arrested and tried in military courts.
In December last year, the military court convicted 25 individuals and a few days later, handed down sentences to 60 people, including ex-premier Khan's nephew Hassan Khan Niazi.
Later in January, the sentences of 19 convicts were pardoned after their mercy appeals were accepted by Courts of Appeal purely on humanitarian grounds, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), stating that a total of 67 convicts had filed mercy petitions, of which 48 were processed.
However, the Imran Khan-founded party expressed dissatisfaction over the pardoning of only 19 convicts as PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan categorically opposed the civilians' trial in military courts citing the Supreme Court's ruling in this regard. Source: thenews.com.pk
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https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1288707-financial-crisis-pti-slashes-salaries-of-secretariat-staff-by-50
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Imran Won’t Take Deal, Despite Govt Pressure, Says Imran’s Sister
Ikram Junaidi
March 5, 2025
ISLAMABAD: Aleema Khan, the sister of PTI founder Imran Khan, has said her brother will not sign a deal with the government despite being “pressured to do so”.
While talking to reporters on Tuesday outside the Adiala Jail, where her brother is incarcerated, Ms Khan accused the government of “using all possible tactics” to pressurise her brother.
“But Imran Khan has said that no matter what happens, he will not compromise and not sign a deal with the government,” she claimed.
She also said that her brother was in good health and had no pain in his ear.
A team of doctors who examined the PTI founder in prison on Monday claimed that he was feeling pain in his ear.
The team of doctors from the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) was headed by ENT specialist Dr Altaf Hussain.
Ms Khan said the rumours circulating on social media regarding the health of her brother were baseless.
She also dismissed the rumours that her brother was suffering from a brain infection. “Allah is protecting him,” she said and claimed her brother was in good health.
However, she said there were restrictions on her brother in prison, due to which he was unable to communicate with his personal doctor and family members.
Ms Khan said that it was unfortunate that her brother was not being allowed to speak to his children and revealed that PTI lawyers, led by Salman Akram Raja, will file a petition in this regard.
While replying to a question, she said the verdict on PTI’s appeal in the Al-Qadir case might be announced in a week or so.
However, she claimed that some individuals were trying to delay the decision. She didn’t give any more details or name anyone.
While talking about cricket, Ms Khan said that her brother — former captain of the Pakistan cricket team — was not pleased with the proposal to change the name of Peshawar’s Arbab Niaz Stadium.
He has demanded that the stadium not be renamed.
Last week, it was reported that the PTI government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has decided to rename the stadium — currently named after Arbab Niaz, former federal minister for sports — to honour the former captain’s role in shaping the nation’s sports landscape.
Govt’s performance
Meanwhile, the leader of opposition in National Assembly, Omar Ayub Khan, has said the government has failed in all sectors.
While rebuffing the government’s claim of progress, Mr Ayub said large-scale manufacturing has shrunk in the past year since the PML-N government took power.
The rate of electricity and gas have also gone up, he claimed, adding the per unit electricity tariff during PTI’s tenure was Rs17, but it has now increased to Rs85, he claimed.
Similarly, there has been a “400pc increase” in gas prices.
He accused the government of releasing forged data regarding inflation.
Foreign investment has been stopped in Pakistan, while security issues have also worsened, he said, censuring the government.“The government is unwilling to speak the truth,” Mr Ayub said.
Source: dawn.com
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https://www.dawn.com/news/1895823/imran-wont-take-deal-despite-govt-pressure-says-aleema
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Mob-led attacks on Ahmadis growing, says HRCP
March 5, 2025
LAHORE: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) said on Tuesday it had observed a growing trend of mob-led attacks on homes of families belonging to religious minorities, as well as their places of worship.
The HRCP also spoke of Ahmadis’ “arbitrary detention”, “desecration of their graves”, and the “vulnerability of Hindu and Christian women” to forced conversion.
The report, titled Under Siege: Freedom of Religion or Belief in 2023-24, said over 750 persons were in prison on charges of blasphemy, as of October last year. It documented at least four faith-based killings, three of which targeted the Ahmadi community.
A key finding of the report is that disinformation on social media was the spark behind most of the registered blasphemy cases.
Analysing two mob-led attacks against the Christian community in Jaranwala and Sargodha, the report dwells at length on the scale and frequency of social media posts that incited violence following allegations of blasphemy.
Another observation made in the report was about an “increasing weaponisation of blasphemy laws against Ahmadis”, with cases often initiated by law enforcement officials themselves.
According to the report, four FIRs were filed by police officers against Ahmadis in Punjab, reflecting an institutional bias against the community.
Authorities in Punjab and Sindh conducted mass arrests of Ahmadis under the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance, detaining 36 individuals for observing Eidul Azha.
The HRCP report noted that the “influence of extremist groups in driving state policies against Ahmadis” was growing.
It narrates that members of the Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) played a role in filing blasphemy cases against Ahmadis, orchestrating campaigns to stop them from celebrating Eidul Azha, and even accompanying police during raids to confiscate sacrificial meat.
Videos circulating on social media show TLP activists, alongside law enforcement personnel, raiding Ahmadi households, lending credence to allegations about the complicity of state actors in religious persecution.
Desecration of graves remains a recurring violation against the community, according to the HRCP.
The report said that in 2023 and 2024, numerous Ahmadi cemeteries were attacked across Punjab and Sindh, with “police and district authorities participating” in some instances.
“A total of 42 attacks on Ahmadis’ places of worship were recorded, with nearly 60 per cent of these either conducted or supervised by law enforcement agencies,” the commission said.
The report pointed out that impunity for perpetrators of hate and violence persists.
Despite investigations by the Special Branch in Punjab, no measures have been taken against networks suspected of framing individuals in false blasphemy cases.
The report noted some positive developments, nevertheless, including occasional judicial relief to suspects and victims of faith-based violence.
Constitutional amendment proposed
The HRCP presented the report at a meeting of its National Interfaith Working Group, which was instituted as a platform for collective action and advocacy for all religious minorities and sects.
Members of the working group underlined the need to introduce procedural changes to discriminatory laws that affect religious minorities disproportionately.
They proposed a constitutional amendment to give religious minorities the right to hold the offices of president and prime minister.
Members drew the authorities’ attention to the “bigoted role of the clergy” in district peace committees, inadequate compensation for victims of mob-led attacks, and the need for a legal aid mechanism to support persons accused of blasphemy.
Another concern raised was that of large-scale religious conversions among poor communities and the lack of space for religious minorities’ graveyards.
Other recommendations included the need for pro-minority legislation to be vetted by the human rights ministry rather than the religious affairs ministry, and for religious minorities’ marriage laws to be enforced.
Members called for affirmative action to create greater political space for religious minorities, including through a minorities’ caucus in parliament.
Source: dawn.com
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https://www.dawn.com/news/1895896/mob-led-attacks-on-ahmadis-growing-says-hrcp
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ECP wonders how Imran makes decisions on PTI’s policy
Iftikhar A. Khan
March 5, 2025
ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday wondered how the founding chairman of PTI takes decisions related to the party’s policy.
Questions over the party’s internal affairs were raised when a three-member bench of ECP, headed by Sindh Member Nisar Ahmad Durrani, took up for hearing the case related to PTI’s intra-party elections.
PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, petitioner Akbar S. Babar and others appeared before the bench.
During the course of the hearing, the ECP member from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa questioned how the founding chairman often made decisions about the party and announced them through the media.
“Is there any mention of the founding chairman and his role in the party constitution? If not, then how does he make decisions,” he asked.
The ECP member noted that the name of Salman Akram Raja repeatedly comes up in media and asked what his position was in the party.
“PTI intra-party elections are controversial,” he remarked.
Barrister Gohar said matters were being run by indoor management only, and when the ECP issues the certificate, the matters will be streamlined accordingly.
Earlier, PTI’s founding member and former information secretary Akbar S. Babar pointed out that there exists an organisational structure of the party. How the party funds were being managed was an illegal practice, he claimed.
He also reminded the bench that the ECP had submitted in writing to the Supreme Court in relation to the petition concerning the reserved seats that the party’s organisational structure was illegal.
About Mr Babar’s point of running PTI’s financial matters, the bench noted that the matter would be dealt with at a separate hearing.
Mr Babar urged the bench to allow arguments and then reserve verdict in the case.
However, the bench emphasised that in the presence of a restraining order from the Lahore High Court, they could not announce a decision but reserve it and hear arguments only.
He contended that he comes fully prepared to the proceedings to answer questions.
However, the bench maintained that they would like to wait a bit more and resume the hearing on April 8.
Later, while talking to reporters, Barrister Gohar regretted that despite holding intra-party elections a year ago, PTI has not been issued a certificate.
He said the ECP has “failed to fulfil its constitutional responsibility”.
The commission should issue a notification to them about the intra-party polls.
Source: dawn.com
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https://www.dawn.com/news/1895888/ecp-wonders-how-imran-makes-decisions-on-ptis-policy
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Pakistan urges UN to unite nations over shared water crisis
March 5, 2025
WASHINGTON: Pakistan has called for urgent transboundary water cooperation and a stronger focus on the water-climate-environment nexus at the upcoming 2026 UN Water Conference, warning that climate change and population pressures are pushing the country towards water scarcity.
Speaking at the conference’s organisational session in New York, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad stressed the need to accelerate global efforts to ensure clean water and sanitation for all — a challenge deeply personal for countries like Pakistan, which could become water-scarce by 2035.
In 2021, Pakistan’s per capita water availability dropped to just 1,017 cubic metres per year, a dangerously low figure for a country of 240 million people. Much of Pakistan’s water comes from the Indus River Basin, heavily dependent on snowmelt and rainfall — both of which are becoming increasingly erratic due to climate change.
Mr Ahmad highlighted the ‘Living Indus’ and ‘Recharge Pakistan’ programmes as national efforts to restore ecosystems, improve water quality, build flood resilience, and conserve biodiversity — offering solutions other developing countries could learn from.
Pakistan’s proposal at the UN calls for water-sharing nations to work together and adopt integrated approaches that connect water management, climate action, and environmental sustainability.
The ambassador warned that “time is running out” and stressed that implementation, not just promises, remains the biggest challenge.
Pakistan has long warned the UN about climate change’s brutal impact on its water security. Between 1998 and 2004, the country suffered a crippling drought, affecting over 3 million people. Then in 2022, record monsoon rains triggered catastrophic floods, submerging one-third of the country, killing over 1,700 people, displacing millions, and inflicting more than $30 billion in economic losses.
Pakistan’s latest push at the UN aims to ensure that such disasters become global wake-up calls, urging nations to cooperate across borders before climate-driven water crises spiral further out of control.
Source: dawn.com
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https://www.dawn.com/news/1895894/pakistan-urges-un-to-unite-nations-over-shared-water-crisis
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Iraqi scholars visit PSX for collaboration in Islamic finance
March 05, 2025
KARACHI: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) welcomed a distinguished delegation of Iraqi scholars from the Scientific Foundation for Financial Transactions (SFFT Iraq) to explore opportunities for collaboration in Islamic finance and strengthen the Islamic capital markets in both nations. The delegation included esteemed scholars: Ayatollah Syed Izz-al-Din-Ai-Hakim, Allama Syed Ahmed Ezz-El-Din-El-Hakim, Allama Sheikh Qasim Al-Issawi, Sheikh Muayyad-al-Abbadi, and Allama Sheikh Sajid Raza Khan Najafi. The SFFT is a leading Iraqi research institute specialising in Islamic finance, and the visit was facilitated by the Al-Sadiq (AS) Institute, Karachi, stated a press release on Tuesday.
MD and CEO of PSX Farrukh H Sabzwari and the PSX’s senior management welcomed the delegation. Also in attendance were distinguished members from the PSX’s Shariah Focus Group, including CEO of Lucky Investment Company Mohammad Shoaib, Executive Director of CFA Society Pakistan Sarwat Ahson, Head of Investment, Bank Islami Harris Munawwar and Hasan Raza.
