Terrorist Groups Rely On Fatwa to Serve Their Deviated Ideologies; Awqaf Must Spread the Moderate Islam, Say Islamic Affairs Ministers
New
Age Islam News Bureau
15
February 2022
Sheikh
Dr. Abdullatif Bin Abdulaziz Al Al-Sheikh.
-----
•
Karnataka Schools Force Muslim Students To Remove Hijabs In Keeping With
Karnataka HC Interim Order Against Wearing Any Religious Clothing
•
Far-Right Violence, Attacks against Muslims 'Escalate' In France
•
Taliban Warns Reconsideration of Their Policies towards US If Assets Do Not Get
Unfrozen
•
Pak PM Imran Khan Defends Ally China, Says ‘Xinjiang Situation Not What Western
Media Portrays’
Arab World
•
OIC Expresses Deep Concern over Continued Attacks on Muslims in India
•
Arab states stress women’s rights to Taliban in aid talks
•
Turkey’s Erdogan arrives in UAE on first visit since 2013
•
Israeli prime minister to make first visit to Bahrain on Monday
•
UAE keen to strengthen partnership with Turkiye, says crown prince
•
Syria denounces Israeli brutality in occupied East al-Quds neighborhood as ‘war
crime’
--------
India
•
Muslim Businessman Spends Rs 42 Lakh to Build Krishna Temple in Jharkhand
•
Hijab Plea: 'Let Us Use Dupatta to Cover Head'
•
'Allow Us to Wear Headscarf That Matches Uniform': Girls Who Petitioned In Favour
Of Hijab
•
Muslim women have made up mind to bless BJP: PM Narendra Modi
•
3 charged over mosque blaze during Delhi riots
•
At UN, India calls Pakistan terror hub, demands action
•
Mark of respect: Kerala temple cuts short festivities after Muslim neighbour
dies
•
Humiliating, says Owaisi as teachers, students in Karnataka forced to remove
hijab
•
India to Run By Constitution, Not Islamic Law: Yogi Adityanath As UP Votes
--------
Europe
•
Germany urged to save citizen risking execution in Iran
--------
South Asia
•
Former Security Forces Member Detained by Islamic Emirate: Family
•
Family Claims Former MoD Officer Detained by Islamic Emirate
•
Islamic Emirate Meets Envoys of Gulf States in Doha: FM
•
US says attacks in vicinity of embassy in Kabul
•
Afghanistan will initially have 110,000-member army, says Taliban
•
Taliban sniper becomes Afghan mayor
--------
Pakistan
•
Pakistan seeks Iran’s anti-terror efforts against Baloch terrorists
•
Pakistan: Young Baloch rebel killed by Pakistani army in Gwadar
•
Imran Khan's visit to Moscow will be a blow to Pak's reputation
•
Pakistan Continues to Exhibit Gory ‘Islamophobia’ Against Ahmadis
•
Over 150 ‘assailants’ booked in Christian boy’s death case in Lahore
•
Pakistan diplomat recalls Soviet pullout from Afghanistan
--------
Southeast Asia
•
Muslim Couples Can Solemnise Marriage Online Under Changes to Law in Singapore
•
Malaysian Minister under Fire for Apparently Endorsing Domestic Violence
•
Appeals court rejects citizenship bid for woman born in Pahang to Cambodia
refugees, but says can apply to be naturalised Malaysian
--------
Mideast
•
Israel Imposes Travel Ban on Head of Islamic Movement’s Northern Branch: Lawyer
•
Iranian FM: West’s Threats, Warnings No Endpoint to Vienna Talks
•
Iran: West Continues Initiative “Show” in Vienna Talks
•
Iran, Pakistan Confer on Regional Security
•
Palestinian detainees stage one-day hunger strike in Israel
•
Attacks on Palestinian homes by Israeli police, settlers in East Jerusalem
leave 31 injured
--------
Africa
•
Muslim, Christian Leaders Work Together For Peace In Mozambique
•
One protester killed as thousands rally across Sudan against coup: Medics
•
Libyan crisis deepens as Tobruk-based parliament chooses new premier
•
Roadside bomb kills 4 civilians in southern Somalia
•
Jordan condemns Israel's aggression in East Jerusalem
--------
North America
•
US military admits killing civilians in latest Syria raid amid rising criticism
•
Iran, militias it backs have increased threats against US troops in Syria:
Pentagon
•
Houthis ‘primary obstacle to peace efforts’ in Yemen: US special envoy
•
Seizure of Afghanistan assets example of US piracy: Analyst
Compiled
by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/terrorist-fatwa-awqaf-moderate-islam/d/126376
--------
Terrorist
Groups Rely On Fatwa to Serve Their Deviated Ideologies; Awqaf Must Spread The
Moderate Islam, Say Islamic Affairs Ministers
Sheikh
Dr. Abdullatif Bin Abdulaziz Al Al-Sheikh.
-----
February
14, 2022
CAIRO
— Ministers of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs in countries of the Islamic world
stressed that terrorist groups relied on utilizing fatwa to serve their
deviated ideologies, noting that speaking in the religious public issues
without full realization and awareness jeopardizes the security of homelands.
They
also stressed that Islamic countries are now aware of distortions in the
religious field and embarked on action to immunize societies from confusion in
religious issues and build up capabilities to spread the moderate ideology.
These
remarks were made during the 13th session of the Executive Council of Ministers
of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs chaired by Minister of Islamic Affairs, Call and
Guidance Sheikh Dr. Abdullatif Bin Abdulaziz Al Al-Sheikh.
The
meeting in Cairo was held under the patronage of the Egyptian Prime Minister
Dr. Mostafa Madbouly with the participation of member states.
Dr.
Al Al-Sheikh stressed that the ministries of Awqaf (endowments) and Islamic
Affairs, which carry out multiple tasks and responsibilities, must direct their
efforts to spread the concept of moderate Islam, and confront the challenges
that threaten our intellectual and ideological security, and undermine
security, stability, values, and principles in our countries.
He
added that collective efforts are capable of countering these intrusive ideas
on our societies, ward off their dangers and damages, and restore the true
image of Islam; its moderation and tolerance, which are the most important
factors of its strength.
The
meeting reviewed the General Authority of Endowments’ efforts in Saudi Arabia
in managing endowment funds and the experiences of the ministries of Islamic
affairs and endowments in adopting technical and urban specifications in
building and maintaining mosques, and the exchange of expertise and regulations
in appointing imams, preachers, and muezzins, and the responsibilities
entrusted to them.
The
meeting also discussed the seriousness of issuing fatwas without proper
knowledge or specialization, and visions on (confronting the developments of
extremism, and terrorism) as well as dealing with common human values including
coexistence and tolerance, the various means of social media, and the role of
the ministries of Islamic affairs and endowments in that regard. — SPA
Source:
Saudi Gazette
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click the following URL to read the text of the original story:
--------
Karnataka
Schools Force Muslim Students To Remove Hijabs In Keeping With Karnataka HC
Interim Order Against Wearing Any Religious Clothing
The
full bench of the high court that heard a batch of petitions challenging the
hijab ban in educational institutions
File
photo
------
15.02.22
Schools
in the state forced Muslim students to remove their hijabs in keeping with
Karnataka High Court’s interim order against wearing any religious clothing, as
classes up to tenth standard reopened on Monday after a short gap since last
week’s unrest by Sangh parivar organisations.
Muslim
girls wearing hijabs were asked to remove their headscarves before entering
campuses across the state. While many students complied with the direction,
others returned home without appearing for Class X preparatory exams that are
underway.
In
its interim order after hearing a petition by a student seeking her right to
wear hijab, the division bench of the high court had directed the government to
ensure that students did not wear any religious clothing such as hijabs or
saffron scarves in classrooms pending disposal of the matter.
The
full bench of the high court that heard a batch of petitions challenging the
hijab ban in educational institutions will continue the hearing on Tuesday.
Video
clips from various schools showed officials asking students to remove their
hijabs. In one such video from the Rotary English Medium School in Mandya,
around 100km from here, at least three Muslim girls were seen removing their
hijabs before entering the campus.
Even
adults were not spared, as two women were forced to remove their religious
attire before entering the school in Mandya. While it’s not clear if the first
woman is a staff or a parent, video shows the abaya-clad woman walking to the
gates with a minor girl student. She then stops at the gates and removes her
hijab and abaya. Moments later, another abaya-clad woman stops her scooter,
removes her hijab and rides into the campus.
The
state government had ordered the closure of all educational institutions
following last Wednesday’s violent protests by students wearing saffron scarves
as a counter to Muslim girls wearing hijabs. Students from both the sides had
faced off in several colleges across the state before the government declared
holiday for the rest of last week to calm tempers.
The
government has enforced prohibitory orders around all schools in Udupi district
in coastal Karnataka in view of Monday’s reopening. Udupi MLA Raghupathy Bhat
of the BJP told reporters that peace meetings held on Sunday with parents and
various organisations helped.
“Everything
is peaceful here, as all the 295 schools in Udupi reopened and resumed classes
without any glitches. We are ready to reopen colleges tomorrow if the
government decides so,” he said.
But
there were instances of students refusing to remove their hijabs in some
schools in Tumkur and Shimoga.
Deputy
Director of public instruction in Shimoga M.N. Ramesha said some students
refused to write their preparatory exams without their hijabs. “They said they
could still write the board exams even if they skipped the preparatory exams,”
said the official.
“We
have thousands of students writing the preparatory exams. But we cannot do
anything if a few refuse to appear for the exams,” he said.
Similar
scenes were witnessed outside a school in Tumkur where parents who came to drop
their daughters took them back after the school authorities insisted on them
removing the hijabs.
The
state Assembly that started its budget session on Monday saw Gulbarga North MLA
Kaneez Fathima of the Congress turning up in a hijab. “I will continue to wear
my hijab even in the House,” she told reporters before entering the Assembly.
Her
party had extended support to the rights of Muslim women to wear hijabs in
schools and colleges.
The
hijab row started at the Government Pre-University College in Udupi where a
bunch of Muslim students wearing the headscarves were disallowed entry into
classrooms on December 27. The college development committee headed by MLA Bhat
refused to budge even though the students and their parents agreed to use the
dupatta, which is part of the school uniform, to cover their heads. Eight girls
have since been spending time outside the class.
The
matter spread like wildfire after a few other colleges in Udupi imposed similar
restrictions against Muslim students.
Source: Telegraph India
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click the following URL to read the text of the original story:
--------
Far-Right
Violence, Attacks against Muslims 'Escalate' In France
The watchdog noted that
fundamental rights “of racialised people in France, and Muslims in particular”
are under threat. (AP)
------
14.02.2022
A
Brussels-based human rights watchdog has warned EU institutions and member
states on the attacks against Muslims and the spread of far-right ideas in
France.
“The
country is showing marks of a growing far-right within its institutions,” the
European Network Against Racism (ENAR) said in a statement on Monday.
The
watchdog denounced “the escalation of attacks against Muslims and civil society
organisations who work against racism and anti-Muslim hatred in France.”
They
added that Europe should be concerned by the French government's “increasingly
divisive discourse and strategies” that are based on far-right ideology and
target Muslims and civil society organisations.
“Under
the guise of national security, civil society organisations have been
dissolved, mosques have been raided, and schools and Muslim-owned businesses
closed,” contrary to the principles of the rule of law, ENAR said.
'Fundamental
rights under threat'
The
watchdog also noted that fundamental rights “of racialised people in France,
and Muslims in particular” are under threat in France.
They
asserted that the freedom of expression and association is particularly in
danger.
For
this, they cited a recent report from the French Observatory of Associative
Freedom that documented 20 abusive sanctions against NGOs without legal or
factual bases over the past five years.
ENAR
stressed these actions have a “chilling effect” on Muslim communities and civil
society because they are “considered guilty until proven innocent.”
The
statement underlined that French mainstream media has also joined the trend of
attacking NGOs and “demonising Muslims.”
The
organisation also warned that French politicians actively seek ties with openly
far-right political organisations across Europe.
Source: Trt
World
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original story:
https://www.trtworld.com/europe/far-right-violence-attacks-against-muslims-escalate-in-france-54729
--------
Taliban
Warns Reconsideration of Their Policies towards US If Assets Do Not Get
Unfrozen
15
Feb 2022
Islamic
Emirate of Afghanistan has once again reacted to US President Joe Biden’s
decision over splitting Afghanistan’s $7 billion funds and said that they will
reconsider their policies towards the US if they do not unfreeze the reserve.
The
IEA in a statement on Monday, February 14, 2022, said initially freezing and
now splitting Afghanistan’s reserve is opposed to all norms and principles
which is an assault on the rights of all Afghans.
The
reserves have no connection with the victims of 9/11, reads the statement.
“Taking
the money of the Afghan people is a breach of Doha agreement and a barbaric
move towards the people of Afghanistan. By taking the reserve of Afghanistan,
the US wants to overshadow their crimes committed throughout the past 20 years
in Afghanistan.” Reads the statement.
The
IEA said that the US must not deteriorate relations with the Afghan people and
should retreat from its decision.
As
per the statement, the US must avoid further inflammatory actions that caused
mistrust.
The
US president Joe Biden’s decision over the assets of Afghanistan is not only
condemned by the de facto authorities in Kabul but also by former politicians,
common Afghan people, Afghan investors and industrialists, and Afghan women.
Source:
Khaama Press
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click the following URL to read the text of the original story:
--------
Pak
PM Imran Khan Defends Ally China, Says ‘Xinjiang Situation Not What Western Media
Portrays’
Pakistan
Prime Minister Imran Khan has been supporting China on its policy regarding
Xinjiang (file photo). Photograph :( Reuters)
-----
Feb
14, 2022
In
support to all-weather ally China, Pakistan seems to have been constantly
turning a blind eye to suppression of Uyghur Muslim in the country.
For
years, Pakistan seems to have been acting like the custodian of Islam all
around the world. It has been voicing concerns for Muslims everywhere other
than Xinjiang.
In
the latest development, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that the
situation in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XUAR) is not what the Western
media portrays.
In
an exclusive interview with Fareed Zakaria for CNN, the PM said that Pakistan's
ambassador to China Moinul Haq had visited XUAR, and said that the situation
over there is "not what the Western media portrays."
Imran
Khan has been supporting China on its policy regarding Xinjiang.
This
comes as the West looks to hold Beijing accountable for suppressing Uyghur
Muslims in the region.
For
economic aid and diplomatic support, Pakistan has been hugely dependent on
China nowadays.
During
the inaugural ceremony of the Beijing Olympics 2022, a joint statement released
after the meeting of Imran Khan and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing,
said, "The Pakistan side expressed its "commitment to One-China
Policy and support for China on Taiwan, South China Sea, Hong Kong, Xinjiang
and Tibet."
Source:
WIO News
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--------
Arab World
OIC
Expresses Deep Concern over Continued Attacks on Muslims in India
15th
February 2022
The
General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Hissein
Brahim Taha on Monday has expressed deep concern over continued attacks
targeting Muslims and their places of worship, the recent trend of anti-Muslim
legislations in different states and rising incidents of violence against
Muslims, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.
The
OIC has raised concern over the recent banning of Muslim girl students from
wearing hijab in the state of Karnataka.