During the session, PSX officials provided an overview of Pakistan’s capital market and highlighted the country’s evolving landscape of Islamic finance. The discussions focused on key areas such as the debt market, equity segments, listing options on the Main and GEM boards, and capacity-building initiatives to enhance bilateral cooperation.
The Iraqi scholars expressed their gratitude for the PSX’s hospitality and shared their keen interest in learning from Pakistan’s successful Islamic finance practices. A delegation member remarked, “Our objective is to leverage Pakistan’s proven models of Islamic finance to benefit our own market. With 50 per cent of Iraqi banks operating on Islamic principles and remarkable growth -- from 200 billion dinars to a trillion dinars over the past six years -- we see immense potential for collaboration in Islamic finance.” The scholars emphasised that this interaction, rooted in the strong brotherly ties between Pakistan and Iraq, aims to catalyse the development of the Iraqi capital market. They also highlighted the importance of joint innovation in financial products tailored to Islamic finance, which could drive substantial growth in their market.
Commenting on the visit, Sabzwari said, “Our discussions have opened new avenues in areas such as ETFs, debt markets, equity, and specialised boards like the GEM board. By focusing on capacity building and product innovation, we are confident that our collaborative efforts will benefit both Pakistani and Iraqi capital markets.”
Source: thenews.com.pk
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https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1288736-iraqi-scholars-visit-psx-for-collaboration-in-islamic-finance
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Mideast
King Abdullah holds talks with leaders at Arab summit on Gaza reconstruction
March 04, 2025
CAIRO: Jordan’s King Abdullah II held high-level talks on Tuesday with Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in Cairo, on the sidelines of the Extraordinary Arab Summit hosted by Egypt.
The discussions focused on pressing regional developments, including efforts to sustain the ceasefire in Gaza, accelerate humanitarian aid, and support reconstruction efforts without displacing the Palestinian population, the Jordan News Agency reported.
The leaders also addressed escalating tensions in the West Bank, emphasizing the need for coordinated regional responses to maintain stability.
King Abdullah reaffirmed the strong ties between Jordan and Iraq during the meeting with Rashid, and expressed his commitment to deepening cooperation across various sectors. Both leaders stressed the importance of continued coordination on shared regional security concerns.
The king stressed Jordan’s steadfast support for Lebanon’s efforts to maintain its security and stability during his talks with Aoun. The two leaders explored ways to further enhance cooperation and strengthen relations.
The meetings were also attended by Jordanian Prime Minister Jafar Hassan, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, and Director of the Office of His Majesty AlaaBatayneh.
The focus of the summit was on mobilizing financial and logistical support for reconstruction efforts in Gaza, and ensuring that the Palestinian population stays in their homeland, in opposition to the proposal put forward by US President Donald Trump last month.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2592442/middle-east
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Amnesty says Israeli attacks on Lebanon health sector should be probed as war crimes
March 05, 2025
BEIRUT, Lebanon: Amnesty International said on Wednesday that Israel’s attacks on ambulances, paramedics and health facilities during its recent war with Hezbollah should be investigated as war crimes.
A November 27 truce agreement largely halted more than a year of hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel, including two months of all-out war during which Israel sent in ground troops.
During the conflict, the Israeli military accused the Iran-backed group of using ambulances belonging to the Hezbollah-affiliated Islamic Health Committee for transporting fighters and weapons, accusations the group denied.
According to Amnesty, “the Israeli military’s repeated unlawful attacks during the war in Lebanon on health facilities, ambulances and health workers, which are protected under international law, must be investigated as war crimes.”
It urged the Lebanese government to provide the International Criminal Court with “jurisdiction to investigate and prosecute crimes within the Rome Statute committed on Lebanese territory, and ensure victims’ right to remedy.”
In December, Lebanon’s then health minister FirassAbiad said that during the hostilities, there were “67 attacks on hospitals, including 40 hospitals that were directly targeted,” killing 16 people.
“There were 238 attacks on emergency response organizations, with 206 dead,” he said, adding that 256 emergency vehicles including fire trucks and ambulances were also “targeted.”
Amnesty said it investigated four Israeli attacks on health facilities and vehicles in Beirut and south Lebanon from October 3 to 9 last year that killed 19 health care workers, wounded 11 others and “damaged or destroyed multiple ambulances and two medical facilities.”
“Amnesty International did not find evidence that the facilities or vehicles were being used for military purposes at the time of the attacks,” the statement said.
The rights group said it wrote to the Israeli military in November with its findings but had not received a response by the time of publication.
“The Israeli military has not provided sufficient justifications, or specific evidence of military targets being present at the strike locations” to account for the “repeated attacks, which weakened a fragile health care system and put lives at risk,” Amnesty added.
According to Lebanese authorities, more than 4,000 people were killed in more than the year of hostilities.
Swathes of the south and east and parts of Beirut’s southern suburbs were heavily damaged in the Israeli bombardment, with reconstruction costs expected to top $10 billion, Lebanese authorities have said.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2592464/middle-east
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Israel security agency acknowledges failure in preventing October 7 attack
March 05, 2025
JERUSALEM: Israel’s domestic security agency Shin Bet acknowledged on Tuesday its failure in preventing Hamas’s attack on October 7, 2023, saying that if it had acted differently the deadliest day in Israel’s history could have been averted.
The Internal Security Agency, as it is formally known, said that an internal probe “reveals that if the Shin Bet had acted differently, both in the years leading up to the attack and on the night of the attack... the massacre could have been prevented.”
The acknowledgement comes days after an Israeli military investigations noted similar failings to protect Israelis during the attack, which left hundreds dead and sparked a devastating war in the Gaza Strip, where tens of thousands of Palestinians have been killed.
In the opening lines of the summary of findings from the Shin Bet investigation, the agency’s chief Ronen Bar takes responsiblity for failures, saying that “as the head of the organization, I will bear this heavy burden on my shoulders for the rest of my life.”
However, he added that in order to truly understand how the unprecedented attack was not stopped, there needed to be a broader probe into the role of Israel’s security and political elements and the cooperation between them.
According to the summary, the investigation focused on two key areas — the direct reasons that led to the Shin Bet failing to recognize the immediate threat from Hamas, and the developments preceding the attack.
It noted that “the investigation found no indication that the Shin Bet underestimated the enemy,” Palestinian militant group Hamas.
“On the contrary, there was a deep understanding of the threat, initiatives, and a desire to neutralize the threat, particularly targeting Hamas leadership,” the summary said.
The investigation found that prior knowledge of a Hamas attack plan was not treated as an “actionable threat” and there was an overarching assessment that Hamas was more focused on “inciting violence” in the occupied West Bank.
Additionally, the investigation found that “a policy of quiet had enabled Hamas to undergo massive military buildup,” with financial aid from Qatar going directly to Hamas’s military wing.
In conclusion, the agency said in its summary, “the Shin Bet failed to provide a warning regarding the scope of the attack and the large-scale raid by Hamas” that sparked months of war in Gaza.
“The warning issued on the night of October 7 was not translated into operational directives, and the response given by the Shin Bet... was insufficient to prevent or thwart the large scale attack.”
In the military inquiry, which includes 77 separate investigations into what transpired in communities, army bases and multiple confrontation points around the Gaza periphery, the army noted flaws in its intelligence assessments of Hamas, including the group’s military capabilities and overall intentions.
“We did not even imagine such a scenario,” said an army official who had briefed the media ahead of the probe’s release on Thursday.
The official said the army had not maintained “a comprehensive understanding of the enemy’s military capabilities” and that it was “overconfident in its knowledge.”
“We were addicted to precise intel,” a second senior military official said at the same briefing, explaining that despite signs Hamas was preparing to attack, the army was too focused on what it believed was accurate information.
Also following the publication of the findings of the army’s investigation, the outgoing chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, said that he took full responsibility for failing to predict or stop the attack.
In addition to Halevi, the head of the military’s southern command, Major General YaronFinkelman, and military intelligence chief Major General AharonHaliva have both stepped down.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2592456/middle-east
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Settlers storm mosque in Kisan, graze their livestock on farms north of Jericho
04 Mar 2025
Settlers, under the protection of the Zionist enemy forces, stormed a mosque in Kisan, east of Bethlehem, on Tuesday.
The Secretary of the Fatah Movement in Kisan, Ahmed Ghazal, told the Palestinian News Agency "Wafa" that a group of settlers stormed the courtyard of the Kisan Mosque and caused chaos by dancing and singing.
Ghazal added that the mosque is threatened with demolition, as it has been attacked several times by raising the flags of the occupation state, noting that the settlers have escalated their attacks on the village of Kisan, which consist of attacking shepherds and injuring a number of them.
According to the Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission, settler attacks last month were concentrated in the governorates of Nablus and Hebron, with 43 attacks each, Ramallah with 38, and Quds with 25.
Source: saba.ye
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https://www.saba.ye/en/news3446321.htm
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Settlers graze their livestock on Palestinian lands & storm mosque in Kisan
04 Mar 2025
Today, Tuesday, Zionist settlers graze their livestock on Palestinian lands in the Ein Al-Auja community north of Jericho, causing damage to agricultural crops.
The "Al-Baidar" organization for the defense of Bedouin rights confirmed that these violations are part of a policy aimed at controlling Palestinian lands.
In another context, settlers, under the protection of the occupation forces, stormed the Kisan Mosque east of Bethlehem, where they caused chaos by dancing and singing. The Secretary of the Fatah movement in Kisan also pointed to the escalation of settlers' attacks on the village, including attacks on shepherds.
Settler attacks continue to increase, as 68 cases of vandalism and theft of Palestinian property were recorded last month, in addition to the uprooting of 642 trees in several governorates.
Source: saba.ye
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https://www.saba.ye/en/news3446239.htm
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Ayatollah Khamenei Donates Fund to Release Needy Prisoners
March, 04, 2025
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei donated 40 billion rials to a charity organization that collects money for the release of needy prisoners convicted of unintentional crimes.
The charity organization launches annual appeals in the Muslim holy month of Ramadan to raise money for the release of needy prisoners serving sentences for committing unintentional crimes.
The funds raised by the organization are used to pay Diyya (blood money) to the victim or heirs of the victim that the prisoners have harmed unintentionally.
In Islamic Sharia law, Diyya is the financial compensation paid to the victim or heirs of a victim in the cases of murder, bodily harm or property damage. It is an alternative punishment to Qisas (equal retaliation).
Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, marks the most special of all occasions for Muslims. It is a time for contemplation, devotion and remembrance of God. Tending to the welfare of the less fortunate members of the community and giving to the poor are among important practices in the holy month.
Source: tasnimnews.com
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https://www.tasnimnews.com/en/news/2025/03/04/3269203/ayatollah-khamenei-donates-fund-to-release-needy-prisoners
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Israel kills three Palestinians in continued West Bank onslaught
March 05, 2025
RAMALLAH: The Israeli military said on Tuesday it killed three Palestinians as it expanded its offensive in the occupied West Bank, currently in its 43rd day, to new parts of the northern city of Jenin.
Israeli forces “expanded the counterterrorism operation in northern Samaria to additional areas in Jenin,” the military said, using the Biblical name for that part of the West Bank, adding a local Hamas leader was among those it killed in the overnight raid.
The military said that in an exchange of fire, troops killed “the leader of the Hamas terrorist network in the area” along with another Palestinian militant, and arrested three more.
It said during a further inspection of the premises where the militants were, troops killed a third armed militant “who posed an immediate threat.”
The Palestinian Health Ministry identified the alleged Hamas leader as AserSaadiya, adding that his body was taken away by Israeli troops after he was shot dead in an eastern neighborhood of Jenin.
In the early hours of Tuesday, the Palestinian Red Crescent said Israeli forces had handed over the body of another man in his 20s killed in east Jenin.