It
has also expressed concern over public calls for genocide of Muslims in
Haridwar in the state of Uttarakhand and reported incidents of harassment of
Muslim women on social media sites.
MS
Education Academy
The
OIC had called upon the international community, especially the UN mechanisms
and special procedures of the Human Rights Council (HRC), to take necessary
measures in this regard.
Source:
Siasat Daily
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--------
Arab
states stress women’s rights to Taliban in aid talks
February
15, 2022
DOHA:
Gulf envoys stressed on Monday that women must be able to work and go to
school, in talks with the Taliban foreign minister as Afghanistan’s hardline
Islamic rulers made a new bid to unblock foreign aid.
Amir
Khan Muttaqi, a key member of the Taliban leadership that took over Kabul six
months ago, met in Doha with ambassadors from the six-nation Gulf Cooperation
Council (GCC) on the first full day of his latest mission, where he is also to
hold talks with European envoys.
The
Taliban have been struggling to unfreeze billions of dollars of assets abroad
and get sanctions lifted as it faces pressure over its treatment of women and
supporters of the Western-backed government toppled last year.
The
Taliban tweeted pictures of the smiling foreign minister entering Monday’s
meeting with representatives from Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia
and the United Arab Emirates. But diplomats said no promises were made by
Afghan officials inside.
Arab
envoys emphasised the need to help Afghanistan’s “urgent humanitarian needs” as
the country confronts widespread hunger caused by drought as well as an
economic crisis that has driven up chronic unemployment, said a GCC statement.
While
highlighting that there should be “non-interference” in Afghanistan’s
affairs, they “stressed” the importance of a national reconciliation plan that
“takes into consideration the interests of all components of society and
respects basic freedoms and rights, including women’s right to work and
education”.
The
ambassadors also raised fears that “terrorist groups may be able to launch
attacks from Afghanistan’s territory against other countries”.
They
insisted that the country must not be exploited to fuel the illegal drugs
trade.
Muttaqi,
who is to hold a key meeting with European nations and other international
representatives on Wednesday, made no comment after the meeting.
Source:
Dawn
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.dawn.com/news/1675160/arab-states-stress-womens-rights-to-taliban-in-aid-talks
--------
Turkey’s
Erdogan arrives in UAE on first visit since 2013
14
February ,2022
Turkish
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived in Abu Dhabi on Monday for his first
visit to the UAE in nearly a decade, Emirati state media reported.
“President
of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived on Monday in the UAE” for a two-day
visit, said the official WAM news agency.
“He
was received by Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu
Dhabi.”
Before
taking off from Turkey, Erdogan said he hopes his visit advances the “big
potential” of trade between the countries.
Source:
Al Arabiya
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--------
Israeli
prime minister to make first visit to Bahrain on Monday
14
February ,2022
Israeli
Prime Minister Naftali Bennett will travel to Bahrain on Monday in the
highest-level visit since the countries established relations under a 2020
US-sponsored deal based in part on shared worries about Iran.
Bennett
will meet with Bahraini Crown Prince and Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad
al-Khalifa, his office said.
“The
leaders will discuss additional ways to strengthen bilateral ties... especially
the advancement of diplomatic and economic issues, with an emphasis on
technology and innovation,” it said in a statement.
The
two-day trip to Bahrain, home to the US Navy’s Gulf headquarters, comes amid
heightened tensions after missile attacks on neighboring United Arab Emirates
by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis. Israel also normalized ties with the UAE in
2020.
Israel
has stepped up cooperation with the Gulf states.
Manama
hosted Israel’s defense minister on February 2 and has said an Israeli military
officer will be posted in Bahrain as part of an international coalition.
Source:
Al Arabiya
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
UAE
keen to strengthen partnership with Turkiye, says crown prince
Ibrahim
El-Khazen
14.02.2022
ABU
DHABI
The
United Arab Emirates (UAE) is keen to strengthen its partnership with Turkiye,
the Abu Dhabi crown prince said on Monday.
Sheikh
Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s remarks came during his meeting with Turkish
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the UAE capital Abu Dhabi.
Erdogan
is in the UAE for a two-day visit at the invitation of Al Nahyan.
President
Erdogan’s “significant visit would create further momentum to strengthening
cooperation and building a new prosperous phase of partnerships for the higher
good of the two countries, their peoples and all the nations of the
region," the state-run Emirates News Agency quoted Al Nahyan as saying.
The
two leaders “reviewed the prospects of further consolidating bilateral
relations and advancing cooperation and joint work between the two nations in
various fields in addition to the latest regional and international issues and
developments of interest,” the news agency said.
Appreciating
Ankara’s “friendly position” and its condemnation of Houthi attacks on the UAE,
the crown prince also wished “continued security, stability and prosperity” in
Turkiye.
Al
Nahyan hailed the agreements and memoranda of understanding signed by the two
countries during Erdogan’s recent visit to the UAE.
The
agreements, the crown prince said, “laid the foundation for the launch of fresh
economic and trade partnerships between the two countries, stressing the UAE's
keenness to strengthen this partnership and push it forward during the coming
period to double the volume of trade exchanges between the two nations.”
Al
Nahyan also conveyed President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al
Nahyan's wishes for “continued good health and happiness to the Turkish
president and more stability, progress and prosperity for his country,”
according to the news agency.
The
crown prince said his country “welcomes every step on the road to cooperation,
understanding and peace in the region” in the spirit of “strengthening
cooperation and coexistence to achieve development, prosperity and stability.”
He
highlighted the UAE’s keenness “to cooperate with Turkiye to face the multiple
common challenges witnessed in the region through dialogue, understanding, consultation
and diplomatic solutions.”
Source:
Anadolu Agency
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--------
Syria
denounces Israeli brutality in occupied East al-Quds neighborhood as ‘war
crime’
15
February 2022
Syria
has roundly condemned the brutal practices of Israeli military forces and
extremist Jewish settlers against Palestinians in the occupied East al-Quds
neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah as “war crimes,” calling on international
organizations to put an end to the rising acts of the regime's aggression.
“The
Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates follows up on ferocious
Israeli assaults being committed by Israeli settlers and troops against local
Palestinians in the occupied al-Quds. The attacks have claimed several lives
and caused damage to property,” the ministry said in a statement released on
Monday.
It
denounced the displacing of Palestinian families from their ancestral homes in
Sheikh Jarrah as war crimes, crimes against humanity, and a flagrant violation
of international law and humanitarian principles.
“Syria
calls on world states as well as international humanitarian organizations to
immediately stop Israeli practices and prevent the regime from killing more
Palestinians and trampling on their rights,” the ministry stated.
Clashes
broke out in Sheikh Jarrah on Sunday as far-right Jewish lawmaker Itamar Ben
Gvir of the Religious Zionism alliance opened a parliamentary office there, in
what was described as an effort to exacerbate the situation in the neighborhood.
The
Palestinian Foreign Ministry condemned Ben Gvir’s step as a “provocative” move
that “threatens to ignite violence.”
The
ministry said the failure of the international community and the UN Security
Council to take necessary measures to compel Israel to stop its occupation of
al-Quds encourages the occupying regime to forge ahead with its colonial
Judaization projects in the Holy City.
Source:
Press TV
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--------
India
Muslim
businessman spends Rs 42 lakh to build Krishna temple in Jharkhand
15th
February 2022
By
Mukesh Ranjan
RANCHI: Businessman Naushad Sheikh has built a temple
spending nearly Rs 42 lakh from his pocket at Maheshbathan in Jharkhand’s
Dumka. Sheikh, who is also the Up-Pramukh of Ranishwar Block, says he has
respect for all religions and he is influenced by Lord Krishna.
Asked
why he built the temple despite being a Muslim, Sheikh said there is only one
God for all. Therefore, it hardly matters whether one worships in a temple,
mosque or church.
Since
most people living in the area are Hindus, he thought of building a temple.
During the ‘pran-pratishtha’ of the temple on Monday, people from all
communities gathered to witness the auspicious moment.
The
55-year-old revealed it all happened after he visited a temple at Mayapur in
West Bengal.
“I
had gone to visit the temple of Lord Krishna over there. God himself came to my
dreams and told me he was present in the village, and directed me to establish
him by building a temple.” After his return, he laid the foundation for the
temple in 2019 and started building it.
“I
completed the construction in three years and ‘pran-pratishta’ of the idol was
done on Monday,” he added.
Sheikh
said he had been upset because in the village, people worshipped Lord Krishna
in the form of ‘Parthasarthi’ under the open skies.
The
‘pran-pratishtha’ was performed by 150 Brahmins as per Hindu customs and women
drummers were called from Kolkata.
Source:
New Indian Express
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--------
Hijab
plea: 'Let us use dupatta to cover head'
Vasantha
Kumar
Feb
15, 2022
BENGALURU:
A group of students that has challenged the hijab ban in their pre-university
college in Udupi requested the Karnataka high court on Monday to let them cover
their heads in class with dupattas or stoles - clothing that matches the
uniform.
They
sought clarification on the court's interim order restraining students from
wearing any religious attire not conforming to the dress code or uniform of
colleges until further orders.
While
high schools have reopened, CM Bommai said colleges, shut since February 9,
will reopen on February 16.
Source:
Times Of India
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--------
'Allow
Us To Wear Headscarf That Matches Uniform': Girls Who Petitioned In Favour Of
Hijab
Feb
15, 2022
New
Delhi: Challenging the government order restricting the use of any cloth that
can disturb peace, harmony and, law and order, the girls who petitioned in
favour of hijab requested the Karnataka high court on Monday to allow them to
wear Islamic headscarves of the colour of the school uniform. The girls made
the plea to the full bench of the high court comprising Chief Justice Ritu Raj
Awasthi, Justice J.M. Khazi and Justice Krishna M Dixit.
"I
am not only challenging the government's order but also asking for a positive
mandate for allowing me to wear a headscarf of the same colour of the
uniform," advocate Devadatt Kamat, appearing on behalf of the girls of the
government pre-university college in Udupi, told the bench.
He
also submitted that permitting Muslim girls to wear hijab and Sikh students' to
wear head gear is a national practice in adherence to Article 25 of the Constitution.
He mentioned that even Kendriya Vidyalayas permit hijab of the same uniform
colour.
"Kendriya
Vidyalayas even today permit by a notification, that even though they have a
uniform, Muslim girls are permitted to wear a headscarf of the uniform colour,”
Mr Kamat argued said. The court adjourned further hearing of the case to
Tuesday.
He
argued that headscarves are an essential religious practice, and restricting
its use was violating Article 25 of the Indian Constitution.
Amid
caution and heavy security, high schools in Karnataka reopened on Monday. There
were prohibitory orders in Udupi and sensitive areas of Dakshina Kannada and
Bengaluru. In some places, Muslim girls reached schools in headscarves but
removed them before entering the institutions. Examinations scheduled for the
day also took place in the institutions.
While
arguing for the petitioners, Mr Kamat submitted that the Government Order (ban
on hijab) is a non-application of mind and against Article 25, hence, it is not
legally sustainable. “State is an outside authority, it cannot say that wearing
a headscarf is essential practice or not. It has to be seen from the viewpoint
of a believer," Kamat submitted.
Article
25 reads: "Subject to public order, morality and health and to the other
provisions of this part, all persons are equally entitled to freedom of
conscience and the right freely to profess, practise and propagate
religion."
The
Article also says that nothing in it should affect the operation of any
existing law or prevent the state from making any law regulating or restricting
any economic, financial, political or other secular activity which may be
associated with religious practice and regulating or restricting any economic,
financial, political or other secular activity which may be associated with
religious practice.
Mr
Kamat argued where was the law as mandated under Article 25 regulating or
restricting any economic, financial, political or other secular activity. The
advocate for the Muslim girls also said the College Development Committee (CDC)
comprising an MLA has been authorised by the government to decide the uniform.
"A CDC comprising an MLA is an
extra constitutional authority and a third party to decide what to wear. The
government has assigned its responsibility to this third party," Mr Kamat
argued.
Earlier,
Karnataka Chief Justice urged the media to be more responsible and ensure that
they make an effort to maintain peace and tranquility in the state.
requested
the Karnataka high court on Monday to allow them to wear Islamic headscarves of
the colour of the school uniform. The girls made the plea to the full bench of
the high court comprising Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi, Justice J.M. Khazi
and Justice Krishna M Dixit.
"I
am not only challenging the government's order but also asking for a positive
mandate for allowing me to wear a headscarf of the same colour of the
uniform," advocate Devadatt Kamat, appearing on behalf of the girls of the
government pre-university college in Udupi, told the bench.
He
also submitted that permitting Muslim girls to wear hijab and Sikh students' to
wear head gear is a national practice in adherence to Article 25 of the
Constitution. He mentioned that even Kendriya Vidyalayas permit hijab of the
same uniform colour.
"Kendriya
Vidyalayas even today permit by a notification, that even though they have a
uniform, Muslim girls are permitted to wear a headscarf of the uniform colour,”
Mr Kamat argued said. The court adjourned further hearing of the case to
Tuesday.
He
argued that headscarves are an essential religious practice, and restricting
its use was violating Article 25 of the Indian Constitution.
Amid
caution and heavy security, high schools in Karnataka reopened on Monday. There
were prohibitory orders in Udupi and sensitive areas of Dakshina Kannada and
Bengaluru. In some places, Muslim girls reached schools in headscarves but
removed them before entering the institutions. Examinations scheduled for the
day also took place in the institutions.
While
arguing for the petitioners, Mr Kamat submitted that the Government Order (ban
on hijab) is a non-application of mind and against Article 25, hence, it is not
legally sustainable. “State is an outside authority, it cannot say that wearing
a headscarf is essential practice or not. It has to be seen from the viewpoint
of a believer," Kamat submitted.
Article
25 reads: "Subject to public order, morality and health and to the other
provisions of this part, all persons are equally entitled to freedom of
conscience and the right freely to profess, practise and propagate
religion."
The
Article also says that nothing in it should affect the operation of any
existing law or prevent the state from making any law regulating or restricting
any economic, financial, political or other secular activity which may be
associated with religious practice and regulating or restricting any economic,
financial, political or other secular activity which may be associated with
religious practice.
Source:
Deccan Chronicle
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
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Muslim
women have made up mind to bless BJP: PM Narendra Modi
Feb
15, 2022
LUCKNOW:
Wheeling out a significant political message, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on
Monday affirmed that Muslim women of UP were coming out quietly from their
houses to vote in favour of the BJP.
"Humari
Muslim behenon aur mataon ne Modi ko aashirwaad dene ka mann bana liya
hai...woh janti hain ki jo sukh dukh mein kaam aata hai wo hi apna hota
hai...(Muslim women have made up their mind to shower their blessings on Modi.
They know that the one who stays with them at all times is the real
well-wisher)," he said, while addressing a public rally in Akbarpur area
of Kanpur (Rural). Modi's pointed outreach at Muslim women, marked a fresh
nudge at the Samajwadi Party which banks heavily on support of Muslim voters to
thwart BJP's chances of coming back to power.