The head of Jenin’s government hospital, Wisam Baker, said that a third man he identified as Jihad Alawneh was declared dead on arrival at the hospital early on Tuesday.
He said the 25-year-old had bled out after being shot in the thigh by Israeli troops.
The Israeli military launched a major offensive in the northern West Bank on Jan. 21, deploying tanks in the territory for the first time in 20 years.
Dubbed “Iron Wall” by the Israeli military, the operation came days after a ceasefire took effect in Gaza.
It has involved raids in multiple refugee camps near the cities of Jenin, Tulkarm and Tubas, regarded as bastions of Palestinian militancy.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2592449/middle-east
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Syria interim president seeks pressure on Israel to withdraw from south
March 04, 2025
CAIRO: Syria’s interim President Ahmed Al-Sharaa on Tuesday called on the international community to pressure Israel to “immediately” withdraw its troops from the south, as he attended his first Arab summit since assuming office.
Since Sharaa’s Islamist group Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) spearheaded an offensive that toppled longtime Syrian president Bashar Assad on December 8, Israel has deployed troops to a UN-patrolled buffer zone that has separated Israeli and Syrian forces on the strategic Golan Heights since 1974.
Israel has occupied much of the Golan Heights since 1967 and later annexed the area abutting Syria’s southeast in a move not recognized by the United Nations.
Beyond ground incursions, Israeli forces have also carried out repeated air strikes against Syrian military sites in recent days.
“We urge the international community to uphold its legal and moral commitments by supporting Syria’s rights and pressuring Israel to immediately withdraw from southern Syria,” Sharaa told a summit of Arab leaders in Cairo.
The “hostile (Israeli) expansion is not only a violation of Syrian sovereignty, but also a direct threat to security and peace in the entire region,” he said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last month demanded “the complete demilitarization of southern Syria” and said his country would not accept the new Syrian authorities to be present there.
Sharaa was in Cairo for an Arab League summit on Gaza, his first such meeting since ousting Assad nearly three months ago.
The Syrian presidency published images of Sharaa meeting with senior officials including United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas and European Union chief Antonio Costa on the sidelines of the summit.
Guterres and Sharaa “exchanged views about the historic opportunity to chart a new course for Syria as well as the challenges facing the country,” according to the UN.
The United Nations envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen in a statement strongly condemned Israel’s “military escalations” including air strikes” on its northern neighbor.
Under Assad, Syria was suspended from the Arab League over his deadly 2011 crackdown on pro-democracy protests which spiralled into a devastating civil war.
In 2023, Syria under Assad was allowed to return to the bloc after years of regional isolation.
A UN Security Council committee approved a travel ban exemption for Sharaa, enabling him to visit Egypt for Tuesday’s summit despite his inclusion on a sanctions list.
The meeting was called in response to a widely criticized proposal by President Donald Trump for the United States to take over Gaza and force its Palestinian inhabitants to relocate to Egypt or Jordan.
Sharaa has called Trump’s proposal “a very huge crime that cannot happen.”
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2592448/middle-east
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Arab World
Saudi deputy minister receives Iraqi ambassador
March 04, 2025
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Minister for Political Affairs Saud Al-Sati received Ambassador of Iraq to the Kingdom Safia Taleb Al-Suhail in Riyadh on Tuesday.
During the meeting, they discussed bilateral relations and other topics of common interest, the Foreign Ministry posted on X.
In a separate meeting on Tuesday, Al-Sati received NodirjonTurgunov, ambassador of Uzbekistan to Saudi Arabia, to discuss issues of mutual interest.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2592431/saudi-arabia
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Restoration of Qalaa Mosque in Madinah enhances Saudi Arabia’s Islamic heritage
March 04, 2025
Riyadh: The historic Qalaa Mosque in the town of Al-Hinakiyah, northeast of Madinah, is among the places of worship undergoing restoration as part of a national project.
The second phase of the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Project for the Development of Historic Mosques focuses on preserving the building, which is over a century old, in Madinah’s historical architectural style, the Saudi Press Agency reported recently.
The initiative aims to enhance the Islamic heritage of the Kingdom as the land where the Qur’an was revealed, and the location of the Two Holy Mosques.
The project will expand the mosque’s area from 181 sq. meters to 263 sq. meters to accommodate 171 worshippers. The mosque was previously unused, the SPA added.
The renovation will include the use of natural materials including clay and local wood, to ensure the mosque returns to its original form.
It will preserve the unique building techniques that are adapted to the local environment and hot desert climate.
The crown prince’s project aims to balance traditional and modern construction standards to ensure the sustainability of historic mosques, the SPA reported.
Saudi Arabia companies and engineers specializing in heritage restoration are leading the work.
Phase two of the crown prince’s project follows the successful completion of phase one in 2018, which restored 30 mosques in 10 regions across the Kingdom.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2592385/saudi-arabia
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AlUla festival celebrates celestial heritage, adventure, discovery
March 04, 2025
RIYADH: AlUla, the oasis city known for its heritage and landscapes, is hosting the AlUla Skies Festival from April 18 to 27.
The festival highlights humanity’s connection to the skies, reflecting the legacy of ancient travelers who navigated the desert using the stars, the Saudi Press Agency reported recently.
A key feature of the festival is AlUla Manara, a global observatory focused on astronomy research and education.
Developed with local and international partners, it will provide interactive exhibits, telescopes, and workshops blending ancient celestial knowledge with modern science.
The festival offers various sky-themed experiences, including daily hot-air balloon flights, tethered rides at Old Town and Elephant Rock, and Balloon Glow Shows featuring illuminated balloons, aerial performers, and music.
Visitors can explore astronomy at the Celestial Sky Port in JabalIkmah, where exhibits, telescopes, and workshops provide insight into the cosmos.
The Pop-Up Planetarium in Old Town offers 360-degree projections of constellations and space exploration.
On April 25, regional singers will perform at the Thanaya AlUla Outdoor Venue.
Other activities include Cinema Under the Stars at Maraya, Moonlight Yoga Sessions, and expert-led stargazing experiences.
The festival celebrates AlUla’s heritage and its commitment to astrotourism, offering visitors a chance to explore the skies in a unique setting.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2592383/saudi-arabia
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New project focuses on restoring degraded lands in Saudi Arabia
March 04, 2025
RIYADH: The National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification has launched a project to study and assess degraded sites in Saudi Arabia’s western and southern regions.
Using advanced technology, the project will develop rehabilitation plans aligned with global standards as part of a broader national strategy, the Saudi Press Agency reported recently.
It focuses on identifying degraded areas and analyzing direct and indirect causes in Makkah, Madinah, Baha, Asir, Jazan, and Najran.
Tailored plans will be developed to monitor and evaluate land degradation, considering local conditions and national priorities, the SPA added.
The strategy includes short-, medium-, and long-term plans to restore degraded lands using internationally recognized methods.
As a part of the implementation, the center will conduct in-depth assessments with remote sensing and Geographic Information Systems to determine degradation severity.
The project also involves extensive field and lab analyses of soil, vegetation and water, along with economic and social evaluations, the SPA reported.
Practical methodologies and mechanisms will be developed to guide rehabilitation efforts based on prioritized restoration needs.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2592370/saudi-arabia
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AI-operated Qur’an-learning project launched in Makkah
March 04, 2025
MAKKAH: Sheikh Abdulrahman Al-Sudais, head of the Presidency of Religious Affairs at the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque, has launched an artificial intelligence-powered project in Makkah, Al-Maqraa, which offers Qur’anic education in 10 languages.
Al-Sudais said Al-Maqraa is a platform, available globally, that integrates modern methods, rigorous methodology, and AI technology, the Saudi Press Agency reported recently.
The platform provides recitation, tajweed or proper pronunciation, and memorization courses under the supervision of qualified teachers.
It includes a Shariah-compliant administrative system for monitoring Qur’anic study circles, detailed analytical reports, stimulating learning environment, flexible enrollment, and an accredited certification system.
The project aims to instill Islamic values in the minds of Qur’an students at the Grand Mosque in Makkah, the SPA reported.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2592365/saudi-arabia
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AED installed in 15 spots at Makkah Grand Mosque for rapid response to cardiac arrest cases
March 04, 2025
MAKKAH — The Saudi Red Crescent Authority is supervising an initiative titled “Whoever revives it” at Grand Mosque in Makkah to facilitate rapid response to sudden cardiac arrest cases among the worshipers. Under the initiative, automated external defibrillators (AED) were deployed in more than 15 locations within the Grand Mosque.
AED is a portable device that can be used to treat a person whose heart has suddenly stopped working through applying an electric charge or current to the heart. In cases of cardiac arrest, AEDs are used to regulate the heartbeat through a steady current that restores normal pulse.
These devices are aimed to enable first responders, whether from the Red Crescent teams or trained visitors to the Grand Mosque, to intervene quickly through cardiopulmonary resuscitation before the arrival of the ambulance teams. Scientific studies have confirmed that the speed of using these devices increases the chances of saving patients suffering from sudden cardiac arrest.
The Red Crescent officials were found reviewing the locations of the devices, which were distributed in the main courtyards and corridors, to ensure quick access to them when needed. Satam Al-Qurashi, a Red Crescent emergency medical services specialist, said that the initiative complements its training programs that aim to spread the culture of first aid and enable visitors and workers in the Grand Mosque to intervene immediately in the event of emergency situations.
These efforts reflect the Saudi Red Crescent's keenness to harness all human and technical capabilities to improve the quality of emergency medical care at the Grand Mosque, where the speed of response is crucial in saving lives. The medical and ambulance services at the Grand Mosque are part of a comprehensive care system provided by the concerned authorities to ensure the safety and comfort of visitors to the mosque, through dealing with any health emergency, and provision of care if needed.
Source: saudigazette.com.sa
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https://saudigazette.com.sa/article/649850/SAUDI-ARABIA/AED-installed-in-15-spots-at-Makkah-Grand-Mosque-for-rapid-response-to-cardiac-arrest-cases
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Watch: Dubai Marina welcomes new mosque inspired by Ottoman art
March 04, 2025
Salamatt Husain
As Muslims gather for daily prayers during the holy month of Ramadan, a newly inaugurated mosque in Dubai Marina is set to become a prominent place of worship. The late Sheikh Rashid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Mosque, with a capacity of 1,647 worshippers, offers a modern and inclusive space for the growing community in the area.
Inspired by the rich heritage of Ottoman art, the mosque's design reflects a harmonious blend of tradition and contemporary architectural elements. Spanning an impressive 5,021.31 square metres, the mosque is equipped with modern facilities to ensure the utmost comfort for its worshippers. The layout includes a spacious courtyard, well-designed ablution areas, parking spaces, and prayer halls, all constructed according to the highest design and functionality standards.
Dubbed by the Dubai Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department as "a model for contemporary mosques," the mosque is specifically designed to meet the community's diverse needs. In addition to the traditional prayer spaces, the mosque also features designated areas for people of determination, further reflecting the commitment to inclusivity and accessibility.
With the ability to accommodate 1,397 men and 250 women, the mosque serves as a beacon of both spiritual devotion and architectural excellence, welcoming worshippers from all walks of life.
Source: gulfnews.com
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https://gulfnews.com/videos/news/watch-heavy-snowfall-in-manali-boosts-tourism-draws-large-crowds-1.500052005
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Europe
UK Muslim And Community Groups Reject Drumlanrig Accords Between ‘Self-Appointed Leaders’ And Chief Rabbi
March 4, 2025
Muslim and other community groups in the UK have come together to reject the so-called Drumlanrig Accords signed between “self-appointed Muslim leaders” and the Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis. The groups released a public statement about the issue yesterday.
The signatories of the statement included Friends of Al Aqsa (FOA), Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC), the Cordoba Foundation and the Palestinian Forum in Britain, as well as Legal Action for Peace (LAFP), Muslim Public Affairs Committee (MPAC) and European Palestinian Communication Forum.