He
said his observation stemmed from the first two phases of polls – which
essentially covered west UP having a sizable population of Muslims. Modi
categorically hoisted the law framed by his government against instant Triple
Talaq that empowered the Muslim women against atrocities they and their family
members faced.
‘Triple
talaq ban helped many Muslim women save marriage’
He
cited a report which said that thousands of Muslim women in UP managed to save
their marriage because of the law banning Triple Talaq.
He
asserted that the voting trends clearly indicated that the BJP was coming back
to power with great fanfare with people voting in favour of the party without
getting divided in terms of caste and religion. "The women voters
themselves have raised the banner of BJP's victory in the name of security and
honour and saying that only Yogi is ?Upyogi'," he said, claiming that the
"parivarwadis" will be forced to bite the dust. "They were
defeated in 2014, 2017 and 2019...they would once again get defeated. Holi
would be celebrated 10 days in advance in UP. People will start celebrating Holi
from March 10 (the day of counting of votes)," he declared.
In
an apparent attack on SP-RLD combine, Modi said that the opposition comes with
a new partner in every election. "Can you expect support from those who
frequently change partners," he questioned, insisting that the opposition
parties had the tendency to "blame their partners" after facing a
defeat. The remark was seen as a reference to the SP chief Akhilesh Yadav
statement that "he had faltered" by striking an alliance with
Congress in 2017. The same happened after 2019 Lok Sabha elections when BSP
chief Mayawati snapped ties with SP claiming that Akhilesh was not able to
transfer his vote bank to her party. "After March 10, they will again
start blaming each other...tu tu main main karenge," he said.
He
categorically flayed the previous SP and BSP governments for looting the state
and handing it the state to "mafia, rioters and criminals". Modi said
that the previous government used to allocate districts and regions totheir
family members who would then resort to loot.
"Had
they got a chance they would have turned each locality of Kanpur in
?mafiaganj'," he said, extolling the Yogi Adityanath government of taking
such strict measures against mafia dons whose 'mafiagiri" was gasping for
breath. "Agar unko SP jaisa doctor mil gaya to fir se saansein daudne lag
jayengi," he said, accusing the Akhilesh Yadav-led outfit of aspiring to
come back to power to give a new lease of life to criminals. The PM charged the
SP of creating "demons" like ?ration-mafias' who would usurp food
grains meant to be distributed among the poor.
Source:
Times Of India
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
3
charged over mosque blaze during Delhi riots
Feb
15, 2022
NEW
DELHI: A court has framed charges of rioting and other offences against three
men for allegedly setting a mosque on fire during the northeast Delhi riots,
noting that the delay in recording the statements of two witnesses couldn't be
held fatal to the prosecution case at the stage of deciding charges.
Additional
sessions judge Virender Bhat framed charges of rioting, unlawful assembly and
arson against Deepak, Prince and Shiv for allegedly vandalising and setting the
Janati mosque on fire on February 24, 2020 in Gokalpuri.
"No
doubt, the statements of these two witnesses have been recorded on September 5,
2021, but they have clearly mentioned that they did not disclose the incident
to police on account of fear and it is when police reached their shop in Ganga
Vihar for making inquiries regarding their complaint in (another) case that
they garnered courage to make a statement in this case," the court said on
February 11.
It
also noted that constables Raksh and Vipin stated that when they reached Ganga
Vihar along with the investigating officer on March 9, 2020, head constable
Mahesh had told them that these three rioters, along with two associates, who
allegedly committed vandalisation and arson in the mosque, were present in the
A block park. Mahesh had identified all of them in a CCTV footage given to him
by a secret informer, the cops said.
Police
arrested the accused after this, and "therefore, it cannot be said the
arrest of the accused on March 9, 2020 was without any evidence", the
court pointed out. "The evidence was there in the shape of video
footage... though the CD containing it was seized by the investigating officer
on the next day," it added.
Source:
Times Of India
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
At
UN, India calls Pakistan terror hub, demands action
Feb
15, 2022
NEW
DELHI: India slammed Pakistan at the UN on Monday for its support to terrorism
in the region while asking the international community to call upon the
"epicentre of terror state" to take effective, credible, verifiable,
and irreversible actions without further delay against terror outfits operating
from its territory.
In
a statement at an open briefing of the UNSC's counter-terrorism committee, the
government recalled the deaths of 40 Indian security personnel in the Pulwama
terror attack by Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Muhammed, saying terrorist threat posed
by state-sponsored terrorism had remained high in the South Asia region.
"The
world had witnessed the horrors of the 2008 Mumbai terror attack, the 2016
Pathankot terror attack, and the 2019 Pulwama terrorist attack. We all know
from where the perpetrators of these attacks came from. It is regretful that
the victims of these dastardly attacks are yet to get justice, and the
perpetrators, facilitators and financiers of these attacks continue to walk
free, still enjoying State support and hospitality," said the government.
"We
have consistently witnessed terror attacks on ethnic, sectarian and religious
minorities, including Christians, Hindus and Sikhs. The growth of extremist
ideology in our neighbouring state is bolstered by their patronage of radical
outfits. The mainstreaming of radicalism and communal ideology by the State has
also provided a fertile environment for growth of terror infrastructure in the
region," said the government.
"While
India is fully committed to bringing the perpetrators of these terror attacks
on our soil to justice, it is also a high time that the international community
calls upon this epicentre of terror state to take effective, credible, verifiable,
and irreversible actions without further delay against terror outfits operating
on its territory and under their control," it added.
Source:
Times Of India
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Mark
of respect: Kerala temple cuts short festivities after Muslim neighbour dies
February
15, 2022
A
Hindu temple in Kerala’s Malappuram district cut short a festival last week as
a mark of respect to a Muslim neighbour who died on the night of February 11.
The
Punnassery Bhagavathi temple at Beeranchira village in Malappuram – a
Muslim-dominated district– was celebrating an annual festival at the temple
when Cherattil Hyder, a 72-year-old man who lived in the vicinity died last
Friday.
Temple
authorities then decided to cancel its procession and other cultural events,
which were to go on till Saturday. Instead, they only conducted limited rituals
at the temple.
“Hyder
was very close to us as well as the Hindu community in the village. Once a
timber merchant, he lived just opposite to the temple. On Friday night, around
9pm, we were informed that Hyder died. The temple was then in the midst of
celebrations after Covid-19 norms were eased… Several processions had been on
their way to the temple. We suspended the processions,” temple committee
vice-president M V Vasu said on Monday.
Source:
Indian Express
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Humiliating,
says Owaisi as teachers, students in Karnataka forced to remove hijab
14th
February 2022
Hyderabad:
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Monday slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party of
humiliating the Muslim community by depriving hijabi Muslims of their
“fundamental rights” by preventing them from wearing hijabs as part of their
religious obligation.
Owaisi’s
comment comes after videos from a school in Karnataka surfaced on social media
where students and teachers wearing headscarves were prevented from entering
the school by the management. They were forced to remove their hijabs at the
entrance before stepping into the premises of the institution.
Owaisi
questioned “where is my dignity?” and asserted that this is an attempt to make
the Muslim community “Z category citizens”.
AIMIM
president warned that “power is eternal, BJP must remember.” For unversed,
Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) is in power at both state (Karnataka) and national
levels.
Lastly,
Owaisi penned an Urdu phrase, which read, “Tum Zameen pe zulm likh do, Aasmaan
pe inquilab likha jayega,” which translates (you write atrocities on the
ground, a revolution will be written on the sky).
What
triggered Owaisi’s reaction:
Students
and teachers of Rotary Educational Society School Mandya, were forced to
abandon their hijab before entering the institute. This instance was followed
by the Karnataka high court’s temporary order directing students to adhere to
the state’s diktat of banning hijab inside educational institutions.
Amidst
a raging hijab row, schools in Karnataka were reopened on February 10,
following the directions of the court.
In
a video that surfaced on Twitter young hijabi students can be seen reluctantly
removing their headscarves, as a member of the school management prevents them
from entering the school if they insisted on wearing the garment.
One
gentleman, the father of two daughters, resisted for a while but eventually
surrendered after a long discussion with the teacher, and his children were
permitted to attend school after removing their hijabs.
Source:
Siasat Daily
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
India
To Run By Constitution, Not Islamic Law: Yogi Adityanath As UP Votes
February
14, 2022
New
Delhi: The New India will function according to the Constitution, not the
Shariat law, and the dream of "Ghazva-e-Hind (ultimate conquest of
India)" will never come true, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath
said in comments that emerged today as round 2 of seven-phase voting in the
state took place. Yogi Adityanath also claimed in the interview that his
"80 versus 20" comment was meant to differentiate between "those
who back progress and those who oppose everything".
"I
can say with utter clarity that this is new India, this is the India of world's
most popular leader Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In this new India,
development is for all and there will be appeasement of none," Yogi
Adityanath told news agency ANI in an interview.
"The
new India will work according to the Constitution, and not the Shariat. I also
want to say it clearly that the dream of Ghazva-e-Hind will not be fulfilled
even till the Qayamat (end of the world)," he said.
Yogi
Adityanath repeated his comments in a series of posts this morning. "Those
who dream of Gazva-e-Hind, religious fanatics of Talibani thinking, understand
this... India will run according to the constitution, not according to
Shariat...!" he posted.
The
saffron-wearing Chief Minister also spoke on the massive row in Karnataka over
hijab restrictions in colleges. "I strongly believe that the system should
run as per the Indian Constitution. We cannot impose our personal beliefs, our
fundamental rights, our personal likes and dislikes on the country or
institutions," he told ANI.
"Am
I asking the people and workers in UP to wear saffron? What they want to wear
is their choice. But in schools, there should be a dress code. This is the
matter of schools and the discipline in schools," he said.
One's
personal belief is separate, "but when one talks about institutions, then
one has to accept the rules there", he said. In a national context, he
added, the constitution should be followed."
The
Chief Minister sought to clarify his "80 versus 20" comment that was
seen to refer to a Hindu-Muslim divide in votes.
The
elections, he said, are a fight between 80 versus 20, where 80 per cent are
"those who back progress" while 20 per cent people "oppose
everything" and have a negative attitude.
"80
per cent are those people who are happy with the state government's agenda of
security, who appreciate the public welfare schemes of the state government.
Those who like development. Those who got a chance to get their work (at
government offices) done in an honest and transparent way," he said.
"20
per cent are those people who always oppose everything. They opposed everything
before and will continue doing so now. They have negative thinking. They back
money and crime and will remain so. This is how this election is that of 80
versus 20," he said.
Yogi
Adityanath also reacted to AIMIM chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi's
comment that wearing the hijab is a fundamental right and that one day a
hijab-wearing girl will become Prime Minister.
"It
is for the freedom and rights of that every girl (daughter of India) that PM
Modi put a stop on the malpractice of Triple Talak. It is for ensuring justice
and honour and empowerment of the girl that these decisions are being taken. We
can only say that the system will not work as per the Shariat, but will work as
per the Constitution. When the system will work according to the constitution,
every girl will be protected, honoured and become self-reliant," the Chief
Minister said.
Yogi
Adityanath defended his comment at the start of the UP election,
"warning" voters to choose wisely and vote BJP lest the state turned
into a West Bengal or Kerala.
"These
people are coming from Bengal and spreading anarchy here. For this, it was
necessary to alert people against it saying that 'be alert - the security,
respect that you are getting, people have come to disrupt that and do not let
that happen'. It was my responsibility to alert people," he said.
The
comments comes days after Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee visited UP to
campaign for Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, who is seen to be the
strongest challenger to the Yogi Adityanath-led BJP in UP.
The
Chief Minister ripped into Akhilesh Yadav, accusing him of corruption and
lawlessness. He said when Akhilesh Yadav was in power (2012-2017), he was too
busy sleeping and dreaming to focus on proper utilisation of state funds.
Source:
ND TV
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--------
Europe
Germany
urged to save citizen risking execution in Iran
14
February ,2022
Germany
must act immediately to prevent the hanging of a national detained in Iran who
risks the death penalty on charges vehemently denied by his supporters, his
family and activists said on Monday.
Anti-regime
activist Jamshid Sharmahd, 66, appeared in court in Tehran earlier this month
charged with “spreading corruption on earth” over accusations of involvement in
a bombing at a mosque in 2008.
If
convicted on this charge, which campaigners say is often used against opponents
of the government, he could face execution.
For
the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.
“It
is of the utmost importance that the German federal government act immediately
to prevent the planned state assassination of Mr Sharmahd,” his daughter
Gazelle and more than two dozen other activists said in an open letter to
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock.
“We
urge you to take immediate, serious and sustained action to save the life of
the 66-year-old German citizen and his family from this horrific act,” said the
signatories, who included former detainees in Iran and family members of those
still held.
Sharmahd
is affiliated with an anti-regime group known as Kingdom Assembly of Iran and
had been based in the United States.
The
family fears he risks a similar fate to France-based Ruhollah Zam, who was
executed in December 2020 after leaving Paris in October 2020 for Iraq, where
supporters say he was detained by Iran.
The
letter said the family was “very concerned” for the health of Sharmahd, who was
now “severely emaciated.”
It
noted that his trial is presided over by Abolqasem Salavati, the same judge who
had sentenced Zam to death.
“We
urge that the matter be given top priority, that a crisis management team be
set up, and that the German government exhaust all political and diplomatic
avenues to put pressure on the Islamic Republic of Iran,” said the letter.
“A
general condemnation of the death penalty and a call to respect human rights
are not enough.”
Source:
Al Arabiya
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
South Asia
Former
Security Forces Member Detained by Islamic Emirate: Family
February
14, 2022
KABUL:
A former member of the security forces has been detained by the Islamic
Emirate, the family members claimed.
The
officer is named Javad Jafari.
Jafari’s
family said their residence was night raided by some individuals claiming to be
member of the Islamic Emirate. The individuals didn’t have a court order and
forcibly arrested Jafari and took him to an unknown location.
“They
drew guns on us, they did not ask anyone, they just said ‘we are from the
Islamic Emirate.’ They beat Javad and dragged him out of the house,” said
Feriba, Javad’s wife.
Javad’s
family and residents of Kabul called on the security forces to abide by the
amnesty decree of the supreme leader of the Islamic Emirate.
“They
were neither thieves nor kidnappers, no one but the Islamic Emirate,” said
Ghulam Haidar, Javad’s brother.
The
Islamic Emirate denied the detention of the Jafari, saying it has been trying
to probe the issue.
“This
person was not arrested by our police chief, we are trying to find out the
truth,” said Khalid Zadran, spokesman of the Kabul Police Command.
Earlier,
the Human Rights Watchdogs in a report expressed concern over the arbitrary
detention and disappearance of former security forces. The report of the HRW
followed with a joint statement of the world countries, calling on the Islamic
Emirate to end the arbitrary detention of the former security forces.
Source:
Afghanistan Times
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
http://www.afghanistantimes.af/former-security-forces-member-detained-by-islamic-emirate-family/
--------
Family
Claims Former MoD Officer Detained by Islamic Emirate
February
15, 2022
A
family in Kabul claims that their son, who was a former officer of the Ministry
of Defense, has been detained by the forces of the Islamic Emirate.
According
to Javad Jafari's family, two nights ago some individuals claiming to be
members of the Islamic Emirate, entered their house at 8 pm without a court
order and forcibly arrested him and took him to an unknown location.
“They
drew guns on us, they did not ask anyone, they just said 'we are from the
Islamic Emirate.' They beat Javad and dragged him out of the house,” said
Feriba, Javad’s wife.
“We
are very scared, we ask the Islamic Emirate to free my father safe and alive,”
said Ali Sajad, Javad’s son.
Javad’s
family and residents of Kabul called on the security forces to abide by the
amnesty decree of the supreme leader of the Islamic Emirate.
“They
were neither thieves nor kidnappers, no one but the Islamic Emirate,” said
Ghulam Haidar, Javad’s brother.
“Arbitrary
detentions are so disturbing that now people cannot sleep--even in their own
homes--for fear,” said Khudadad, Javad’s relatives.
“Where
is the general amnesty? We ask the Islamic Emirate--the general amnesty they
announced--why do they not follow up?” said Mohammad Reza, a resident of Kabul.
Meanwhile,
the Kabul Police Command denied the arrest of the former government officer by
the Islamic Emirate forces.
“This
person was not arrested by our police chief, we are trying to find out the
truth,” said Khalid Zadran, spokesman of the Kabul Police Command.
Source:
Tolo News
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-176720
--------
Islamic
Emirate Meets Envoys of Gulf States in Doha: FM
February
15, 2022
The
Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a tweet that the delegation of the Islamic
Emirate led by the acting foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, which arrived in
Qatar on Sunday, has begun talks with representatives of the Gulf states in
Doha on Monday.
“A
high-level Afghan delegation led by Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi arrived in the
capital of Qatar (Doha) and will discuss a range of issues with the envoys of
the Gulf countries on Monday,” said Zia Ahmad Takal, deputy spokesman of the
Foreign Ministry.
According
to the ministry, the delegation of the caretaker government is scheduled to
hold talks with representatives of the European Union, the Union of Religious
Scholars, and diplomatic missions operating from Qatar on behalf of Kabul.
“The
recent visit of the Foreign Minister of the Islamic Emirate to Doha is in fact
a follow-up to the continuation of diplomatic relations with foreign countries,
which will provide the grounds for international recognition,” said Nasir Ahmad
Haidari, a political analyst.
“This
is a very important trip for solving the political challenges in Afghanistan,”
said Wali Mohammad Sarwari, a university lecturer.
Qatar
is one of the countries that, according to political analysts, wants to play a
mediating role between the current government of Afghanistan and the world, in
an effort that is more focused on bilateral interaction.
Source:
Tolo News
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-176717
--------
US
says attacks in vicinity of embassy in Kabul
Feb
15, 2022
KABUL:
The area around the US embassy in Kabul was targeted in the multiple attacks on
the diplomatic areas of the Afghan capital on Sunday but no staff members have
been injured, the embassy said.
"Attacks
are ongoing in the vicinity of the US embassy in Kabul. Avoid the area. Shelter
in place," the embassy said in a mobile phone text message.
Source:
Times Of India
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Afghanistan
will initially have 110,000-member army, says Taliban
February
15, 2022
Afghanistan
will initially have a 110,000-member army, the Taliban's acting Defence
Minister Mullah Muhammad Yaqoob Mujahid said, adding that the number will be
increased if required.
Speaking
to state media, Mujahid said that some 10,000 people have been trained for the
army since the Taliban takeover in August 2021, while an additional 80,000 have
enrolled, Khaama Press reported on Tuesday.
He
also said that 4,000 choppers have been reactivated, along with planes and
vehicles.
About
the officers of the former Afghan government, the Minister said that up to 90
per cent of the employees of the Defence Ministry are former officers and that
those had left the country have been contacted to return to Afghanistan and
resume their jobs.
Meanwhile,
Mujahid denied rumours about Afghanistan's military equipment being transported
to Pakistan and said that they were strictly managing the country's borders and
will allow no one to take the equipment out.
He
blamed neighbouring Iran and Turkmenistan over recent clashes in the shared
borders and said that the Afghan guards have been directed to be cautious,
reports Khaama Press.
Regarding
Pakistan's barbed wire along the Durand Line, Mujahid said that a final
decision regarding the matter was yet to be taken by the Taliban leadership.
Mujahid
also underrated the Islamic State-Khorasan, saying that the terror group was
not a threat to Afghanistan.
Source:
Business Standard
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Taliban
sniper becomes Afghan mayor
February
15, 2022
MAYMANA,
Afghanistan: Strolling through the town of Maymana, the new mayor appears to
inspire goodwill from war-weary constituents in the Afghan provincial capital.
But
Damullah Mohibullah Mowaffaq has a reputation as one of the top snipers in the
ranks of the Taliban, until last summer waging war to take control of the
country.
Mowaffaq
was made mayor of Maymana, capital of Faryab province in the far reaches of
northwest Afghanistan, in November, three months after the Taliban ousted the
Western-backed government and seized power.
He
rose to prominence as a fighter, but now his schedule is packed with the daily
tasks of local government — unblocking sewers, planning roads, and smoothing
over neighborhood quarrels.
His
switch reflects the broader transformation that the Taliban are undergoing, as
the insurgents grapple with administering territory.
“When
I was fighting my objectives were very specific: to end the foreign occupation,
discrimination and injustice,” the 25-year-old told AFP.
“Now
my goals are also clear: to fight corruption and make the country prosper.”
On
a walk through the streets of Maymana, the new mayor talks with municipal
workers clearing roadside gutters.
Residents
of the city of 100,000 approach with complaints and suggestions, which are
dutifully added to an ever-growing to-do list.
“The
new mayor is young, well-educated and, very importantly, from the city,” says
his non-Taliban deputy, Sayed Ahmad Shah Gheyasi.
“He
knows how to deal with people.”
Unlike
the poor, madrassa-educated rural men who make up the Taliban rank and file,
Mowaffaq comes from a family of wealthy traders and grew up in Maymana, where
he excelled at school and in sport.
Memorabilia
from his youth decorates his office including a certificate from a martial arts
competition as well as his high school diploma.
After
joining the insurgency at 19, he was promoted to command a small unit deployed
in Faryab province.
Others
describe him as one of the Taliban’s most talented snipers, although he appears
reluctant to be drawn into telling war stories.
But
on walkabout with AFP he pauses in front of a house blemished with munition
marks near the village of Doraye Khoija Qoshre, where his unit once held sway.
Here
he used to hide himself away, scoping American troops with his rifle and honing
a reputation as a crack shot.
“He
killed an American with his rifle from this house, then a plane came and bombed
him,” said Saifaddin, a local farmer, who like many in Afghanistan goes by one
name.
Although
it cannot be confirmed Mowaffaq was responsible, in mid-2019 the United States
announced a member of their special forces had been killed in fighting in
Faryab.
A
year earlier, the Afghan Analysts Network said Maymana was “practically under
siege” owing to “an astonishingly widespread Taliban presence.”
Mowaffaq
witnessed several comrades killed in fighting but remains evasive about the
horrors he both inflicted and suffered.
“I
have had many ups and downs,” he says.
The
United Nations and rights groups have accused the Taliban of gross human rights
abuses since they seized power in August.
The
deaths of more than 100 members of the former government or security forces
have been blamed on the country’s new rulers, while women activists have been
detained and journalists beaten for covering their protests.
The
Taliban ideal of a thick beard and black turban may frame Mowaffaq’s face, but
in many ways he is an unconventional totem of their austere ideology.
Nationwide
the Islamists have effectively evicted women from the public sphere, shutting
older girls out of education and largely barring the opposite sex from the
workplace.
But
in Mowaffaq’s office, female employees have been allowed to keep working, and a
public garden in the city is reserved for them.
Under
the first Taliban regime from 1996 to 2001 the all-covering burqa was mandatory
for women.
Source:
Arab News
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2024926/world
--------
Pakistan
Pakistan
seeks Iran’s anti-terror efforts against Baloch terrorists
February
14, 2022
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan and Iran Monday decided to take further practical measures to boost
anti-terrorism cooperation along Pak, Iran border and form Joint Working Groups
(JWGs) to help cement bilateral trade and regulate border markets.
The
development comes as Pakistan strongly raised with Iran the use of Iranian soil
against Pakistan, and assistance, training and funds being provided to Baloch
terrorists by Iranian elements who mount attacks on Pakistani security forces
and take refuge in Iran’s bordering areas near Balochistan.
During
high level meetings held here with the visiting Iranian Interior Minister Dr
Ahmad Vahidi, Prime Minister Imran Khan emphasised on early completion and
operationalisation of border sustenance markets for economic uplift of people
living on both sides of Pakistan-Iran border.
Talking
to Dr Vahidi who called on the PM, Imran Khan emphasised the importance of
close bilateral collaboration to boost trade and regional connectivity.
Khan
expressed satisfaction over positive momentum in brotherly relations between
Pakistan and Iran and said that vast potential exists for enhanced
collaboration in diverse fields.
Underscoring
that the Pakistan-Iran border is a border of peace and friendship, the prime
minister underlined the importance of joint cooperation to address security
issues. He thanked the Iranian government and the supreme leader for steadfast
support for the just resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.
The
prime minister expressed satisfaction over convergence of views regarding a
peaceful and stable Afghanistan and underscored the importance of close
coordination between the two countries.
He
stressed the need for urgent actions by the international community to prevent
humanitarian crisis and economic meltdown in Afghanistan and measures to
enhance practical engagement, strengthen stability, and counter terrorism.
The
Iranian interior minister conveyed cordial greetings of Iranian leadership to
the prime minister and reaffirmed Iran’s desire to strengthen bilateral
relations in all aspects.
COAS
urges efforts denying space or action by miscreants along Pakistan-Iran border
Meanwhile,
Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa has stressed upon the need
to put in collective efforts to deny any space or liberty of action to be
exploited by miscreants along the Pakistan-Iran border.
The
army chief said this while talking to Iranian Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi
who along with a delegation visited General Headquarters (GHQ), said the
Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) in a statement on Monday.
According
to the ISPR, geo-strategic environment, particularly regional security
situation and bilateral cooperation in
defence and security domains, were discussed during the meeting. Pakistan-Iran
border security mechanism including border markets also came under discussion,
added the military’s media wing.
The
COAS said that enhanced cooperation between the two brotherly neighbours is
vital for peace and stability in the region. Terming the Pakistan-Iran border
as a border of peace and friendship, the COAS highlighted the need to put in
collective efforts to deny any space or liberty of action to be exploited by
miscreants along the border .
The
visiting dignitary, while acknowledging stability in Afghanistan as collective
regional responsibility, appreciated Pakistan’s efforts for peace and
stability, particularly humanitarian assistance being rendered to mitigate
challenges faced by people of Afghanistan.
Pak,
Iran to form JWGs to cement bilateral ties
Earlier
in the day, Pakistan and Iran agreed to form Joint working groups (JWGs) to
strengthen bilateral relations. The understanding was reached in a joint
declaration issued after the meeting of a nine-member visiting Iranian
delegation led by Interior Minister Dr. Ahmad Vahidi with Interior Minister
Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed.
The
two sides agreed to set up markets on Pakistan-Iran borders and increase the
number of border terminals. The two sides also exchanged views on completing fencing work on the Pakistan-Iran
border at the earliest.
It
was agreed that the territory of Pakistan and Iran should not be used for
terrorist activities against each other. The meeting also discussed the regional
security situation, looming humanitarian catastrophe in Afghanistan and other
important issues.
It
also discussed prisoner exchanges and facilitating pilgrims. Ways to prevent
illegal human immigration and drug trafficking were also discussed during the
meeting.
On
the occasion, the Iranian interior minister strongly condemned recent terrorist
attacks in Pakistan and said his country considers terrorist attack on Pakistan
as an attack on Iran. The Iranian minister said that Pakistan and Iran have long
lasting historic ties.
Source:
Pakistan Today
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2022/02/14/173181/
--------
Pakistan:
Young Baloch rebel killed by Pakistani army in Gwadar
ANI
/ Feb 15, 2022
BALOCHISTAN:
A young rebel was killed in a clash between Baloch people and Pakistani army in
Shadi Kaur area of Pasni tehsil of Gwadar district on Monday, according to
local media.
Radio
Zrumbesh Urdu reported that gunship helicopters were also dispatched from
Turbat to assist the Pakistani army after the clash.
The
death of Sarmachar Hidayatullah
was
confirmed by his brother Kifayat Baloch who shared his picture on his Twitter account.
"Hon
Plugdin Bachani Rich Ant. Gulzamin Banuri Stra Posh Ayat (When the blood of the
well-dressed children falls on the ground, Gulzamin covers herself like a
bride)," he tweeted.
Kifayatullah
told Radio Zarmbash that he is proud of his brother. He said, "My brother
was younger than me but he always encouraged me."
Source:
Times Of India
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Imran
Khan's visit to Moscow will be a blow to Pak's reputation
IANS
/ Feb 14, 2022
NEW
DELHI: The most prominent aspect of Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's visit
to Moscow is that it was not an invitation from Russia, rather an invite sought
by Islamabad, according to an article.
Jan
Achakzai, a geopolitical analyst wrote in an article for The News that Khan is
going to visit Russia at a time which is probably not a suitable moment.
Here
is another paradox Pakistan is facing today. Led by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf
(PTI), a minority party government sitting at the helm with the support of
allies gathered by powerful quarters took this decision for the nation, the
article said.
"The
most prominent aspect of this visit is that Russia did not invite, rather an
invitation was sought. And more so in an environment where Putin has already
called Prime Minister Modi to express gratitude for India's support to Russia
in the UN Security Council," the analyst says in his article.
"Interestingly,
Russia didn't seek our support, nor did the US stop us from going to Moscow. Is
it Pakistan's irrelevance or a clear reading of the US that we will come back
from Russia empty-handed and will beg for financial concessions from Washington
in forums like IMF, FATF, etc, from a position of further weakness?
"And
Russia losing India for the sake of Pakistan's support is not an option.
Pakistan's support comes at the cost of frequent requests for aid and loans.
Additionally, Moscow will not appease Pakistan at this juncture as doing so
will offend India. Russia needs Delhi's support more than anything else since
the Biden Administration has boxed President Putin in a difficult situation in
the Ukraine crisis
Source:
Times Of India
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Pakistan
Continues to Exhibit Gory ‘Islamophobia’ Against Ahmadis
By
Kunwar Khuldune Shahid
February
14, 2022
On
Sunday, the Punjab Police desecrated 45 graves belonging to the Ahmadiyya
Muslim sect in Pakistan’s Hafizabad town. Police personnel damaged the
tombstones and removed Islamic inscriptions in accordance with the law. The
Pakistani Constitution officially declares the Ahmadiyya sect of Islam to be
“infidels” and bars members of the community from “posing as Muslims,” which
the vandalized graves were found guilty of.
In
addition to desecration of graves, the police also regularly demolish Ahmadi
mosques over similar allegations against them masquerading as Muslim worship
places. Ahmadis are barred from giving the Islamic call to prayer, or even
displaying “Muslim names” in front of their homes.