“Dr Sayed Razawi, Imam Qari Asim MBE and the other Muslims involved failed to consult widely with grassroot organisations supported by the Muslim community before they signed these Accords with the Chief Rabbi, who is a staunch Zionist,” said the signatories. “Rabbi Mirvis has supported Israel’s war on the Palestinians in Gaza [part of the ‘Occupied Palestinian Territories’] where 61,709 Palestinian civilians have been killed, wiping out entire family bloodlines, and 111,588 civilians have been wounded.”
The occupation state of Israel, they pointed out, has dropped over 85,000 tonnes of bombs over one of the world’s most densely-populated areas where over 50 per cent of the population are children. “The whole of Gaza has been levelled including churches, mosques, the entire health system and the housing infrastructure.”
The signatories explained that they cannot, in good faith, acknowledge these Accords when the Chief Rabbi has made public statements supporting Israel despite the horrific actions of the Israeli occupation forces. “Moreover, Israeli leaders, Knesset members, Israel’s Ambassador to the UK and the country’s defence minister have made genocidal statements against Christians and Muslims only because they are Palestinian Arabs.” It is this, they said, which Rabbi Mirvis apparently supports.
The “self-appointed” Muslim leaders, said the signatories, were “fully aware that they only represent a small minority” of the overall British Muslim population. “For example, one of the signatories, the ‘Chief Imam’, represents less than one per cent of the entire British Muslim community. Imam Qari Asim, a senior Imam at Makkah Mosque in Leeds and co-chair of the recently launched British Muslim Network, represents even fewer Muslims.”
Despite this, they continued, these “leaders” proceeded to sign the Accords with an individual who even condemned the UK government for blocking minor arm sales to Israel during its genocide of the Palestinians.
“The majority of the British Muslim community do not even know who these individual Muslim ‘leaders’ are,” said the statement’s signatories. “Their actions and decisions were made independently without consulting the wider Muslim community.”
The community groups acknowledged that should the Chief Rabbi’s position change and he condemns the genocide and apartheid being enforced against the Palestinian people, they would welcome a collective multi-faith movement against oppression led jointly with the Rabbi.
“Until then, we wholly reject these Accords made purportedly on behalf of the Muslim community. A central facet of Islam is the complete rejection of oppression. As a community, we do not shy away from rejecting oppression in all its forms against anyone,” they added. “We strongly advise that both representatives of the UK Government and leaders of other faith groups do not attempt to select Muslims by holding them up as key leaders representing the Muslim community when this is far from the truth. Only Muslims can choose who represents them.”
Noting that they are “wholly supportive” of interfaith relations when carried out in good faith, the signatories pointed to the significant rise in anti-Muslim hatred within the Jewish community.
“We support engagement on challenging hatred in all its forms, and urge all parties involved to seek proper consultation and dialogue with grassroot leadership organisations supported by the British Muslim community before taking such decisions in the future.”
The list of signatories in addition to those named above is as follows: Health Workers and Allies for Palestine, Dudley Palestine Solidarity Group, the British Arab Nursing and Midwifery Association, Redbridge Community Action Group (RCAG), Alum Rock Friends of Palestine, Campaign Against Anti-Muslim Hate, Parents United, Bradford Friends of Palestine, Bradford Independent Group of Councillors, Newham Palestine Solidarity Network, Barking and Dagenham Palestine Solidarity Network, Newham Muslim Forum, Masjid Al Habib Canning Town Muslim Trust, Darul Ihsaan, Barking, Motala Foundation, Tower Hamlets Palestine Solidarity Network, Darul Jannah Community Centre, Windsor Muslim Association, Solihull Solidarity, Ealing Friends of Palestine and Birmingham4Palestine.
Source: middleeastmonitor.com
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https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20250304-uk-muslim-and-community-groups-reject-accords-between-self-appointed-leaders-and-chief-rabbi/
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Prime Minister marks Ramadan at ‘difficult time for Muslims in the UK’
March 5 2025
By Ellie Crabbe, PA
The Prime Minister has celebrated Ramadan at what he called a “difficult time for Muslims in the UK” at an iftar event in Parliament.
Sir Keir Starmer attended “the big iftar” hosted by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims to observe Ramadan, which began on Friday and will go on until March 30.
Speaking at the event on Tuesday evening, the Prime Minister thanked British Muslims for their contributions in “every community in Britain” and reflected on the “pain of the conflict in Gaza” and how conflict abroad “affects communities here at home”.
He said: “I know (this) has been a very difficult time for Muslims here in the UK with the pain of the conflict in Gaza and the suffering of the Palestinians.
“I am absolutely clear that the Palestinian must be allowed to rebuild, and we should stand alongside them in this effort on the road to a two-state solution – the only way to get lasting peace in my opinion.”
Sir Keir also said that he was “horrified” by the “wave of hatred we have seen directed towards British Muslims” which he said was “whipped up by far-right rhetoric and disinformation”, particularly in the wake of the riots after three young girls were murdered in Southport last summer.
“It is shocking – absolutely shocking – that 2024 was the worst year for anti-Muslim hate crime since the Home Office began collecting data,” the Prime Minister said.
“I always thought these numbers would go down, that there would be a better trend towards a better society. They’ve gone in the wrong direction to a record high – that’s how serious it is. But of course, they are just statistics, but behind those statistic are real people impacted everyday by this hatred, fearful for their families, fearful for their children facing harassment on our streets.”
The Prime Minister said the images in Southport days after the riots of people rebuilding a wall in front of a mosque which was damaged is “the true spirit of this country” and wished attendees a “peaceful, blessed and fruitful holy month”.
Source: belfasttelegraph.co.uk
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https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/uk/prime-minister-marks-ramadan-at-difficult-time-for-muslims-in-the-uk/a1779284613.html
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Zelensky vows to 'make things right' with Trump and negotiate peace
March 5 2025
Volodymyr Zelensky said he was ready to work under Donald Trump's "strong leadership" to achieve a lasting peace days after their explosive Oval Office meeting.
The Ukrainian president described the White House showdown as "regrettable" in a lengthy social media post in the wake of the US announcing a pause in military aid to Kyiv.
Zelensky said "it was time to make things right", after Trump had accused him of not being ready to come to the negotiating table.
The Ukrainian leader also outlined the first stages of how the war could be ended.
"We are ready to work fast to end the war, and the first stages could be the release of prisoners and truce in the sky – ban on missiles, long-ranged drones, bombs on energy and other civilian infrastructure – and truce in the sea immediately, if Russia will do the same," he wrote.
"Then we want to move very fast through all next stages and to work with the US to agree a strong final deal."
In his social media post, Zelensky said Friday's meeting "did not go the way it was supposed to be", adding: "It is regrettable that it happened this way," he wrote. "It is time to make things right. We would like future co-operation and communication to be constructive."
He also reiterated that Ukraine was ready to sign a minerals deal with the US, after the failure to do so at the Washington meeting.
Ukraine woke to the news on Tuesday that the US was "pausing and reviewing" its military aid to the country after a breakdown in diplomacy last week.
In his post, Zelensky offered an overt declaration of gratitude for the help the US has so far given to his country.
"We do really value how much America has done to help Ukraine maintain its sovereignty and independence," he wrote.
"And we remember the moment when things changed when President Trump provided Ukraine with Javelins. We are grateful for this," he added, referring to the US anti-tank missile system sold to Ukraine during Trump's first administration.
During Friday's meeting in the Oval Office, Vice-President JD Vance accused Zelensky of being ungrateful for the military support the US had provided.
"Have you said 'thank you' once this entire meeting?" Vance said, before Trump told Zelensky he was not being "very thankful".
Zelensky defended himself in the meeting, and began an interview with Fox News in the hours afterwards, saying: "I'm very thankful to Americans for all your support."
The Oval Office meeting between Zelensky and US officials last week was due to conclude with the two parties signing a deal that would grant the US access to rare earth minerals in Ukraine.
After the clash, which saw Trump accuse Zelensky of "gambling with World War III", the Ukrainian delegation left without signing the deal – Trump told Zelensky "come back when you're ready for peace".
Trump is due to deliver an address to Congress later on Tuesday, during which the Reuters news agency reports he plans to announce a minerals deal between US and Ukraine has been signed.
A number of Ukraine's allies have commented on the latest from the Ukrainian president, including UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who welcomed Zelensky's "steadfast commitment to securing peace".
It is "vital that all parties worked towards a lasting and secure peace for Ukraine as soon as possible", a statement from No 10 said.
Likewise, French President Emmanuel Macron praised Zelensky's willingness to "re-engage in dialogue" with Trump, the Elysee Palace said.
Days before his meeting with Zelensky, the US President had met with Macron, who travelled to Washington with a warning to Trump: "You can't be weak in the face of Putin."
While European leaders rallied behind Zelensky following the clash, Nato's secretary general advised the Ukrainian leader to "find a way" to restore his relationship with Trump.
Speaking to the BBC the following day, Mark Rutte said he had told him "we have to respect" what Trump has done for Ukraine so far.
Zelensky's statement falls short of an apology to Trump, which those in the US president's camp had called for.
In Moscow, Vladimir Putin's team earlier welcomed the US's pause to military aid as likely to be the "best" contribution to peace.
"If the US stops, or pauses these supplies, this will probably be the best contribution to the cause of peace," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told the BBC's Steve Rosenberg.
Trump himself has not commented on the pause to aid, nor Zelensky's response, however he did earlier berate the Ukrainian leader following his meetings with European allies at the weekend.
A Sunday summit - hosted by the UK prime minister - was intended as a show of support for Ukraine.
After the meeting, Zelensky said a deal to end the war between Ukraine and Russia was "still very, very far away".
Trump described this as the "worst statement that could have been made by Zelensky", in a post on his Truth Social platform.
"It is what I was saying, this guy doesn't want there to be peace as long as he has America's backing," the president wrote.
Source: bbc.com
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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cge1qq4jdxdo
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Pope still stable after respiratory failure, Vatican says
March 5 2025
Pope Francis has remained stable after suffering two episodes of respiratory failure on Monday.
In its nightly update, the Vatican said the Pope did not present any further episodes of respiratory failure or bronchospasm.
"He remained afebrile, always alert, cooperative with therapies and well-oriented", the statement said.
The 88-year-old pontiff has been in hospital since mid-February undergoing treatment for pneumonia.
After Monday's episodes, the Pope had begun using an oxygen mask and ventilator to assist his breathing.
It was the second time the mechanical intervention had been used, after spending two days on the ventilator following an "isolated" breathing crisis involving vomiting on Friday, the Vatican said.
In Tuesday's update, the Holy See said Pope Francis had switched back to high-flow oxygen therapy.
During the day he alternated prayer and rest and this morning he received the Eucharist, it added.
Pope Francis is due to miss the procession and mass on Wednesday that marks the first day of Lent, the six-week period leading to Easter.
He has been unable to deliver his traditional Angelus prayer in person on each of the last three Sundays.
The Pope was admitted to hospital on 14 February after experiencing breathing difficulties for several days.
He was first treated for bronchitis before being diagnosed with pneumonia in both lungs.
The pontiff is particularly susceptible to pneumonia, an infection of the lungs that can be caused by bacteria, viruses or fungi, after he contracted pleurisy – an inflammation of the lungs – as a young man and had a partial lung removal.
Vatican sources stress, as they have all along, that the Pope's condition remains complex – his doctors remain cautious - and he is not out of danger.
Source: bbc.com
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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly28dj107qo
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South Asia
US Congress members call for resumption of Afghan Resettlement Program
By Fidel Rahmati
March 5, 2025
Mike Lawler, a U.S. Congressman, has written a letter to President Donald Trump urging him to halt the decision to stop the Afghan resettlement program in the United States. Lawler warned that this decision could put the lives of over 200,000 Afghans who have worked with U.S. forces over the past 20 years at risk.