Most
ominously, the Ahmadiyya sect remains the most vulnerable to Pakistan’s violent
blasphemy laws, with at least 13 Ahmadis killed and 40 wounded since 2017 owing
to their identity. This is in addition to the jihadist attacks on the
community. In 2010, twin mosque terror raids in Lahore killed at least 94
Ahmadis.
The
persecution of Ahmadis is rooted in the sect’s faith in its 19th century
founder Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, which representatives of other Islamic sects deem
sacrilegious. They allege that belief in Ahmad contradicts Muhammad’s status as
the final prophet of Islam, which Ahmadis insist is misrepresentation of their
faith. Even so, theological deliberations should be irrelevant to the right to
profess any version of any religion, as enshrined in Pakistan’s Constitution
and the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights that the country is
signatory to.
On
the contrary, Ahmadiyya beliefs are dragged into astonishingly unrelated realms
in Pakistan. In 2018, the incumbent Imran Khan government backtracked on the
appointment of renowned economist Atif Mian as financial advisor owing to his
Ahmadiyya faith. The Islamist rationale: those who are loyal to the Ahmadiyya
beliefs cannot be loyal to Pakistan.
Not
only are Ahmadis accused of being collaborators with “India and Israel,” the
Ahmadiyya sect can be held responsible for pretty much any predicament,
including the outbreak of COVID-19. Pakistanis have to denounce the Ahmadiyya
faith if they want voting rights, a passport, or even the Islamic marriage
certificate.
The
widespread anti-Ahmadiyya bigotry, self-manifesting for decades via messages in
popular markets such as “Ahmadis and dogs not allowed” or “Ahmadis should enter
Islam before entering this shop,” has now gone digital with online deliveries
being refused to members of the community.
What
Pakistan unquestionably has in place is veritable religious apartheid. This
apartheid is overseen by Imran Khan, who is working tirelessly to unite the
world against Islamophobia. Not only is Khan seemingly oblivious to the terror
that religious minorities in his own country are facing, he quite clearly
doesn’t realize that he’s fighting against Islamophobia while leading a country
where one can be arrested for practising Islam.
Indeed,
Pakistan is indubitably more phobic of the Ahmadiyya sect, and their
interpretation of Islam, than most of the states that Khan vocally deems
“Islamophobic.” In Pakistan, Ahmadis have been arrested for purchasing
literature, partaking in Eid celebrations, or even reciting the Quran.
The
government’s Islamic advisory body has even incited genocide against Ahmadis.
Ministers have called for “beheading of blasphemers,” which, incidentally, is
the law in the country, used by Islamist mobs to get away with murder.
Groups
dedicated to upholding apartheid against Ahmadis, like the Aalmi Majlis
Tahaffuz Khatm-e-Nabuwwat, hold massive rallies, with their narrative supported
by the political leadership, including prime ministers past and present. The
Pakistan-based anti-Ahmadi groups have now taken their anti-Ahmadi violence to
the West, including the U.K., with the Muslim Council of Britain repeatedly
excommunicating British Ahmadi Muslims.
Ignoring
the grotesque marginalization faced by non-Muslims in many Muslim-majority
countries dents the fight against anti-Muslim bigotry in the West. Realities
such as Ahmadiyya persecution in Pakistan underline that even Muslims with
divergent or dissenting beliefs are largely sidelined by the campaigners
against Islamophobia.
Source:
The Diplomat
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://thediplomat.com/2022/02/pakistan-continues-to-exhibit-gory-islamophobia-against-ahmadis/
--------
Over
150 ‘assailants’ booked in Christian boy’s death case in Lahore
February
15, 2022
LAHORE:
The Factory Area police lodged a case against 150-200 ‘attackers’ in the wake
of death of a Christian boy here on Monday.
The
police acted after residents of Walton Road allegedly tortured Pervez Masih
following a minor dispute of standing in the street.
Police
said Pervez suffered critical head injuries and died in hospital.
Police
have mounted security in the area to defuse tension when members of the
Christian community took to the street against the attack.
Police
have registered a murder case against 150-200 ‘attackers’ after consulting a
team of lawyers of the Christian community.
The
complainant said some of the attackers were also holding weapons and fired
warning shots.
Cantt
division operation SP Esa Sukhera made it clear that it was a scuffle incident
between the two sides and had nothing to do with religion.
He
said on Sunday night a scuffle broke out between some members of the Christian
community and locals. Consequently, Sobal Masih got injured and the Factory
Area registered a case against the attackers, he said adding the suspects
nurtured a grudge against them for reporting the matter to the police and again
attacked some relatives of the Christians on Monday.
During
the attack, the SP said Pervez Masih suffered critical head injuries and died
later in a local hospital which prompted his relatives to lodge a protest.
Source:
Dawn
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.dawn.com/news/1675125/over-150-assailants-booked-in-christian-boys-death-case-in-lahore
--------
Pakistan
diplomat recalls Soviet pullout from Afghanistan
February
14, 2022
A
veteran Pakistani diplomat who remained part of the landmark Geneva Accords
that subsequently led to the pullout of now-defunct USSR troops from
neighboring Afghanistan in 1989, reminisces about historic events.
On
the occasion of the 33rd anniversary of the Soviet pullout on Feb. 15, former
Foreign Secretary Riaz Mohammad Khan, who was part of Pakistan’s negotiating
team as a young diplomat, offers a witness account of events that preceded the
end of a decade-long foreign invasion of Afghanistan.
Inked
April 14, 1988, at the UN’s Geneva headquarters between Pakistan and
Afghanistan with the USSR and the US as guarantors, the accords stated
provisions for the withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghan soil.
It,
however, triggered a bloody civil war, between a demoralized Afghan army and
the Mujahideen, and subsequently between several militias, following the
hurried pullout without putting up a future governance structure in Kabul.
Also
in Pakistan, the accords created a chain reaction and led to the removal of the
Mohammad Khan Junejo government in May 1988 by military ruler Gen. Zia-ul-Haq,
who was not happy with the signing of the agreement by his hand-picked prime
minister.
In
an interview with Anadolu Agency, Khan, who was the only delegate from the
Pakistan side who participated in all the rounds of the Geneva negotiations
from 1982 to 1988, shed light on similarities and dissimilarities between the
USSR and the US pullouts from Afghanistan.
“There
are more dissimilarities than similarities,” said Khan, who served as Foreign
Secretary from 2005 to 2008.
“Yes,
both gave in after lingering wars. On both occasions, if the goal was to defeat
the insurgency or resistance then both failed. However, the Najibullah
government and the PDPA (People’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan) army proved
to be more stubborn and survivable than the Ashraf Ghani government and the
Afghan National Army,“ he said.
Enumerating
the dissimilarities, he argued that the Najib government survived three years
and fell apart only after the disintegration of the Soviet Union. “It (even)
withstood the siege of Jalalabad, “ he said, referring to the famous but failed
siege of Jalalabad, the capital of northeastern Nangarhar province, in 1989 by
the Mujahideen.
Citing
another difference, Khan said after the US withdrawal one party, the Taliban,
have emerged victorious and the transition was more or less smooth.
Whereas,
he added, after the Soviet withdrawal the conflict continued to simmer in a
stalemate and following the exit of Najibullah, the two major Mujahedin
factions, Ahmed Shah Masood and Gulbadin, fought for Kabul while associates of Najibullah
chose either of the two sides.
Pullout
without a credible power structure
According
to records that were later released, Mikhail Gorbachev, the eighth and final
leader of the Soviet Union, had informed Najibullah about Moscow’s decision to
withdraw almost two years ahead of time in mid-1986, he said.
He
said Pakistan was interested in a Soviet withdrawal because historically it saw
a pattern in Moscow’s interventions that “if it consolidated its position in
one country after some time pressure came on the next.”
‘Next
to Afghanistan was Pakistan’
Khan,
the author of two best-sellers on Afghanistan, Untying the Afghan Knot and
Afghanistan and Pakistan: Conflict, Extremism and Resistance to Modernity, said
that Islamabad had insisted on putting up a “stable and reasonably acceptable”
government in Kabul before the Soviet pullout, which unfortunately could not
happen.
“We
did insist in the pre-Geneva exchanges that the agenda should include the
formation of a broad-based government of national reconciliation. But the UN
Secretary General could not agree to it because the UN could only deal with the
government represented at the UN,” he said. adding that Islamabad did not have
the votes in the UN to dislodge the Kabul government for keeping Afghanistan’s
seat vacant.
Ironically,
in December 1986, he contended, Moscow “precisely” did that and sought
Pakistan’s cooperation for a broad-based government starting with a dialogue
between the Kabul government and the Mujahideen leaders.
But
at that time Pakistan’s politics got complicated and was unable to focus on the
Soviet offer, he said.
Soviets
wanted to leave under UN auspices
In
the final phase of negotiations the Soviets called for the signing of the
Geneva Accords, which were ready for almost three years but without a timeframe
for a withdrawal, said Khan.
“The
Soviets wanted to leave under the auspices of a UN negotiated accord. They
waited for about one year for Pakistan to respond to their offer made in
December 1986 and then announced a one-year timeframe, “ he said.
That
woke up Gen. Zia and he started talking about a broad-based government and even
announced a formula, which was publicly rejected by the Tanzeemat (conglomerate
of different Mujahideen groups) spokesman the next day, he said.
According
to Khan, there was a last-minute hiccup when Kabul refused to accept a
reference to “international border” in the text as it does not recognize the
2,640-kilometers (1,640-miles) porous border called, the Durand Line between
Pakistan and Afghanistan.
That
obliged the Foreign Minister of the USSR Eduard Shevardnadze to travel to Kabul
in April 1988.
“Failing
to persuade Kabul, Shevardnadze requested Pakistan to accept a fuzzier
expression which we did,” he said.
Myths
and realities
Khan
does not agree with the widely-rumored contention that the Junejo government
was dismissed because of the Geneva Accords
“There
is a good deal of myth about the removal of Junejo on account of his
differences with Zia on Geneva. The fact is that the Afghan policy was always in
the hands of President Zia and with the exception of the timeframe the texts of
the agreement were completed when Sahibzada Yaqub Khan (then Foreign Minister)
led the Pakistan delegation before Junejo entered the scene in 1985,” he said.
“At
the last round of Geneva, we, from the Pakistan delegation, knew Junejo favored
signing but we were all waiting for almost one month to get a signal from Zia
to covey our consent for signature,” he said. “That only came towards the end
of March 1988 when Zia was satisfied on the question of continued supply of
arms to the Mujahideen.”
Khan
cited “frictions and differences” between Junejo and Zia, which was a political
tussle for power in executive and administrative matters as the key reason
behind the former’s ouster.
“(Former)
Prime Minister Junejo started asserting himself without consulting Zia and kept
the latter out. But Afghanistan was different, it was a mega policy, not a
day-to-day issue, in which the army and intelligence were involved,” he said.
Nonetheless,
he argued, it can be said that the political friction caused distraction and
did not allow Zia to focus on the Soviet offer in December 1986 seeking
cooperation for a broad-based government.
But
that offer, he said, was dismissed by powerful circles within the army and
intelligence as tactical to weaken the resistance.
Another
key reason behind Junejo’s ouster was the demand for an inquiry into the
dreadful Ojeri Camp accident, in which nearly 100 citizens were killed and more
than 1,000 injured in Islamabad in April 1988.
The
camp near the capital was used as an ammunition depot for the Afghan
Mujahideen, who were fighting the Soviet invasion.
In
case of an inquiry, regardless of the cause, “some of the top generals could
not have escaped responsibility for keeping such a huge depot of ammunition in
the midst of the twin cities” of Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
“If
it were Geneva, Zia could have dismissed Junejo much before the signing of
Geneva, not several weeks after the event,” he said.
About
the botched Jalalabad siege, Khan said there was pressure from the intelligence
agencies that Pakistan should recognize the Afghan interim government of the
Mujahideen, which was still headquartered in Peshawar.
The
foreign minister, he said, however, opposed and maintained that even Zia had
not recognized the interim government in Pakistan.
The
ministry had recommended that Islamabad could recognize the interim government
if it was able to base itself somewhere inside Afghanistan, he said.
Source:
Pakistan Today
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Southeast Asia
Muslim
Couples Can Solemnise Marriage Online Under Changes to Law in Singapore
Malavika
Menon
FEB
14, 2022
SINGAPORE
- Muslim couples will now be able to solemnise their marriages online and go virtual
for a host of other marriage-related matters under changes to the law.
Minister
for Social and Family Development Masagos Zulkifli said the new administrative
processes will better equip Muslim institutions such as the Registry of Muslim
Marriages (ROMM), Sariah Court and Islamic Religious Council of Singapore, or
Muis, to deliver services effectively without disruption.
The
changes, which include a move to digital options, will not replace the
traditional solemnisation ceremony but will allow Muslims to get married online
when the circumstances call for it, such as during the Covid-19 pandemic.
During
a debate on changes to the Administration of Muslim Law Act, or Amla, in
Parliament on Monday (Feb 14), Mr Masagos, who is also Minister-in-charge of Muslims
Affairs, said: "Digitalisation is necessary if our institutions are to
provide relevant and effective support to the community. This became all the
more salient with Covid-19.
"The
pandemic necessitated new norms and habits we did not consider prior to 2020.
We have learnt the importance of leveraging technology for contingencies, so
that we can minimise disruptions to service delivery."
ROMM
adopted video-link technology to allow marriage solemnisations to continue amid
the pandemic. Similarly, the Sariah Court also adapted court processes to allow
people to give evidence online.
Other
changes to Amla will help improve the divorce process and better support
children affected by divorce.
For
instance, when the husband refuses to recognise the authority of the first
appointed hakam, or arbitrator, a second one is appointed by the Syariah Court
and the process has to restart.
With
the new rules, the first hakam who was appointed can grant divorce even if the
husband disputes his authority.
In
divorce proceedings conducted by a hakam, Muslim couples are guided towards
reconciliation or in cases where that is not possible, towards an amicable
parting.
The
changes also seek to remove the payment of fees as a condition for the
registration of a divorce.
"This
is so that no party can delay registration of a divorce already recognised by
the court under Muslim law through the non-payment of fees," Mr Masagos
said.
Similar
to the recent amendments in the Women's Charter, the changes to Amla allow the
Syariah Court to advise parents to give their child support through at the
Programme for Children during the divorce process, just like the Family Justice
Court.
Mr
Masagos said: "The aim of these provisions, is to make sure that the best
interests of the child are prioritised during the divorce process. This must be
our objective for children of all marriages, whether civil or Muslim."
The
amendments do not change the way Muslim law will continue to apply to Muslim
marriages and divorces, he added.
Mr
Masagos also addressed MPs' concerns on whether digital divorce proceedings
could ensure a fair trial for vulnerable individuals and the enforcement
measures to ensure children attend support programs.
Mr
Saktiandi Supaat (Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC) welcomed measures to support children
affected by divorce and asked what would happen to parents whose children do
not complete the course.
Ms
Nadia Samdin (Ang Mo Kio GRC) said there was a need to put in place safeguards
that would ensure the integrity and orderliness of divorce proceedings
conducted online and cited the example of domestic abuse victims who could be
facing intimidation.
"It
is important to ensure that each party can express their case independently,
fairly and completely with all relevant details," she said.