In his letter, Lawler expressed his strong opposition to the decision, stating that it not only undermines the United States’ moral commitment to its former allies, but also jeopardizes the lives of thousands of Afghans who are facing threats due to their cooperation with American forces. The program aimed to provide a safe refuge for these individuals who helped U.S. troops during the two-decade-long war in Afghanistan.
Lawler emphasized that many of these individuals continue to face serious security threats after the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. He argued that halting their resettlement could lead to disastrous consequences for them and their families. The cancellation of this program would essentially abandon those who risked their lives to support American forces during the conflict.
This request comes as the Trump administration has decided to end the CARE program, which was established to support and resettle at-risk Afghans. This decision has faced widespread criticism from U.S. lawmakers and human rights activists, who believe that the U.S. has an ethical responsibility to protect those who assisted American forces during the war.
The Afghan resettlement program (CARE) was launched after the U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. The program aimed to provide housing, legal services, and financial support to Afghans who were at risk due to their cooperation with the U.S. military. Many U.S. lawmakers, particularly members of Congress, have voiced strong support for continuing this program, seeing it as an essential step in fulfilling America’s ethical and strategic commitments.
The decision to end the Afghan resettlement program raises serious concerns about the U.S. government’s commitment to those who helped during the conflict. The moral and humanitarian obligation to protect these individuals cannot be overlooked. It is crucial for the U.S. to honor its promises and ensure the safety of its Afghan allies.
It remains unclear whether the Trump administration will reconsider its decision, but similar requests continue to come from other congressional representatives and human rights organizations. The ongoing support for the resettlement program highlights the urgency of addressing the plight of those who risked everything to support U.S. forces in Afghanistan.
Source: khaama.com
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https://www.khaama.com/us-congress-members-call-for-resumption-of-afghan-resettlement-program/
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Denmark donates over $6 million to Afghanistan
By Fidel Rahmati
March 4, 2025
The Afghanistan Special Trust Fund has announced that Denmark has contributed $6.9 million to this fund. This financial assistance is seen as a significant step towards supporting the people of Afghanistan, particularly in the face of the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the country.
On Tuesday, March 4, the trust fund expressed its gratitude through a post on its X (formerly Twitter) account. The donation from Denmark is seen as an essential contribution to the efforts to support the people of Afghanistan, particularly those who are most vulnerable, such as women and girls.
According to the trust fund, this aid is crucial for empowering Afghan citizens, especially for the support and education of girls and women. The current situation in Afghanistan, particularly the challenges faced by women and girls under the Taliban’s rule, makes international support even more critical. Empowering women and offering them opportunities for education and employment are essential for the long-term stability and prosperity of Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has reported that in 2025, around 22.9 million people in Afghanistan will require humanitarian aid. The situation remains dire, with a large portion of the population suffering from food insecurity, lack of healthcare, and other basic necessities. The ongoing conflict and economic challenges have left millions of Afghans in desperate need of assistance.
OCHA has requested a budget of $2.24 billion to address the humanitarian needs in Afghanistan for the upcoming year. This funding will be used to provide essential aid, including food, shelter, and healthcare, to those who are most affected by the crisis. However, with millions still in need, the international community’s support remains critical for alleviating suffering and rebuilding the country.
It is worth noting that during the holy month of Ramadan, millions of Afghans are uncertain where their next meal will come from. The scarcity of resources and the ongoing humanitarian crisis have made it increasingly difficult for families to meet their basic needs, particularly in the absence of a stable income or access to food supplies.
Denmark’s generous donation to the Afghanistan Special Trust Fund serves as a crucial lifeline for many in Afghanistan, especially women and girls who continue to face immense challenges. However, the situation remains critical, and the global community must continue to provide assistance to prevent further suffering and help rebuild the country.
As the need for humanitarian aid continues to grow, it is vital for countries around the world to collaborate and ensure that aid reaches those who need it most.
Source: khaama.com
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https://www.khaama.com/denmark-donates-over-6-million-to-afghanistan/
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Mullah Turabi Assesses Flood-Affected Areas in Uruzgan Province
2025-03-04
URUZGAN(BNA): Mullah Nooruddin Turabi, the Head of Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority (ANDMA) conducted a visit to Uruzgan province to assess the damage caused by recent floods.
The visit, reported by the press office of the Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority, focused on several affected regions, including Sarkhom, Balah, Mashinaw, Chora, and Wand.
During his inspection, Mullah Turabi engaged with local residents, expressing his condolences for their losses and actively listening to their concerns and challenges. He emphasized the importance of understanding the local situation and gathering suggestions from the community to address their needs effectively.
In his remarks, Mullah Turabi assured the residents that their feedback would be communicated to the leadership of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. He expressed his commitment to advocating for appropriate solutions to the challenges faced by the affected communities.
Source: bakhtarnews.af
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https://www.bakhtarnews.af/en/mullah-turabi-assesses-flood-affected-areas-in-uruzgan-province/
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Constituent assembly, nat’l polls can be held together
Mar 5, 2025
Nahid Islam, convenor of the National Citizen Party (NCP), at the party's first public programme since its launch, yesterday proposed holding constituent assembly elections and the parliamentary polls simultaneously.
"Constituent assembly elections will help pave the way for a new constitution and a genuine democratic process. The constituent assembly polls and the national parliamentary election can be held together. This will enable the formation of a new framework and the creation of a new Bangladesh."
He made these remarks after visiting the graves of the July uprising martyrs in the capital's Rayerbazar. He was accompanied by other NCP leaders.
Nahid also demanded swift justice for the repression during the uprising.
"Through fair justice, we can at least alleviate some of the sufferings of those [the families of those] who sacrificed their lives and those who were injured. This justice must serve as a precedent to ensure that no fascist regime emerges in the future."
Sarjis Alam, chief organiser (Northern region) of the NCP, stated that as long as Hasina is not on the gallows, no one should "even mistakenly talk about elections".
"Where killer Hasina has disposed of the bodies is still unknown. Mothers are desperately looking for their children's remains. Until justice is served, how can we think about anything else in this country?"
The party's Chief Organiser (Southern region) Hasnat Abdullah, said the current government came to power through the blood of students and the public.
"They must remember that if justice is not ensured, the entire process [of the interim government's formation] will be questioned. Justice must be ensured as quickly as possible. If necessary, the number of special tribunals should be increased to expedite the trials."
Those present at Rayerbazar also included NCP's Member Secretary Akhtar Hossain, Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary, Senior Joint Chief Coordinator Abdul Hannan Masud, and other party leaders.
Earlier, around 8:30am, Nahid and Akhtar led the NCP leaders to the National Memorial in Savar to pay homage to the martyrs of the Liberation War by placing wreaths. They then observed a one-minute silence.
Speaking to reporters there, Akhtar said the key principles of the independence achieved in 1971 – equality, human dignity and social justice – have remained elusive for 54 years.
"We, the leaders and activists of the NCP, are committed to building the Bangladesh that upholds the equality, human dignity and social justice of 1971. NCP will continue to work to build that Bangladesh, and we have many proposals for the whole of Bengal to see Bangladesh as a country that can stand tall in the world."
At the same event, Nasiruddin Patwary mentioned that the party slogan "Inquilab Zindabad" has come up in discussions recently.
"We want to tell the whole of Bangladesh and the whole world that the people of Bangladesh will write Inquilab Zindabad across the whole sky, inshaAllah."
Source: thedailystar.net
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https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/politics/news/constituent-assembly-natl-polls-can-be-held-together-3839846
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2 killed in Ctg: Deceased were Jamaat members
Mar 5, 2025
The two people who were killed in a mob beating "on suspicion of being robbers" in Chattogram'sSatkaniaupazila's on Monday night were identified as active members of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, said police.
Jamaat leaders claimed that the two members of their organisation were murdered in a planned manner by those who want to establish dominance in the area.
The deceased Md Nezam Uddin, 45, of Kanchana union, and MdSalek, 35, of the same union, were identified as supporters of Chattogram Metropolitan Jamaat's Ameer Shahjahan Chowdhury, said police sources.
"Salek stood accused in two murder cases, and Nezam had also been accused in several cases. After the incident, police and army personnel visited the spot and tried to find out what exactly happened there," Chattogram Superintendent of Police Saiful Islam Shantu told this newspaper.
"The incident took place during the Taraweeh prayer. After they [victims] went to the upazila'sChankhola area, an announcement was made through a mosque's loudspeaker that robbers were spotted in the area, prompting the public to gather," said the SP.
When asked about the possible motive behind the killings, the SP said, "We don't rule out any possibilities, and we are investigating the incident. We tried to find CCTV footage but failed to get it as there was none."
"Police found a blood-stained pistol at the spot, and upon inspecting the firearm, police suspect that the pistol might have been looted from a government office right after the July uprising," the SP said.
Police and local sources said Nezam returned to Kanchana union after the fall of the Awami League government on August 5 last year.
Around the same time, other Jamaat men started to return and began taking control of different business establishments and other assets.
Nezam and some Jamaat men had a rivalry with other local influentials.
However, Chattogram South District Jamaat's spokesperson Ayub Ali said in a press statement, "It's a planned murder. The area where the two were gruesomely beaten to death has long been a crime-prone area. A group has been trying to take control of the hills, trees, and brick kilns in the area.
"In the name of an arbitration meeting, the victims were called to that area and later beaten to death," said the press release.
No case had been filed till the filing of this report at 6:00pm yesterday.
Source: thedailystar.net
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https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/crime-justice/news/2-killed-ctg-deceased-were-jamaat-members-3839881
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UN Envoy Meets Herat Governor, Vows Continued Support
2025-03-04
KABUL(BNA): The Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Development, AndrikaRatwate, met with Herat Governor Sheikh Molana Islam Jar on Thursday to discuss ongoing cooperation in key development areas, including climate change mitigation, support for returning migrants, and anti-narcotics efforts.
During the meeting, Ratwate outlined the UN’s ongoing initiatives in Herat and other western provinces, emphasizing the organization’s commitment to sustainable development. Both sides discussed strategies for strengthening collaboration on climate resilience, providing alternative livelihoods for returning refugees, and tackling drug trafficking.
Governor Islam Jar welcomed the UN’s engagement in the region and called for expanded cooperation, particularly in supporting farmers with fruit tree distribution, modern irrigation projects, and assistance for small businesses.
Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to continued partnership, highlighting the need for coordinated efforts to address Afghanistan’s development challenges.
Source: bakhtarnews.af
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https://www.bakhtarnews.af/en/un-envoy-meets-herat-governor-vows-continued-support/
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North America
Berkeley rallies after Muslim-owned clinic targeted by anti-Islam graffiti
By Alex N. Gecan
March 4, 2025,
About 100 Berkeleyans gathered in South Berkeley for a vigil Monday after Islamophobic graffiti reading “fuck Islam” was spray-painted on the window of a Muslim-owned University Avenue business over the weekend.
NegeeneMosaed, a Muslim Berkeleyan of Iranian heritage, said her Berkeley Community Physical Therapy clinic has been vandalized time and again after displaying posters calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Mosaed said she suspected the clinic was targeted on Saturday specifically because it was the first full day of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
Berkeleyans of many faiths came out Monday to support Mosaed and other victims of hate crimes.
“As I have learned from Muslim friends, the Quran, if I may, with your permission, teaches that we have been created in our diversity so that we can strive together — not in hate and fear, but in righteousness,” Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb, a Rabbinic Council member with Jewish Voices for Peace, said Monday.
Rev. Pamela Kurtz, pastor at the Berkeley Methodist United Church, which has displayed signs calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, said her church’s own signs calling for peace had also been defaced. “We keep putting them up, because love overcomes hate, peace overcomes violence whether it is with words or physicality or emotion, and hope overcomes despair,” Kurtz said Monday.