Source:
Straits Times
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Malaysian
Minister under Fire for Apparently Endorsing Domestic Violence
2022-02-14
Women’s
groups and people across gender lines came out on Monday to criticize a federal
minister who appeared to endorse domestic violence in one of two short videos
she posted to social media last week.
Husbands
are allowed to use a “gentle but firm physical touch” that is “educational” on
recalcitrant wives, Siti Zailah Mohd Yusoff, the deputy minister for women,
family and community development, was seen as saying in one of the videos
posted on Facebook.
The
MP from the Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) also advised men to use counseling
and sleep separately from their spouses for three days, saying that Islam
recommends such measures for when their wives do something they disapprove of.
“If
she does not listen even after being advised and sleeping in different rooms,
here we [husbands] can use ‘soft but firm’ physical touch that is educational,
full of love and does not cause pain,” Siti Zailah said in the video that was
posted on Saturday.
She
also recommended that women make sure their husbands had eaten, prayed and were
in a good mood before approaching a difficult subject to ensure harmony at
home. The videos have been viewed more than 16,000 times on Instagram and
12,000 times on Facebook.
On
Monday, a spokesperson for Siti Zailah’s ministry did not immediately respond
to a BenarNews request for comment on the videos.
‘Violence
is violence’
MP
Hannah Yeoh, who served in the same post at the ministry until the Pakatan
Harapan government fell in early 2020, asked Siti Zailah to explain what she
meant.
“It’s
dangerous to make such a video – ‘firm but gentle’ is subjective. Just ask
teams of doctors, activists and NGO that deal with domestic violence,” said
Yeoh, an MP from the opposition Democratic Action Party.
Another
opposition lawmaker, Nurul Izzah Anwar of the People’s Justice Party, also
questioned the videos’ content.
“The
pandemic has only seen an increase in domestic violence, predominantly against
women,” she said on social media. “This so-called ‘advice’ by the deputy
minister is a disservice and goes against current realities and needs.”
Sisters
in Islam (SIS), a Muslim NGO known for liberal views, called the videos
appalling.
“It
is deplorable for a deputy minister of the Ministry of Women, Family and
Community Development to make and share a video that supports women being
treated as subservient, inferior beings who deserve to be disciplined and
corrected in their character and behavior,” the organization said in a
statement shared with BenarNews on Monday.
It
also said there was no such thing as a husband hitting a wife gently.
“Violence
is violence and there is no justification on how a husband should ‘educate’ or
‘reprimand’ a wife. Furthermore, the narrative that a husband is allowed to
educate his wife by hitting her gently arguably opens the door to violence,
especially since there has yet to be a wife who has complained that she has
only been gently hit by her husband,” SIS said.
Joint
Action Group for Gender Equality, a coalition of women’s groups, demanded that
Siti Zailah resign.
“The
deputy minister must step down for normalizing domestic violence, which is a
crime in Malaysia as well as for perpetuating ideas and behaviors that are
opposed to gender equality,” it said in a statement.
Hardliners
offer support
However,
Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (ISMA), a hardline Malay-Muslim NGO, supported Siti
Zailah’s videos.
“Prior
to giving unwanted comments on Islamic teachings, why don’t we dissect the real
cause of domestic violence? How many cases were caused by drunkards and drug
addicts? How many of the cases were due to mental health issues related to poor
socioeconomic status and debts,” Fatimah Zaharah Rosli, the assistant leader of
ISMA women’s wing, told BenarNews.
Source:
Benar News
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.benarnews.org/english/news/malaysian/video-fallout-02142022120855.html
--------
Appeals
court rejects citizenship bid for woman born in Pahang to Cambodia refugees,
but says can apply to be naturalised Malaysian
15
Feb 2022
BY
IDA LIM
KUALA
LUMPUR, Feb 15 — The Court of Appeal today unanimously decided not to recognise
a 35-year-old woman — who was born in a Pahang refugee camp to parents who were
Muslim refugees from Cambodia — as a Malaysian citizen.
The
woman Azimah Hamzah is the only one in her family who is not yet a Malaysian.
She had previously applied but failed at the High Court and then appealed to
the Court of Appeal to be recognised as a Malaysian by arguing that she is a
stateless person with no Cambodian citizenship.
While
Azimah was born in Malaysia and her parents and all her siblings had became
Malaysians, the Court of Appeal said that she had not fulfilled the
requirements under the pathway of Article 14(1)(b) of the Federal Constitution
and Section 1(e) of Part II of the Second Schedule of the Federal Constitution.
The
Court of Appeal however said that Azimah still had the alternative option of
pursuing Malaysian citizenship by way of naturalisation under Article 19 of the
Federal Constitution.
In
reading the brief grounds of a three-judge panel’s unanimous decision, Datuk
Vazeer Alam Mydin Meera said the Court of Appeal agreed with the High Court’s
March 2020 decision to dismiss Azimah’s bid for Malaysian citizenship.
Vazeer
Alam said the Court of Appeal agreed with the High Court judge’s findings that
concluded Azimah is not a stateless person, and also agreed that both Article
14(1)(b) and the Section 1(e) — two constitutional provisions which would
enable a person to be recognised as a Malaysian citizen — do not apply to
Azimah and that she is not a Malaysian citizen by operation of law.
Vazeer
Alam said the Court of Appeal panel took note of the fact that Azimah’s parents
and all her siblings have subsequently acquired Malaysian citizenship, and went
on to highlight the other citizenship route that Azimah could still try.
“We
empathise with her predicament. Nevertheless, the door is not closed. It is
still open to her to apply for citizenship by naturalisation if the
requirements are met.
“We
find no merit in the appeal and the appeal is dismissed,” the judge said in
dismissing Azimah’s appeal.
The
three-member Court of Appeal panel was chaired by Datuk Seri Kamaludin Md Said.
Datuk Gunalan Muniandy was the third judge.
Based
on previous court documents including Azimah’s own affidavit, her parents and
her elder sister were Muslim refugees from Cambodia who had been accepted for
settlement in Malaysia since 1985, with the parents and elder sister placed in
a refugee camp in Cherating, Pahang until they left the camp in 1987.
It
was in June 1986 that Azimah’s refugee parents gave birth to her in the refugee
camp in Pahang.
In
reading the brief grounds of the decision, Vazeer Alam had examined the High
Court’s decision in Azimah’s case, after having noted that her refugee parents
were not Malaysian citizens at the time of her birth and that she has lived in
Malaysia since birth.
The
High Court’s decision was on two issues, namely whether the citizenship
provisions of Section 1(e) and Article 14(1)(b) applied to Azimah’s case, and
whether the burden of proof lies on Azimah to establish on a balance of
probabilities that Azimah was not born a citizen of any country for purposes of
Section 1(e).
Article
14(1)(b) states that those who are born after Malaysia was formed and who
fulfill any of the conditions in Part II of the Second Schedule are citizens by
operation of law or entitled to be Malaysians, with one of the conditions being
Section 1(e) which is that a person born within Malaysia “who is not born a
citizen of any country”.
Azimah
argues that she is automatically a citizen of Malaysia once she has met the
Section 1(e) requirement.
Noting
that then High Court judge Datuk Seri Mariana Yahya had held that Azimah holds
the burden of proof to establish on a balance of probabilities that she was not
born a citizen of any country, Vazeer Alam said the Court of Appeal agreed with
this.
“We
agree that the appellant (Azimah) has to prove she was stateless at the time of
her birth to avail herself of her right under Section 1(e). The facts showed
the parents were refugees from Cambodia, thus there was evidence of parents’
country of origin.
“Though
her birth certificate did not state the nationality of her parents, that does
not mean her parents were stateless,” Vazeer Alam said, referring to Azimah’s
June 1986 birth certificate.
Vazeer
Alam referred to an entry permit issued by Malaysia’s immigration authorities
in November 1986 to Azimah’s father which had stated his nationality to be
Cambodian.
“If
that is so, Azimah has to show why she is not entitled to acquire citizenship
of Cambodia.”
“We
agree with the High Court judge that it is incumbent on Azimah to demonstrate
to the court why she is not entitled to acquire Cambodian citizenship at her
birth,” he added.
The
judge noted there was evidence of Azimah’s parents being Cambodian citizens at
the time of her birth.
Vazeer
Alam said the Court of Appeal found no error in the High Court judge’s findings
that Azimah had failed to discharge the burden of proof of her not having being
born a citizen of any country.
“As
such, Azimah could not be categorised as a stateless person at birth for
purposes of citizenship by operation of law under the Second Schedule read
together with Article 14(1)(b),” the judge said.
The
judge then concluded that the Court of Appeal agreed that Azimah is not a
Malaysian citizen by operation of law — or entitled to automatically be a
Malaysian citizen — as it agreed Article 14(1)(b) and Section 1(e) do not apply
to her.
“We
will appeal the decision,” Azimah’s lawyer N. Surendran told Malay Mail when
contacted later.
Lawyer
Shahid Adli Kamarudin also represented Azimah while senior federal counsel Nik
Mohd Noor Nik Kar and federal counsel Arina Azmin Ahmad Marzuki represented the
government and the two other respondents.
About
Azimah’s case
Azimah’s
June 1986 birth certificate records her as a non-citizen and her race as
Cambodian, with her parents recorded with the same details and with “maklumat
tidak diperolehi” (information not obtained) stated for the parents’
identification documents.
The
November 25, 1986 entry permit into Malaysia issued to both Azimah’s parents
states them to be of Cambodian nationality. On the same day in November 1986,
both parents obtained the status of being permanent residents of Malaysia.
Azimah’s
parents both obtained Malaysian citizenship in November 2008 via Article 19(1)
of the Federal Constitution, or in other words became Malaysian citizens
through naturalisation.
Under
Article 19(1), the Malaysian government may grant a certificate of
naturalisation to anyone aged 21 and above when applied by the person, if
satisfied that the person is of good character, has adequate knowledge of the
Malay language and has lived in Malaysia for the required period — not less than
10 years in the 12 years before application is made — and intends to live
permanently in Malaysia if the certificate is granted.
Azimah’s
older sister, who was not born in Malaysia but was also a refugee who came to
Malaysia with their parents, was naturalised as a citizen in November 2008.
The
naturalisation process was made under Article 15A of the Federal Constitution,
where the government may register persons aged below 21 as citizens in special
circumstances as it thinks fit.
All
of Azimah’s four younger siblings — born in Malaysia before the parents became
citizens — are Malaysians because of the parents’ status as permanent residents
in Malaysia.
Azimah
had in 1998 applied for a Malaysian identification card when she was 12, but
the National Registration Department had in November 1999 said she was not
entitled to Malaysian citizenship by operation of law.
She
was then subsequently given a MyKas or a green identity card — introduced since
1990 by Malaysia for non-citizens who have temporary resident status — and
allowed to renew it several times before being denied subsequently. Over the
years, she had also made multiple attempts to obtain Malaysian citizenship
status.
Azimah
had asked the Cambodian embassy in an attempt to settle the question of whether
she is a Cambodian citizen or otherwise by asking the Cambodian embassy, with
the embassy confirming in a September 18, 2018 certified letter that Azimah
“has never been holding Cambodian passport and identity documents”.
Azimah
in October 2018 applied for Malaysian citizenship via Article 14(1)(b) of the
Federal Constitution, but her application was rejected in March 2019.
On
June 3, 2019, she filed a judicial review application against the NRD’s
director-general, the home minister and the Malaysian government, to seek
various court orders including a declaration to recognise her as a Malaysian
citizen and one to compel the issuance of a MyKad or citizenship certificate.
The
High Court on March 11, 2020 dismissed Azimah’s lawsuit, which then led to this
appeal and the decision today by the Court of Appeal.
Azimah
will turn 36 this year. Like Azimah, her parents and all her siblings are also
in Malaysia.
Source:
Malay Mail
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Mideast
Israel
imposes travel ban on head of Islamic Movement’s northern branch: Lawyer
Abdel
Ra'ouf D. A. R. Arnaout
14.02.2022
JERUSALEM
Israeli
authorities have imposed a one-month travel ban on Sheikh Raed Salah, the
leader of the northern branch of the Islamic Movement, his lawyer said on
Monday.
Speaking
to Anadolu Agency, Salah's lawyer Khaled Zabarqa said that the decision was
taken by Israeli Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked and that the ban can be
extended up to six months.
"This
is an arbitrary and illegal decision and is part of the political persecution
by the Israeli authorities against Sheikh Raed Salah," Zabarqa said.
He
added that Salah does not do any secret work and has the right to travel
anywhere he wants.
Salah
was released in December after 16 months in Israeli jails.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Iranian
FM: West’s Threats, Warnings No Endpoint to Vienna Talks
2022-February-14
"If
the American side and the three European countries [to the Vienna talks] are
serious about returning to fulfilling their obligations under the JCPOA, a good
agreement can be reached in a short term,"
Amir Abdollahian said in a joint press conference with his Irish
counterpart Simon Coveney in Tehran on Monday.
"We
look forward to reaching a good agreement, and we are confident that the
practical, positive and constructive proposals presented by the Islamic
Republic of Iran have paved the way for such an agreement to be reached
quickly," he added.
He
also noted that the Western parties must show their true intention to return to
their full commitments under the JCPOA instead of playing with text and time.
"We
are in a hurry to reach a good agreement, but within the framework of rational
negotiations and achieving the rights and interests of our people," the
Iranian minister said.
“Threats
and warnings of the other sides will not specify the endpoint of the
negotiations and the realities of the negotiating table and the seriousness and
efforts of the western sides and the US for reviving their undertakings will
specify the endpoint for negotiations or attainment of an agreement,” he
underlined.
Elsewhere
in his remarks, Amir Abdollahian pointed to the Irish Foreign Minister's
concern about Iran's peaceful nuclear program, saying, "Iran's nuclear
program is a completely peaceful program, and what created the main problem in
the implementation process of the 2015 agreement was the inaction of the
European side and the withdrawal of the American side from the JCPOA."
Coveney,
for his part, said that the Revival of the JCPOA can be in the interest of the
Iranian people, adding that the agreement in Vienna can pave the way for
further regional and international cooperation.
Ireland
wants to help all parties move the negotiations forward and bring them to
fruition, he added.
Stating
that he knows that Iran is outraged by the previous decisions of the US
government, Coveney expressed confidence in the will of the Western parties to
revive the JCPOA.
Earlier
today, Secretary Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani said
that if Washington makes a political decision to remove sanctions against Iran,
all speculations about the outcome of the Vienna talks will be removed.
“Vienna
Talks have reached a stage where outcome can be announced without speculation
and with certainty,” Shamkhani wrote on his twitter page on Monday.
"The
US political decision to realize or refuse to accept the requirements of a
credible and lasting deal based on the principles accepted in the JCPOA can
replace speculation", he added.
In
another tweet on Sunday night, Shamkhani had voiced displeasure that the
western parties participating in Vienna talks still continue their initiative
“show” to avoid acting upon undertakings.
Shamkhani
referred to his phone talks with Iran’s leade negotiator Ali Baqeri Kani, and
said, "Tonight's phone call with Bagheri Kani confirmed 2 statements in my
mind about Vienna Talks: 1. Increasing difficulty of Iranian negotiators task
to advance the logical and legal instructions of Tehran 2. Continuation of
initiative ‘show’ by Western parties to evade commitments."
Envoys
from Iran and the G4+1 group of countries — Britain, France, Russia, and China
plus Germany — have been holding negotiations in the Austrian capital for 10
months in a bid to resurrect the JCPOA.
The
eighth round of the talks resumed last Tuesday after a brief pause during which
the negotiators returned to their capitals for consultations.
Shamkhani
warned last Monday that the Vienna talks between Iran and the world powers may
not end up in a deal if the US remains adamant to removing all cruel sanctions
imposed on Tehran under the maximum pressure campaign.
"The
agenda for the Iranian negotiators to continue the eighth round of Vienna Talks
has been carefully defined. An agreement in which the sanctions that form the
maximum pressure are not lifted will condition the country's economy and cannot
be the basis of a good deal," Shamkhani wrote on his twitter page.
Reports
said earlier this month that the Biden administration has restored a nuclear
cooperation sanctions waiver to Iran, a senior State Department official said.
The
waiver, which was rescinded by the Trump administration in May 2020, had
allowed Russian, Chinese and European companies to carry out non-proliferation
work at Iranian nuclear sites.
The
move came as Iran has been requesting removal of economic sanctions.
Shamkhani
reacted to the news by saying that Iran has the right to a peaceful nuclear
program.
“Iran’s
legal right to continue research and development and to maintain its peaceful
nuclear capabilities and achievements, along with its security against
supported evils, cannot be restricted by any agreement,” he tweeted.
Iranian
senior analyst Seyed Mostafa Khoshcheshm also discredited the US move,
describing it as a deceitful measure aimed at prioritizing nuclear debates over
economic sanctions in the Vienna talks.
In
a reply tweet to a post left by Ulyanov who had welcomed the US waivers as a
step forward, Khoshcheshm said the US continues its game against Iran and its
recent move shouldn't be interpreted as softening tone.
Iranian
President Seyed Ebrahim Rayeesi said on Friday that his country pursues a balanced
foreign policy in relations with the world states, stressing that Iran's
progress does not depend on developments in New York or Vienna.
Source:
Fars News Agency
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Iran:
West Continues Initiative “Show” in Vienna Talks
2022-February-14
In
a post on his twitter page on Sunday night, Shamkhani referred to his phone
talks with Iran’s leade negotiator Ali Baqeri Kani, and said, "Tonight's
phone call with Bagheri Kani confirmed 2 statements in my mind about Vienna
Talks: 1. Increasing difficulty of Iranian negotiators task to advance the
logical and legal instructions of Tehran 2. Continuation of initiative ‘show’
by Western parties to evade commitments."
Envoys
from Iran and the G4+1 group of countries — Britain, France, Russia, and China
plus Germany — have been holding negotiations in the Austrian capital for 10
months in a bid to resurrect the JCPOA.
The
eighth round of the talks resumed last Tuesday after a brief pause during which
the negotiators returned to their capitals for consultations.
Shamkhani
warned last Monday that the Vienna talks between Iran and the world powers may
not end up in a deal if the US remains adamant to removing all cruel sanctions
imposed on Tehran under the maximum pressure campaign.
"The
agenda for the Iranian negotiators to continue the eighth round of Vienna Talks
has been carefully defined. An agreement in which the sanctions that form the
maximum pressure are not lifted will condition the country's economy and cannot
be the basis of a good deal," Shamkhani wrote on his twitter page.
Reports
said earlier this month that the Biden administration has restored a nuclear
cooperation sanctions waiver to Iran, a senior State Department official said.
The
waiver, which was rescinded by the Trump administration in May 2020, had
allowed Russian, Chinese and European companies to carry out non-proliferation
work at Iranian nuclear sites.
The
move came as Iran has been requesting removal of economic sanctions.
Shamkhani
reacted to the news by saying that Iran has the right to a peaceful nuclear
program.
“Iran’s
legal right to continue research and development and to maintain its peaceful
nuclear capabilities and achievements, along with its security against
supported evils, cannot be restricted by any agreement,” he tweeted.
Iranian
senior analyst Seyed Mostafa Khoshcheshm also discredited the US move,
describing it as a deceitful measure aimed at prioritizing nuclear debates over
economic sanctions in the Vienna talks.
In
a reply tweet to a post left by Ulyanov who had welcomed the US waivers as a
step forward, Khoshcheshm said the US continues its game against Iran and its
recent move shouldn't be interpreted as softening tone.
Iranian
President Seyed Ebrahim Rayeesi said on Friday that his country pursues a
balanced foreign policy in relations with the world states, stressing that
Iran's progress does not depend on developments in New York or Vienna.
"In
our foreign policy, we seek balanced relations with the world and attach
special importance to neighboring countries" Rayeesi said.
"We
pin hope on our people," he added, noting that "we never pin hope on
either New York or Vienna".
Source:
Fars News Agency
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Iran,
Pakistan Confer on Regional Security
2022-February-14
The
meeting was held between Iranian Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi and Pakistani
Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Monday.
The
two sides discussed bilateral relations between Iran and Pakistan, security
developments in the region, border cooperation and the situation in
Afghanistan.
Iranian
Envoy to Islamabad Seyed Mohammad Ali Hosseini, Commander of the Iranian Border
Guards General Ahmad Ali Goudarzi and the Iranian military attaché in Pakistan
colonel Mostafa Ghanbarpour, as well as some Pakistani military and security
officials, also attended the meeting.
Heading
a delegation, Ahmad Vahidi arrived in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad on
Monday.
Upon
his arrival, the Iranian minister met with his Pakistani counterpart Sheikh
Rasheed Ahmad.
In
a relevant development in January, high-ranking Iranian and Pakistani military
officials in a meeting conferred on ways to boost cooperation in maritime
security and joint operations.
General
Goudarzi and Director General of the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency Rear
Admiral Mirza Fawad Amin Beg held a meeting in the port city of Karachi.
Iran's
military attaché in Pakistan Colonel Mostafa Ghanbarpour and members of the
delegations of the two countries also attended the meeting.
During
the meeting, General Goudarzi called for a mechanism based on the principles of
equality and common interests, mutual respect, respect for border integrity,
jurisdiction and the establishment of a continuous framework for maritime
cooperation and exchange of information between two neighboring countries.
He
added that in the maritime cooperation the two countries should hold search and
rescue operations, actions against maritime crime and protection of the marine
environment and increase the fight against security breaches.
Source:
Fars News Agency
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.farsnews.ir/en/news/14001125000272/Iran-Pakisan-Cnfer-n-Reginal-Secriy
--------
Palestinian
detainees stage one-day hunger strike in Israel
Awad
al-Rujoub
14.02.2022
RAMALLAH,
Palestine
Palestinian
detainees in Israeli jails on Monday announced a one-day hunger strike in
protest of Israeli punitive measures against them.
The
Palestinian Prisoners Society (PPS) said in a statement that the strike was
launched to protest such measures, which includes the deprivation of visits by
detainees' families.
Tensions
have also arisen in Israeli jails for nine days after authorities reduced the
duration of yard time for the detainees, the statement added.
The
PPS also said Israeli authorities were imposing further restrictions on
detainees after the successful prison break of six Palestinians in September,
before later being recaptured.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Attacks
on Palestinian homes by Israeli police, settlers in East Jerusalem leave 31
injured
February
14, 2022
MOHAMMED
NAJIB
RAMALLAH:
Dozens of people were injured in violent clashes in East Jerusalem on Sunday
night as settlers continued their attempts to forcibly evict Palestinian
families from their homes.
For
the second day running, Israeli police took to the streets of the Sheikh Jarrah
neighborhood, closing streets and alleyways near to the home of Fatima Salem
and her family, and using water, cavalry teams, stun grenades and rubber
bullets to disperse the crowds.
The
attacks by settlers on Jerusalemites in the neighborhood continued into the
early hours, with groups throwing stones at houses, spraying pepper gas and
raising Israeli flags. Others roamed the streets provoking locals, singing and
dancing.
According
to the Palestinian Red Crescent, 31 people were injured after being hit by stun
grenades, rubber bullets and pepper gas. They included three paramedics, a
journalist and two foreign activists. Police arrested 11 Jerusalemites.
Tensions
in the neighborhood increased after Itamar Ben Gvir, an Israeli far-right
member of the Knesset, set up his office there in solidarity with the settlers
who are trying to seize Palestinian homes.
After
the provocation turned to violence, Israeli police and border guards — who were
deployed mostly to protect the settlers — joined in the attacks on Palestinian
citizens, which caused the conflict to escalate further.
Abdulfattah
Eskafi, one of the 28 homeowners in Sheikh Jarrah who have been under attack,
said the situation was getting worse.
“There
was an escalation in the settlers’ violence against us after they failed to
evacuate us as a group,” he told Arab News. “They are trying to single us out
and evict us house by house.”
He
described the events of Sunday night as a “street war,” adding that the Israeli
police had protected the settlers and attacked the Palestinians with “excessive
force.”
“They
want to take control of the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood, which they have no
right to, through every possible method,” Abdulfattah Eskafi said.
Palestinian
factions, including Fatah, Hamas and Islamic Jihad, threatened a violent
response if the attacks by settlers and the police continued.
Fatah
spokesperson Osama Al-Qawasma told Arab News: “Fatah demands its members and
our people to be present in Sheikh Jarrah to confront the settlers directly and
the occupation forces who seek to Judaize Sheikh Jarrah and expel the families
from their homes.
“We
are in the first trench, defending every inch of Palestine with all our
capabilities.”
Fatah
Central Committee Secretary-General Jibril Rajoub said that “Israeli terrorism”
was to blame for the ongoing tension in Sheikh Jarrah.
He
told Arab News that he condemned Israel's “ethnic cleansing of everything
related to Islam, Christianity and Arabism in occupied Jerusalem.”
Meanwhile,
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas spoke to Fatima Salem, whose home has been
under attack, over the phone to express his support for her and her family.
“We
stand with you heart and soul, and our hearts and minds are with you, and the
occupation will end soon,” he said.
Abbas
also praised the sacrifices of Jerusalemites and their steadfastness in the
face of the arbitrary measures of the Israeli occupation forces.
The
latest attacks on Palestinians have sparked fears of a repeat of the violent
conflict between Hamas and Israel that lasted for 11 days in May last year,
following similar provocation by settlers and supporters of Bin Gvir.
Abdulatif
Al-Qanou, a Hamas spokesperson, told Arab News: “The Sheikh Jarrah people are
not alone. Rather, the Palestinian resistance is ready to defend them, and it
is closely following this Israeli behavior.
“We
cannot allow the occupation to repeat the experience of displacement from the
neighborhoods and areas of occupied Jerusalem.”
The
Israeli government is trying to evacuate about 100 families from 28 properties
and give them to the settlers. About 100 people from 19 Jewish families
currently live in three houses in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood.
Source:
Arab News
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2024696/middle-east
--------
Africa
Muslim,
Christian leaders work together for peace in Mozambique
February
15, 2022
While
joint Mozambican, Rwandan and Southern African Development Community troops
battle Islamist insurgents in the northernmost Mozambican province of Cabo
Delgado, local religious leaders are organizing an ideological offensive with
the goal of opening new paths toward peace. Since 2017, an armed group whose
goals remain unclear has been attacking several districts in Cabo Delgado.
Its
violent acts include killing civilians — many times involving decapitation —
destroying entire villages and kidnappings.
Strategic
locations, including the city of Mocimboa da Praia, had been under the group’s
control for several months.
Between
2018 and 2019, the insurgents — known locally as Al-Shabab but not related to
the Somali group of the same name — began pledging alle-giance to Daesh.
Their
actions have caused the displacement of an estimated 850,000 people to the
province’s capital Pemba and to other southern districts. Large natural gas
exploitation near the town of Palma has had to be suspended.The crisis has led
many international organizations to deploy people and resources to offer relief
to those impacted.
At
the end of 2021, Muslim and Christian leaders gathered in Pemba to discuss how
religion could bring peace back to Cabo Delgado. The insurgents “don’t have
anything to do with Islam. They claim to be Muslim and have Muslim names, but
everything they do is contrary to Islam,” said Sheikh Aminuddin Muhammad, who
leads Mozambique’s Islamic Council. He emphasized that the insurgents have
attacked several imams and burned mosques since they be-gan to operate in Cabo
Delgado.
Source:
Pak Observer
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://pakobserver.net/muslim-christian-leaders-work-together-for-peace-in-mozambique/
--------
One
protester killed as thousands rally across Sudan against coup: Medics
14
February ,2022
At
least one protester was shot dead as security forces confronted crowds marching
in Khartoum on Monday demanding the release of prisoners and an end to military
rule, medics and a Reuters reporter said.
Elsewhere,
thousands returned to streets across Sudan, in some of the biggest
demonstrations in nearly a month against an October coup.
Across
the River Nile from Khartoum, officers fired teargas to try and disperse
thousands of people who approached the disused parliament buildings in Omdurman
and got close to a key bridge.
Columns
of smoke rose into the sky as demonstrators blocked one of the main streets in
Omdurman with stones. Some held giant pictures of protesters killed during
previous rallies.
“We
won't let the martyrs' killers seize our country. We won't let the military and
the (former regime) return again. We are a free and democratic generation,”
Sara Ahmed, a 19-year-old student, said.
At
least 80 have been killed by security forces since the coup, according to
medics.
The
military and police say they allow peaceful protest, that members of the
security forces have had to defend themselves, and that casualties are being
investigated.
In
Khartoum, separate groups of protesters demonstrated about 2km from the
presidential palace amid heavy security, witnesses said.
One
unidentified protester was killed by scattered gunshot, said the Central
Committee of Sudanese Doctors, a group aligned with the protest movement. There
was no immediate comment from the military leadership.
Pictures
of rallies in other towns and cities across Sudan were posted on social media.
In
recent days security forces have arrested three high-profile civilian figures
connected to a task force that was working to dismantle the regime of former
President Omar al-Bashir, who was toppled in an uprising in 2019.
Source:
Al Arabiya
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
--------
Libyan
crisis deepens as Tobruk-based parliament chooses new premier
Aydoğan
Kalabalık
15.02.2022
TRIPOLI,
Libya
The
crisis in Libya has deepened with the Tobruk-based House of Representatives
(HoR) parliament in the country's east choosing former Interior Minister Fathi
Bashagha as prime minister last Thursday, while current Prime Minister Abdul
Hamid Dbeibeh has vowed to continue in the post.
The
failure to hold discussions on the legitimacy of Libya's Government of National
Unity, originally scheduled on Dec. 24, has led to differences of opinion in
the west of the country as well.
Arriving
at Tripoli's Mitiga Airport late Thursday, Bashagha was greeted by a group of
supporters. No legal sanctions were imposed on him and he did not encounter any
obstacles.
Dbeibeh
on Friday went to Misrata, his and Bashagha’s hometown located east of Tripoli,
and held talks with local administrations and some military officials there.
Following
that, it was announced that a military force from Misrata would head toward
Tripoli on Saturday to bolster the legitimacy of the state and force the
parties to hold presidential and parliamentary elections.