MajdiGaith, a co-owner of Jaffa Coffee Roasters, which is just two blocks east of the clinic and which Islamophobic vandals have also targeted multiple times, spoke about how exhausting it was to watch “my people slaughtered” — he is a Bay Area native but also has citizenship in the West Bank — while facing hatred in Berkeley as well.
“I’m running a business with my brothers, and we get defaced and vandalized,” a dehydrated Gaith, who was fasting for Ramadan, said Monday. “We’re fighting inflation, we’re fighting division, we’re fighting a two-party system that’s broken, and we still have to fight this hatred.”
Berkeley hate crimes on the rise
Reported hate crimes have steadily increased in Berkeley beginning in 2021, according to police data. From 2016, when the Berkeley Police Department began publishing data, through 2020, there were between seven and 24 hate crimes reported each year. There were 41 in 2021, 35 in 2022, 46 in 2023 and 45 in 2024. The demographics most frequently targeted in those years were Pacific Islanders in 2021, Black victims in 2022 and 2023 and the LGBTQ community in 2024. Data for 2025 are not yet available.
Police did not specify whether it was investigating this case as a hate crime but a spokesperson did say that “acts of hate and vandalism have no place in our community, and we stand together in condemning this behavior.”
“Since October of 2023, there has been an increase overall in the number of anti-Jewish hate incidents, and a slight uptick in anti-Arab or anti-Muslim hate incidents,” Berkeley police spokesperson Officer Jessica Perry said in an email. “In 2024, Anti-Jewish hate crimes made up 18.6% of overall hate crimes. Anti-Muslim made up 4.65% and Anti-Arab was 6.98% of the 2024 total.” There was “no suspect information available,” she said.
Councilmember Igor Tregub, whose district includes Mosaed’s clinic and who attended the vigil Monday, said that he and his colleagues Cecilia Lunaparra and Terry Taplin were working on an emergency resolution they hoped to bring to the council’s March 11 meeting noting an uptick in hate crimes in recent years and said he “condemns this act and all other acts of Islamophobia.”
Mayor Adena Ishii wrote in a statement she was “deeply disturbed and saddened.” “Hate has no place in our city and must not be tolerated,” she wrote.
Organizers chose the South Berkeley Senior Center as their location because the Peace and Justice Commission meets there, and was scheduled Monday to discuss a resolution “opposing an American occupation and the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians from Gaza.” But that item was pulled from the commission’s agenda without explanation, and it is unclear whether the commission will take it up again in the future. The commission previously passed a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Clinic received voicemail applauding the graffiti
Mosaed’s clinic is closed on weekends but office manager Donise Adair nevertheless spotted the graffiti Saturday evening, when she popped into Trader Joe’s across University to pick up some lemonade. She snapped a picture to send to Mosaed. Adair said both women have worked there in one capacity or another for 14 years. Mosaed took over the clinic as owner in 2019.
Some of the staff at Berkeley Community Physical Therapy have become inured to graffiti, and even to insults. The clinic has displayed pro-Palestinian posters and flyers since well before the conflict between Israel and Palestine escalated sharply in October 2023, Adair said.
Passersby would stop and gawk at the posters several times a day, occasionally banging on or kicking windows, Adair said. Then there are the voicemails.
“We had a horrible one this morning,” Adair said Monday. The caller “went off the rails about, ‘you guys are finally getting what you deserve,’” she said.
“You may think that with hate and anger and aggression, and trying to erase people, you can get somewhere,” Mosaed said when asked what she might say if she could confront the vandal. But “there will always be a movement, a mass movement of people against injustice,” she said.
Source: berkeleyside.org
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https://www.berkeleyside.org/2025/03/04/berkeley-community-physical-therapy-islamophibic-vandalism
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CAIR-MI Safe Spaces & Islamic Center of Detroit Provide Dates for Incarcerated Muslims Observing Ramadan
March 4, 2025
The Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MI), a local chapter of the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today, in collaboration with the Islamic Center of Detroit (ICD), successfully provided 140 boxes of dates to 378 incarcerated Muslims across Michigan correctional facilities to support their observance of Ramadan.
This initiative, led by CAIR-MI’s Safe Spaces Department and ICD, ensured that incarcerated Muslims could break their fast with dates, following the practice, or sunnah, of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
As the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
“He who provides a fasting person with something to break his fast will earn the same reward as the one who was observing the fast, without diminishing in any way the reward of the latter.”
“I feel extremely privileged and honored to serve our brothers and sisters housed in correctional facilities this Ramadan. It is important that they are able to break their fast in accordance with the sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), just as he encouraged us to do.”
Said CAIR-MI’s Director of Safe Spaces, ZaynahJadallah: “This initiative allows incarcerated Muslims to feel a sense of connection and community, knowing that someone has thought of them during this blessed month. CAIR-MI looks forward to continuing to serve the most vulnerable of our Muslim brothers and sisters, those housed in jails and correctional facilities, through other initiatives within the Safe Spaces Department.”
This effort reflects CAIR-MI’s ongoing commitment to protecting the religious rights of incarcerated Muslims, ensuring they have the necessary accommodations to observe their faith with dignity. The organization remains dedicated to advocating for the spiritual and dietary needs of Muslim individuals in correctional facilities during Ramadan and beyond.
CAIR has issued guidance for law enforcement agencies to advise them about the rights of Muslims in their custody.
Source: cair.com
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https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-mi-safe-spaces-islamic-center-of-detroit-provide-dates-for-incarcerated-muslims-observing-ramadan/
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CAIR-LA Welcomes Corona-Norco Unified School District’s Free Ramadan Meal Kit Initiative for Fasting Muslim Students
March 4, 2025
The Greater Los Angeles Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) today welcomed the Corona-Norco Unified School District (CNUSD) initiative to provide free to-go meal kits for Muslims students who are observing fasting during Ramadan.
In an “effort to promote nutrition security and health equity,” CNUSD recently announced that free to-go meal kits will be available at all school sites for students to pick up each day beginning Friday, Feb. 28, through Sunday, March 30. The meal kits are shelf-stable and can be requested by students in the breakfast and lunch lines.
CNUSD joins the Anaheim Union High School District and the Garden Grove Unified School District in offering to-go kits for fasting students.
In a statement, CAIR-LA Executive Director HussamAyloush said:
“Providing meal kits for students who are fasting during Ramadan is one meaningful way schools can support Muslim students. Many rely on school meals for their nutrition, and offering such resources helps ensure that fasting students can observe their faith without facing difficulties. The efforts of school districts like Garden Grove, Anaheim, and Corona Norco highlight the importance of inclusivity, respect, and understanding in educational environments.
“We commend CNUSD for its commitment to accommodating the needs of its diverse students and we hope that more school districts will take similar steps to ensure Muslim students feel seen and valued at school, not only during Ramadan but year-round.”
CAIR’s California chapter (CAIR-CA) recently released a resource guide to support Muslim employees, students, and community members in navigating school and the workplace during the month of Ramadan, including creating downloaded letter templates to assist Muslim employees and students in securing religious accommodations at work and school. CAIR-CA also sent letters to California school administrators providing education and advice on preparing for Ramadan.
CAIR-LA is Southern California’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice and empower American Muslims.
Source: cair.com
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https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-la-welcomes-corona-norco-unified-school-districts-free-ramadan-meal-kit-initiative-for-fasting-muslim-students/
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Trump will 'probably' cut Mexico and Canada tariffs - US commerce chief
March 5, 2025
US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has said President Donald Trump will "probably" announce a deal to reduce tariffs on Canada and Mexico on Wednesday.
"Both the Canadians and Mexicans were on the phone with me all day today trying to show that they'll do better" on reducing the flow of the synthetic opioid fentanyl into the US, Lutnick said in an interview with Fox Business Network.
But Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs Mélanie Joly told the BBC's Newsnight that her office had not been contacted about the plan.
Canada and Mexico announced retaliatory import levies on the US after Washington's 25% tariffs on its two neighbours came into effect on Tuesday.
Lutnick made clear that he expected the US tariffs to be lowered rather than paused.
"I think [Trump's] going to figure out, 'you do more, and I'll meet you in the middle some way.' And we're probably going to be announcing that tomorrow."
US officials "can say many things" but "the only one that really takes a decision is President Trump," Joly said.
Lutnick did have a call with Ontario Premier Doug Ford, according to sources who told the Globe and Mail that he had delivered a warning about Canadian retaliation and what was seen as personal attacks against Trump.
Earlier on Tuesday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau slammed Trump's sweeping tariffs on his country, calling it a "very dumb thing to do" and vowed to conduct a "relentless fight" to protect its economy.
Trudeau announced retaliatory tariffs on US exports and warned that a trade war would be costly for both countries.
But Trump pushed even further in a post on his Truth Social platform, saying: "Please explain to Governor Trudeau, of Canada, that when he puts on a Retaliatory Tariff on the U.S., our Reciprocal Tariff will immediately increase by a like amount!"
Trudeau accused the US president of planning "a total collapse of the Canadian economy because that will make it easier to annex us".
"That is never going to happen. We will never be the 51st state," he told reporters.
Washington also ramped up its trade war with Beijing on Tuesday as a new 10% levy on Chinese imports that came into effect - which adds to existing levies from Trump's first term and those announced last month.
"China will fight to the bitter end of any trade war," a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said after their country announced tit-for-tat tariffs on agricultural imports from the US.
Source: bbc.com
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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5yx02nnnyvo
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Trudeau hits out at 'dumb' tariffs as Trump warns of further hikes against Canada
March 5, 2025
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau slammed Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs on Canada, calling it a "very dumb thing to do" and vowed to conduct a "relentless fight" to protect its economy.
Trump has imposed 25% tariffs on products entering the US from Canada and Mexico, and has increased a levy on goods coming from China.
The Canadian prime minister announced retaliatory tariffs on US exports and warned that a trade war would be costly for both countries.
But Trump pushed even further in a post on Truth Social, saying: "Please explain to Governor Trudeau, of Canada, that when he puts on a Retaliatory Tariff on the U.S., our Reciprocal Tariff will immediately increase by a like amount!"
Trudeau accused the US president of planning "a total collapse of the Canadian economy because that will make it easier to annex us".
"That is never going to happen. We will never be the 51st state," he told reporters on Tuesday.
"This is a time to hit back hard and to demonstrate that a fight with Canada will have no winners."
He said that Canada's main goal remains to get the tariffs lifted so that they "don't last a second longer than necessary".
Trump said he is protecting US jobs and manufacturing, and trying to prevent illegal migration and drug trafficking. The US president said his goal is to clamp down on the powerful opioid fentanyl; he has variously blamed the other countries for the drug's arrival in the US.
Responding to the accusations, Trudeau said on Tuesday there was "no justification" for the new tariffs, because less than 1% of the fentanyl intercepted at the US border comes from Canada.
Trudeau's words were echoed by Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, who said there was "no motive, no reason, no justification" for Trump's move. Speaking on Tuesday, she too vowed to issue her own "tariff and non-tariff measures" - but said further details would be given on Sunday.
Trump's tariffs are likely to push up prices for consumers in the US and abroad, said John Rogers, an economics professor at American International University.
The items most likely to be affected the soonest are food - the fruits, vegetables and other produce the US imports from Mexico - followed by the large amounts of oil and gas imported from Canada, Prof Rogers said.
"Prices could go up pretty soon", Prof Rogers warned, though he was reluctant to say by exactly how much or how quickly.
"We are in pretty uncharted territory," he told the BBC.
The bigger concern for prof Rogers was the potential damage he said was being done to America's longstanding trade partners.
"This is kind of sticking your finger in the eye of your neighbour," he said, adding that, in a potential US-Canada-Mexico trade war, "everybody is a loser".
The three countries targeted are America's top trading partners, and the tit-for-tat measures also prompted fears of that very trade war.
"There's no way you can win a trade war. Everybody suffers, because everybody's just going to wind up paying higher prices and sacrificing quality," Prof Rogers said.
Tariffs are a tax on imports from other countries, designed to protect against cheaper competition from elsewhere, and boost businesses and jobs at home.
Canada's retaliatory measures include a 25% reciprocal tariff that will be imposed on C$155bn (US$107bn; £84bn) of American goods:
A tariff on C$30bn worth of goods will become effective immediately
Tariffs on the remaining C$125bn of American products will become effective in 21 days' time
Canada's Immigration Minister Marc Miller warned that as many as a million jobs in Canada were at risk if the tariffs were implemented, given how intertwined trade was between the two countries.
"We can't replace an economy that is responsible for 80% of our trade overnight and it's going to hurt," he said on Monday.
Speaking to the AFP news agency, a car manufacturing employee in the Canadian province of Ontario said people were indeed "pretty scared" of being laid off. "I just bought my first house," Joel Soleski said. "I might have to look for work elsewhere."
The sector is one that could be badly affected by the new tariffs regime in North America. Car parts may cross US-Canada border several times during the manufacturing process, and so might be taxed on multiple occasions.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford, whose province is home to Canada's auto manufacturing industry, told reporters on Tuesday that he anticipates assembly plants will "shut down on both sides of the border" as a result of the tariffs.
The tariffs were called "reckless" by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, whose president Candace Laing cautioned that the move would force both Canada and the US towards "recession, job losses and economic disaster".
Ms Laing warned they would also increase prices for Americans, and force US businesses to find alternate suppliers that she said "are less reliable than Canadian ones".
Canadian provincial leaders have vowed their own responses.
Ford of Ontario mooted the possibility of cutting off Canadian electricity supplies and exports of high-grade nickel to the US, as well as putting an export levy of 25% on electricity sent to power homes in Michigan, New York and Minnesota.
Canada exports enough electricity to power some six million American homes.
Ontario and other provinces have also moved to remove US-made liquor off their shelves. In Nova Scotia, Premier Tim Houston said his province will ban American companies from bidding on provincial contracts, as will Ontario.
Ford also announced that a C$100m ($68m; £55.1) contract with Elon Musk's satellite internet company Starlink will be cancelled.
Meanwhile China - which now faces tariffs of 20% after Trump doubled an earlier levy - has vowed to fight any trade war to the "bitter end". It has announced its own counter-measures - including tariffs on a range of US agricultural and food products.
Source: bbc.com
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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c89ye749nxvo
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Africa
DAM foundation provides packages to Muslims, and non-Muslim at Ramadan
March 4, 2025
The Dr. Abdullahi Mustapha Foundation (DAM) has provided meals and relief packages to Muslim faithful on the second day of the Ramadan.
The DAM Iftar Initiative is targeted at feeding over 800 -1000 Muslim faithful during the ongoing 30- day Ramadan fast by providing cooked food of different varieties and relief packages consisting of a variety of food items.
The foundation hopes to expand its reach, offering meaningful support to locals and demonstrating solidarity and love.
Speaking at the event, the founder/Chairman of the foundation, Dr. Mustapha Abdullahi stated that the initiative was driven by a desire to show love and provide basic necessities, acknowledging that not every person has access to a proper meal during the Holy Month.
“In the spirit of the Holy Month, We are here to show love and support to our people observing the Ramadan fast, as not everyone has the opportunity to have a proper meal after break of fast,” Dr. Mustapha said.
He also extended his goodwill to the people and urged them to pray for the Renewed Hope Administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the nation at large.
Source: thenationonlineng.net
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https://thenationonlineng.net/dam-foundation-provides-packages-to-muslims-and-non-muslim-at-ramadan/#google_vignette
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Makinde Harps on Peaceful Co-existence, Prayers at Ramadan Lecture
March 4, 2025
Oyo State governor, ’SeyiMakinde, yesterday called on the people of the state to imbibe the lessons of Ramadan by living in peace and oneness in order for the state to continue to witness progress and stability.
He stated this at the 11th Omituntun Annual Ramadan Public Lecture, held in Ibadan, stressing that it was only when residents were united that the state could achieve more.
He equally called on the Muslim Ummah to offer more prayers for the state, just as he declared that their support over the years enabled the government to achieve many things.
Governor Makinde appreciated the Islamic faithful in the state for their prayers, support and cooperation to his administration. He charged them to continually live in peace with others so that the state would continue to record more progress.
He called for the observance of a minute of silence for the deceased SarkinSasa, AlhajiHarunaMaiyasinKatsina, who passed on a few days ago, describing him as a strong supporter of his administration.
According to him, “I want to use this opportunity to thank our fathers, traditional heads, Grand Chief Imam of Ibadanland and Oyo State.
“I believe we were able to achieve all the things we have been able to achieve because of your support. So, I want to really thank you and solicit for more prayers so that we can progress as a state.
“In this period of Ramadan, I want all of us to know that this is our state and it is only when we are united and have peaceful co-existence that we can achieve more. When we come together, we achieve more.
“The guest lecturer spoke about our neighbours. If God wanted the existence of only one ethnic or religion or sect, He has the capacity to do it.
“But He created us to have multiple ethnic groups, different religions and different sects. By doing that, He has preached to us about the need for unity.
“So, let us use the opportunity of this holy month to co-exist peacefully beyond the Ramadan period for unity and stability in our state.”
The governor declared that, as a reflection on the part of the Ramadan Lecture that centred on fulfillment of promise, he would donate two buses to the guest lecturer, Imam Yunus Teilat (Ayilara II), Ph.D and the family of the late SarkinSasa in fulfillment of the promises he made and for the propagation of Islam.
“The lecturer also emphasised on fulfillment of promise and I concluded that I would continue to live up to that expectation. Last year, I promised that the guest lecturer would go home with a new bus this year, and it will be fulfilled before the end of this week.
“Another promise was made about three weeks ago. Baba SarkinSasa came to condole with me at home on the death of my elderly brother. He requested for a bus then and I made a promise to him that I would give him.
“So, despite the fact that he is late, I will still release the bus in fulfillment of my promise and to show that today’s lecture has started taking effect in my life,” Makinde added.
Earlier, in his Ramadan lecture entitled, “Benefits Of Being A Good Neighbour: An Islamic Perspective,” the Grand Chief Imam of Ogbomoso, Imam Teilat, charged people to imbibe the act of peaceful co-existence and tolerate their neighbours, adding that religion should not create problems, irrespective of different ethnic groups, gender and nationality.
He equally lauded Governor Makinde for being God-fearing, urging him to remain steadfast in doing what is right for the benefit of mankind.
In his opening remarks, Chairman on the occasion, Oba Rasheed Ladoja, noted that Ramadan is a period of perseverance and tolerance, even as he commended women for their resilient efforts in coping with the demands at the home front.
Also in their separate goodwill messages, the Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Edo and Delta, Alhaji Daud MakanjuolaAkinola and a former Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Senator MonsuratSunmonu, eulogised Governor Makinde.
The duo described the governor as a God-fearing leader, who accommodates everyone, irrespective of religious differences.
They also commended his efforts in completing projects abandoned by past administrations, praying for more achievements in his government.
In his vote of thanks, Deputy Governor AbdulraheemBayoLawal appreciated the support and cooperation enjoyed by the present administration from the Muslim community in the state and sought more prayers and support for the government.
Source: thisdaylive.com
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DGSS Ajayi hosts Muslims, Christians, urges religious tolerance
March 4, 2025
by Nicholas Kalu, Abuja
The Director General, State Services (DGSS) OluwatosinAdeolaAjayi, has called for greater religious harmony among Christians and Muslims in the country.
He spoke when he hosted Muslims and Christians for Iftar (the breaking of the Ramadan fast) at the weekend in Abuja, according to a statement by the Secretary General, Jama’atuNasril Islam (JNI), Prof. Khalid AliyuAbubakar on Tuesday in Abuja.
Ajayi described the event, which several less privileged persons and those with special needs in the city benefitted from, as a gesture of love and peace that comes with Ramadan.
Leading hundreds of Muslim faithful and scholars at the historic breaking of fast were Secretary General Jama’atuNasril Islam (JNI), Prof. Khalid AliyuAbubakar, Senior Imams, National Mosque Abuja, Prof. Kabir Adam, Bar. Harun Muhammad Eze, Imam National Mosque.
Also present were Sheikh. Dr. Tajuddeen Adigun, the Chairman, committee of FCT Imams, Imam Fuad of Al-Habibiyyah Mosque and Dr. Bashir Abdullahi Ismail – Imam FOMWAN.
While speaking, Prof. Abubakar noted Ajayi, despite being the son of a Christian cleric, thought it significant to assemble Muslims and Christians across the Federal Capital (FCT) to the break of the Muslim fast, stressing that the DSS boss “made history.”
He commended the DG for his pragmatic leadership style, bridge building, and the sense of unity with which he convened the event. Abubakar prayed for Allah’s wisdom upon the DG to help overcome the challenges of securing Nigeria.
Also speaking at the event, notable Christian leaders, including, Rev. Fathers Peter B. Audu, Michael Banjo, and Boniface Idoko of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, as well as Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) officers in the FCT, lauded the DSS boss for his leadership style which they said has helped made Nigeria safer.
Other CAN officers included Reverend Canon Smart Simon, Reverends Saboyaro Adams, Nicodemus Izuchukwu, Timothy Amazon, and OgbonifeNnamdi, as well as Snr. Special Apostle BeneniIyaye lauded the DSS boss for promoting religious harmony.
Reverend Adams urged other security chiefs and heads of other national leaders to emulate Mr. Ajayi, whom he said has, by his actions in office, demonstrated true love for others as taught by Christ.
Responding, the DG stated even though a Christian, it had become a tradition for him, to identify with Muslims during the holy month.
He said he believes such would help deepen religious harmony and trust, even as he looks forward to the beginning of the Lenten season in a few days.
Source: thenationonlineng.net
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“Political And Malicious” – Buratai Opens Up On Allegations Of Misappropriating $1 Billion Weapons Fund As Nigeria’s COAS
4 March 2025
By OladipoAbiola
Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. TukurBuratai (Rtd), has denied the allegations of misappropriating $1 billion meant for arms purchase during his time in office.
Buratai submitted that no funds for weapons purchase passed through his hands directly and all purchases done during his time followed due procurement processes.
Naija News reports Buratai was Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff between July 2015 and January 2021.
Speaking on Tuesday during an interview with Arsie TV, the former COAS maintained that the allegations against him are baseless, malicious and politically motivated.
He outlined that the federal government had previously denied the allegations as false, but some certain highly placed individuals and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have continued to make issues out of it.
He clarified that the government has also denied allegations by the PDP that the said funds were used for the 2019 elections.
Denying the allegations of fund misappropriation, Buratai said, “This is another big fallacy against me. There was not a single fund given directly to me that I used. All budgetary releases are appropriately accounted for in our procurement system. All the funds that are claimed to have been used for the procurement they are alleging that it was not properly used, they were all part of the funds that were released to the Ministry of Defence for other purposes and other agencies.
“I know specifically that the fund they have continued to hammered, do your research, check past publications of so many Nigerian newspapers, you will discover that this same 1 billion dollars that has been bandied about as not used or misused has been explained.
“The opposition PDP in 2019, alleged that the federal government used the money for elections, is the same amount meant for arms but the federal government came out and clearly dispelled that falsehood and made it clear that this fund were used for military procurement and those procurements were mainly paid from government to government or sent to the Ministry of Defence for procurement. The Army, Navy or Airforce never had no single dollar to make procurement from that fund.
“And this fund they are talking about falsely they said when we left office, the funds could not be accounted for and the equipment could not be found and these are all false and very malicious and disappointing especially from certain individuals who are highly placed.
“The allegations are malicious, unfounded and for political reasons.”
Source: naijanews.com
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https://www.naijanews.com/2025/03/04/political-and-malicious-buratai-opens-up-on-allegations-of-misappropriating-1-billion-weapons-fund-as-nigerias-coas/
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Southeast Asia
PM Anwar prioritises eradicating hardcore poverty, plans state visits for Madani initiatives
By John Bunyan
05 Mar 2025
KUALA LUMPUR, March 5 — The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) today said that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has prioritised eradicating hardcore poverty in his discussions with state government leaders and agencies.
The Prime Minister’s senior press secretary, TunkuNashrulAbaidah, said Anwar has mobilised all political secretaries to the states to ensure that aid is systematically channelled to those in extreme poverty.
“This initiative focuses on raising the income of the target group, creating job opportunities, and improving access to education, healthcare, and housing.
“It also focuses on enhancing the living standards and well-being of poor households,” he said during a livestream today.
He added that the Prime Minister aims to extend the zero hardcore poverty target to other states after Putrajaya, Negeri Sembilan, Melaka, and Perlis achieved it last year.
Separately, TunkuNashrul announced that the Prime Minister will visit several states to attend MadaniI’s fast-breaking ceremonies starting next week.
“He will also chair the special state development meeting with key leaders, state governments, and agencies,” he added.
Source: malaymail.com
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https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2025/03/05/pm-anwar-prioritises-eradicating-hardcore-poverty-plans-state-visits-for-madani-initiatives/168672
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Authorities expose prison scam: Fake officers con families into paying for ‘special meals’
05 Mar 2025
KUALA LUMPUR, March 5 — The Prisons Department has uncovered a syndicate impersonating prison officers to solicit money from inmates’ families and relatives for purchasing so-called special meals.
The scam was detected after the department received several complaints from victims who had received suspicious text messages via WhatsApp from various mobile phone numbers.
“The syndicate reportedly poses as prison officers, using fake aliases such as Sergeant Haziq, Sergeant Akmal, Sergeant Nazri, Sergeant Zul, Sergeant Sani, Sergeant Zam and other fabricated names to deceive family members or relatives of inmates.
“They also use multiple mule bank accounts to receive money transactions from their victims,” the department said in a statement today.
The affected families have lodged police reports, and the Prisons Department will cooperate with the police in their investigation, it added.
The department has advised families and relatives not to transfer money to unknown individuals or bank accounts and to report any suspicious messages to the nearest police station, as well as notify the department for further action.
It also stated that it would not compromise on any negligence or procedural lapses in duty and that strict action would be taken against those responsible.
“The Prisons Department is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of inmates and their families from falling victim to scams.
“The public is urged to remain vigilant and not be deceived by the syndicate’s tactics, which exploit the department’s name for personal gain,” it said. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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Umno Youth chief asks why no updates on Harith Iskander, Cecilia Yap probes over alleged remarks on Islam
By John Bunyan
05 Mar 2025
KUALA LUMPUR, March 5 — Umno Youth chief Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh has called on the authorities to provide updates on their investigations into comedian Harith Iskander and Cecilia Yap over their alleged remarks about Islam.
Muhamad Akmal said he supports the swift action taken against three Era FM announcers who mocked Hindus and their Thaipusam rituals but stressed that the law should be applied fairly to all.
“If the three announcers have been investigated and punished by their employers, then what is the current status of the cases involving Cecilia Yap and Harith Iskander, who disparaged the name of Prophet Muhammad and the Islamic faith?
“The law must apply equally to all, without bias or selective enforcement based on the influence of powerful individuals,” he said.
He also called for punitive action to be taken, stressing that no one should be exempted regardless of religion, race, or status.
“As I mentioned previously regarding the ‘Uncle Corn’ issue, we cannot accept the norm of doing something wrong first, then apologising and considering it resolved,” he said.
Yesterday, Astro Audio announced that Nabil Ahmad, Azad Jazmin John Louis Jeffri, and Radin Amir Affendy had been taken off-air until further notice as an internal review is conducted into their actions.
In a video shared on the radio station’s social media platforms, one of its announcers, Azad — popularly known as Pak Azad — was seen mocking how Hindu devotees enter a trance while fulfilling their vows.
His colleagues can be heard shouting “Vel, Vel!” and laughing at his antics. The video, which has since been removed, appears to have been recorded inside the station’s studio.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain confirmed that the three radio hosts accused of mocking the religious ritual are under investigation.
Source: malaymail.com
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Saudi embassy hosts Ramadan iftar dinner to boost ties
March 5, 2025
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the Republic of Indonesia, ASEAN, and the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste hosted a joint iftar (fast-breaking) dinner on Tuesday, bringing together representatives from Indonesia's Red and White Cabinet ministries, as well as ambassadors from various countries.
The event aimed to strengthen bilateral ties and foster camaraderie during the holy month of Ramadan.
"Ramadan is a month of friendship, and today’s gathering is a reflection of that spirit," Saudi Ambassador Faisal Abdullah H. Amodi stated on the sidelines of the event.
He emphasized that Ramadan is not only a sacred and blessed month but also a time for strengthening bonds and engaging in acts of worship.
In light of this, the embassy organized the iftar dinner to reinforce ties with the Indonesian people -- particularly representatives from the Red and White Cabinet, ambassadors from friendly nations in Jakarta, and members of Islamic organizations.
Ambassador Faisal expressed his hopes for peace, stability, and security for both Indonesia and Saudi Arabia throughout the holy month of Ramadan.
Among the distinguished guests was former Indonesian Vice President JusufKalla, who encouraged Indonesians to fully embrace the spirit of Ramadan.
"Ramadan is a holy month that brings blessings. It is important for all of us to observe Ramadan worship, including tarawih prayers, as best as we can," he said.
In the meantime, chairperson of the Indonesian Regional Representative Council (DPD), Sultan BachtiarNajamudin, also highlighted the significance of the iftar dinner in strengthening friendships and fostering national growth.
"This is a good month, a month full of blessings. Besides maintaining friendship, I learned a lot from them (about the need) to improve friendship so that this nation will also get better day by day, be more blessed day by day," he said.
The iftar dinner was attended by several ambassadors and diplomatic representatives, including those from Jordan, Pakistan, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates, Iran, Bahrain, Morocco, Turkey, Syria, and Kazakhstan.
Additionally, representatives from various Red and White Cabinet ministries and Islamic organizations were present.
Source: antaranews.com
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Islamic Finance To Grow, Sukuk Issuance To Ease In 2025 - Moody's
04/03/2025
KUALA LUMPUR, March 4 (Bernama) -- Demand for Islamic finance will continue to rise as strong economic activity in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Southeast Asia is supported by diversification agendas, investment inflows and population growth, according to Moody's Rating. In a note, the rating agency expects demand for Islamic finance to remain robust in 2025, supported by sustained economic momentum and ambitious development agendas in core Islamic markets. "However, we expect sukuk issuance volumes to fall as higher financing needs of the Indonesian and Turkish sovereigns will be largely offset by lower sovereign issuance from Saudi Arabia and Malaysia. "Issuance of Islamic bonds by financial institutions and companies is likely to remain robust," it said. According to Moody's, Sukuk issuance is expected to fall to around US$210 billion-US$220 billion (US$1=RM4.45) this year as a result of lower sovereign issuance, given lower sukuk refinancing needs and expectation that Saudi Arabia’s liability management operation will not be repeated in 2025. "Financial institutions and corporate sectors will partially compensate for this fall on the back of lower and expected rate cuts," it added. Meanwhile, the rating agency said growth potential for green and sustainable sukuk remains, even though issuance had declined by 10.6 per cent to US$9.5 billion in 2024. "We expect issuance levels to remain steady in 2025, underpinned by issuers' ongoing commitment to environment, social and governance agendas and increasing interest from both domestic and international investors,” it said. Additionally, Moody's noted that demand for Islamic investment funds remains solid, with consolidation likely in the takaful sector. "We expect takaful premiums to grow moderately in the next two to three years, underpinned by economic expansion and rising demand for medical insurance and other compulsory products. "Competition, increasing climate risk, digitalisation and regulatory improvements are likely to drive mergers and acquisitions in the takaful sector," it added. -- BERNAMA
Source: bernama.com
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https://www.bernama.com/en/business/news.php?id=2398815
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Ismail Sabri to give statement at MACC tomorrow for corruption investigation, says Azam Baki
04 Mar 2025
KUALA LUMPUR, March 4 — Former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob will be at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) headquarters tomorrow to assist in an investigation into corruption and money laundering involving him, said MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki.
He said that the Bera MP is expected to arrive at the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya at 10.30 am.
“We will record his statement to proceed with the probe,” he said when contacted today, adding that the case is being investigated under the MACC Act 2009 and the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.
On Feb 10, Ismail Sabri submitted his asset declaration information; on Feb 19, the MACC recorded his statement.
Yesterday, Azam confirmed that the former leader is the suspect in the corruption and money laundering investigation following the discovery of approximately RM170 million during a raid at a condominium believed to have been used as a ‘safe house.’
The probe focuses on the expenditure and management of funds for promotional and publicity purposes during his tenure.
Azam said the commission has recorded statements from 31 individuals and frozen 13 bank accounts with approximately RM2 million, all of which are legitimate and active.
MACC has reportedly seized RM170 million in foreign currencies, including the Thai Baht, Riyal, Pound Sterling, Won, Euro, Swiss Franc, and Yuan. Additionally, 16 kg of pure gold bullion, valued at around RM7 million, was confiscated. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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New Zealand
Teen charged over ‘Christchurch 2.0’ threat to mosque
Mar 05, 2025,
A teenage boy has been charged after allegedly making online threats to a recently opened mosque that referred to a notorious and deadly terrorist attack on Muslims.
The 16-year-old was arrested in Western Australia after allegedly posting he would “Christchurch 2.0” the Australian Islamic House at Edmondson Park in southwestern Sydney.
The alleged threat alluded to the New Zealand city where an Australian man killed 51 worshippers in a 2019 terror attack.
Western Australian police reportedly swooped on a teenage boy on Tuesday night in Eaton, about two hours south of Perth.
“Following a referral to the Western Australia Police Force just before 5pm (Tuesday WA local time), a 16-year-old boy was arrested at Eaton, in south-west Western Australia,” NSW Police said late on Tuesday.
“He is currently assisting police with inquiries.”
Police said there were no ongoing threats to the community.
The mosque at Edmondson Park in Sydney’s west opened on Friday, the first day of Ramadan.
Australian Islamic House president Mazhar Hadid said the community was “profoundly concerned by this threat and take it with the utmost seriousness”.
“We also urge the public to remain vigilant and to stand united against Islamophobia and all forms of bigotry,” he said.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said whoever was responsible for the abhorrent threat should face the full force of the law.
“There is no place for this in Australia… racism and Islamophobia will not be tolerated,” he said.
NSW Premier Chris Minns said the threat was being taken seriously and a major police investigation had begun.
“Racist threats and Islamophobia will not be tolerated and will be met with the full force of the law,” he said.
“This is very distressing, particularly as Muslims right across the state are participating in prayer during the month of Ramadan.”
NSW Multiculturalism Minister Steve Kamper described the threat as heinous.
“Acts designed to intimidate and divide have no place in our society,” he said.
“Importantly, places of worship should always be a safe haven for our community.”
Australian Islamic House said nightly prayers would continue after it had been assured of an increased police presence.
NSW Jewish Board of Deputies president David Ossip said the community unequivocally condemned the threat.
“A bigoted attack or threat targeted at any group of Australians is an attack on us all,” he said.
“No Australian should have to fear for their safety when attending their place of worship.”
NSW Police said initial inquiries had revealed the threat came from interstate.
Source: indailysa.com.au
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https://www.indailysa.com.au/news/just-in/2025/03/05/mosque-terror-threat
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URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/terrorist-attack-hindus-isis-groups/d/134792