Later,
a written statement from the 21 brigades in Misrata, reacted to the election of
Bashagha as prime minister. The statement said the HoR parliament acting alone
on the political and constitutional process is unacceptable.
On
Saturday, around 200 heavily armed military vehicles, including two Turkish-made
Kirpi, arrived in Tripoli from Misrata in the evening. A group that introduced
themselves as the "Libyan army support force" in Martyrs' Square
condemned the decision of the HoR parliament to elect Bashagha as the new prime
minister.
The
group denounced "the state of absurdity that contradicts the outcomes of
the political dialogue forum and wants the country to enter new transitional
stages."
Decisions
taken in the House of Representatives in its last meeting in Tobruk were not
"in accordance with fair and transparent procedures," it said.
It
voiced "strong support for parliamentary elections, the referendum on the
constitution, and presidential elections as soon as possible”.
Evaluation
from Libyan streets
Khaled
al-Mishri, president of the High Council of the State of Libya, said the
evaluation meeting, which should be held after the election of the new prime
minister, was postponed and they did not take a final position on the issue.
Al-Mishri said he would accept the objections in the next session of the
council.
Evaluations
from the Libyan streets indicate that if al-Mishri had also announced support
for Bashagha as prime minister, the Dbeibeh government would have fallen.
Following
the remarks of al-Mishri, Dbeibeh, who does not look kindly on the fact that
the elections will be held shortly, said he would change his stance and make a
statement on Feb. 17 on the elections coinciding with the anniversary of the
revolution.
The
HoR parliament had announced that Khaled Bibas, who was Bashagha’s only rival
in the elections, had withdrawn from the race.
However,
Bibas denied having withdrawn and accused Libyan parliament Speaker Aguila
Saleh of having lied by announcing his withdrawal.
Different
scenarios
Different
scenarios are emerging regarding the situation in the west of the country.
The
first scenario is that the Dbeibeh government will continue to work but
Bashagha also establishes a parallel government.
In
this case, the possibility of Bashagha forming the government in Sirte, the
hometown of ousted leader Muammar Gaddafi, to avoid the possibility of armed
conflict is being discussed because some names, especially those who supported
the eastern part of the country, had expressed their opinion about moving the
capital to Sirte.
The
possibility of Dbeibeh withdrawing from the race is also being discussed. But
it is considered a weak possibility. Dbeibeh is seen as the prime minister who
has served and invested the most in the country in a year since protests that
started in 2011. He has quite high popular support in the west of the country.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
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--------
Roadside
bomb kills 4 civilians in southern Somalia
Mohammed
Dhaysane
14.02.2022
MOGADISHU,
Somalia
At
least four civilians were killed after an auto-rickshaw they were traveling in
hit a roadside bomb in southern Somalia on Monday, a security official said.
The
security official in the Middle Shabelle region told Anadolu Agency over the
phone the bomb blast took place near the village of Hansholey on the outskirts
of Jowhar, the provincial capital of the Middle Shabelle region, adding the
road was frequented by Somali military personnel.
Al-Shabaab
terrorists frequently target the Somali military on the road, he said, adding
unarmed civilians also fall victims to roadside bombs planted by terrorists.
Somali
national television also reported that four civilians were killed after their
auto-rickshaw ran over an IED (improvised explosive device) planted by
terrorists near Hansholey village in the Jowhar district of the Middle Shabelle
region on Monday.
Though
no group has yet claimed responsibility for the roadside explosion,
al-Qaeda-affiliated terrorist group al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the
recent attacks in the region targeting the Somali military, local
administration officials, and Burundian peacekeepers serving under African
Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM).
Source:
Anadolu Agency
Please
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https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/roadside-bomb-kills-4-civilians-in-southern-somalia/2502281
--------
Jordan
condemns Israel's aggression in East Jerusalem
Laith
Al-Jnaidi
14.02.2022
AMMAN,
Jordan
Jordan
on Monday decried the Israeli aggression in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood in
occupied East Jerusalem, calling it a breach of international laws.
“The
eviction and deportation orders against the residents of Sheikh Jarrah
neighborhood in occupied East Jerusalem are a violation of international and
humanitarian laws,” Haitham Abu Al-Foul, spokesperson for the Jordanian Foreign
Ministry, said in a statement.
Abu
Al-Foul stressed that Israel as an occupying power is obligated to protect and
defend the Palestinians' rights in their homes, adding Israel's practices
deepen the occupation and undermine peace.
On
Sunday, at least 31 Palestinians in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood sustained
injuries and 12 others were detained when the Israeli forces attacked a rally
by the Palestinians who were protesting Israeli eviction orders against
Palestinian families.
Last
year, tensions ran high in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood after an Israeli
court ordered the eviction of several Palestinian families in favor of Israeli
settlers.
In
1956, 28 families settled in Sheikh Jarrah under an agreement between the
Jordanian government, which ruled the West Bank, including East Jerusalem,
before the Israeli occupation in 1967, and the UN Relief and Works Agency for
Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).
Source:
Anadolu Agency
Please
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https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/jordan-condemns-israels-aggression-in-east-jerusalem/2502276
--------
North America
US
military admits killing civilians in latest Syria raid amid rising criticism
13
February 2022
US
military officials have finally admitted that amid growing criticisms for
claiming without evidence that the target had detonated a bomb killing himself
and his entire family.
Laying
out a chronology of the raid, the officials – who spoke on condition of
anonymity -- also conceded that they cannot be certain about their initial
claim that the Daesh leader, Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi, detonated the
bomb that killed him and his family at his residence in the Syrian village of
Atmeh near the Turkish border, AP reported Friday.
They,
however, continue to claim – without evidence – that the explosive was set off
by him or someone else on the third floor of the building where he allegedly
lived.
Speaking
to a small group of reporters, two senior US military officials involved in the
planning or execution of the operation provided the most details to date on the
February 2 raid, still pushing back against local residents and other activist
groups insisting that the American operation killed as many as 13 people,
including civilians.
Sources
on the ground in the Syrian northwestern border town told media outlets that at
least 12 civilians were killed in the raid. UNICEF, the UN children’s agency,
also confirmed that six children were killed in the immediate area.
The
officials also revealed that the US, which wanted to capture al-Qurayshi alive,
had made plans to turn him over to another government. One official said the US
would have detained him temporarily, but there were no plans for a long-term US
detention.
They
declined to provide further details, saying they wanted to protect
“government-to-government” discussions.
Previously
the Pentagon and US President Joe Biden had insisted that al-Qurayshi blew up
himself, his wife and two children. The military officials again reiterated on
Thursday that they believe that is “the most likely scenario but have no
evidence to back that up,” according to the report.
The
latest, though still shadowy, explanations were offered after the Biden
administration and the Pentagon came under sharp criticism recently for failing
to provide evidence of a number of national security claims, including proof of
their efforts to avoid civilian casualties in operations such as the Syria
raid, their account of an alleged suicide bombing in Afghanistan in August, and
the persisting claims about a looming Russian invasion of Ukraine.
A
prominent CNN news anchor also blasted last week the Biden administration’s
recent suggestion that journalists who don’t trust their claims are siding with
terrorists or foreign powers, pointing out that the US government has a long
history of “lying to the American people.”
The
on-air criticism of the administration by Jake Tapper was prompted by two
separate incidents earlier this month in which White House and State Department
spokespersons clearly implied that journalists challenging the validity of
their official statements were siding with Washington’s enemies.
In
one incident, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki was challenged by a
reporter to offer evidence proving her claim that Daesh (ISIS) leader Abu
Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurashi had detonated himself with a suicide device
during a US raid in Syria.
“As
our troops approached to capture the terrorist, in a final act of desperate
cowardice, with no regard to the lives of his own family or others in the
building, he chose to blow himself up,” US President Joe Biden also claimed.
The
exchange between Psaki and the reporter onboard the presidential plane
coincided with a similar argument over the reliability of information provided
by the US government at the State Department, where Spokesman Ned Price claimed
that Russia was preparing to stage a ‘false flag’ attack as a pretext to invade
Ukraine.
“There’s
a long history in this country that long predates the existence of everybody at
this table…of the US Government lying to the American people,” Tapper
underlined during his news show early this month. “Lying for the right reasons
maybe, or because they had the wrong information or they’re backing their guys,
but it is our job to challenge.”
During
the show, CNN contributor Abby Phillip also cited US military’s drone strike in
Kabul last August -- in which the administration originally claimed that Daesh
terrorists were targeted but it was shortly proven that the strike had actually
killed only civilians -- as an example of why journalists should question the
government’s claims.
Meanwhile,
persisting questions about the administration’s credibility are coming at a
critical moment as it is revealing intelligence about Russia’s plans for
Ukraine, while often not providing evidence to back up its assertions.
Moreover,
an AP journalist as well as several village residents have also confirmed
seeing body parts scattered near the site of the US commando raid in Syria.
On
Thursday, according to the AP report, the military officials further
acknowledged they have no video of the house explosion in Syria or of the
efforts to get civilians out of the house.
US
Military officials also stated for the first time that individuals in the targeted
house shot at the troops before the Americans started to enter the building
after the explosion, the report noted.
A
Daesh member, described as a lieutenant of al-Qurayshi’s, and his wife were on
the second floor, with as many as five children. Officials said US forces
killed the militant and his wife in a gun battle. One was barricaded in a small
room and shooting from there; another fired while coming through the door.
Source:
Press TV
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--------
Iran,
militias it backs have increased threats against US troops in Syria: Pentagon
14
February ,2022
Iran
forces and militias backed by Tehran posed an increased threat to US troops in
Syria during the last quarter of 2021, a report from the Pentagon said.
Iran-aligned
militias also continued to pose a threat to US personnel in Iraq during the
quarter, according to the report, which describes US government activities in
support of Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR) in Iraq and Syria.
The
latest report, dated February 8, 2022, assessed activities and developments
between October 1, 2021 and December 31, 2021.
OIR
was initially formed in 2014 to defeat ISIS “while setting the conditions for
follow-on activities to increase regional stability.”
During
the most recent period, Iraq’s PM Mustafa al-Kadhimi survived an assassination
attempt, and attacks on US forces in Syria increased.
But
Sean O’Donnell, the acting inspector general, said the US would continue to
report on the status of OIR, “including the counter-ISIS mission, the effects
of malign actors on the mission, and US government efforts to address the
underlying factors that influence stability in Iraq and Syria.”
The
report cited an October 20, 2021 attack on Coalition forces at Al-Tanf in Syria
and at least two other attacks by Iran-backed militias on Coalition troops.
“The
[US Defense Intelligence] DIA reported that Iran-aligned forces continued to
support Syrian regime operations across Syria and continued to expand their
freedom of movement, particularly in eastern Syria, under the pretext of
conducting operations against ISIS,” the Pentagon’s report said.
Iran
is also looking to secure its transportation links from Iraq to Lebanon “and
expand its influence in the region.”
To
do so, Iran and groups it backs continued to foster ties with Arab tribal
communities in eastern Syria during the last quarter of 2021, the Pentagon
said.
The
DIA said Iran funds and trains local militias, including a “newly formed tribal
group in eastern Syria called the Hashemiyoon Brigade.”
Iraq
In
Iraq, Iran-backed militias continued to threaten US personnel despite “mostly”
pausing attacks during the quarter. This could have been due to their desire to
“manage escalation and evaluate US intentions” after the Pentagon ended its combat
role in Iraq on December 31.
An
adjustment of troop status was announced last summer after Kadhimi met with US
President Joe Biden. The former had come under increasing pressure from
pro-Iran groups over foreign troops inside Iraq. This was exacerbated by the
assassination of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani and the deputy chief of an
Iran-backed militia in Iraq.
Nevertheless,
the militias continued to call on supporters to help “evict the entire US
presence from Iraq” and threatened to target US aircraft.
The
Pentagon noted these militias’ access to portable air defense systems. “For
example, the DIA noted that a hybrid surface-to-air missile/ UAV system,
referred to as a 358, and which is capable of engaging US aircraft was
recovered near Tuz Khurmatu Airfield in Salah ad Din province this quarter,”
according to the report.
“The
DIA said that militia-affiliated media insinuated that the system’s discovery
was a warning for US forces. The 358 is an Iranian-made system.”
The
Pentagon said Iraq’s government is still facing difficulties “to assert
control” over Iran-backed militias in the country.
“Iran
and Iran-aligned militias continue to have strong ties to some elements of
Iraq’s traditional security forces,” the DIA said in the report.
Specifically,
Iraq’s Federal Police and Emergency Response Division and the Iraqi Army’s 5th
and 8th Divisions have the “greatest Iranian influence,” the report said.
“Officers sympathetic to Iranian or militia interests are scattered throughout
the security services.”
But
the DIA assessed that most police units remained committed to the Iraqi
government and continued to follow orders from the prime minister in his role
as commander-in-chief. This gave Iran-backed militias “limited ability” to
shape ISF decision-making.
“Rather,
Iran-aligned militias attempt to intimidate ISF units through information
campaigns used to threaten security forces to stay away from Coalition forces,
offset real-world weaknesses, and create false narratives in the case of
defeats,” the Pentagon said.
ISIS
ISIS
remained entrenched in Iraq and Syria during the quarter, O’Donnell said.
“Although
the United States’ partner forces in Iraq and Syria were able to conduct
successful operations against ISIS without Coalition involvement during the
quarter, they also continued to rely on Coalition support,” he noted.
The
report said that ISIS claimed responsibility for fewer attacks in Iraq and
Syria compared with the previous quarter.
But
it continued to exploit security gaps. The terrorist group’s senior leadership
was still based in Syria, but ISIS “maintained a larger presence and greater
capability in Iraq.”
Biden
announced this month an operation, which took out ISIS leader Abu Ibrahim
al-Quraishi in Syria.
Source:
Al Arabiya
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--------
Houthis
‘primary obstacle to peace efforts’ in Yemen: US special envoy
RAY
HANANIA
February
14, 2022
CHICAGO:
The Houthi militia has been the “primary obstacle to peace efforts” in Yemen,
US Special Envoy Timothy A. Lenderking told a conference in Washington DC
attended by Arab News on Monday.
Lenderking
was joined by Mohammad Al-Amrani, a member of the Yemeni government’s
negotiating team, who said the Houthis are not only backed by Iran but are
following its strategy of using negotiations as a means to force concessions
and make gains.
Lenderking
and Al-Amrani were the opening speakers at the conference hosted by the Center
for Conflict and Humanitarian Studies and the Arab Center Washington DC.
The
Houthis’ recent losses “should indicate to them and to all the parties that
there’s no military solution,” Lenderking said.
“We’ve
also seen the Houthis threaten to strike international commercial airports and
other targets in Abu Dhabi and Riyadh. This concerns the US and the
international community greatly,” he added.
“The
Houthis have pursued a dangerous pattern of increasingly obstructive and
aggressive actions against Yemenis, Yemen’s neighbors and the entire
international community, harming civilians and civilian infrastructure.”
Al-Amrani
said the Houthis have “obstructed” every attempt at peace talks held in Kuwait,
Geneva and Stockholm through “intransigence.”
The
Houthis are “creating a generation … that believes that death is the message of
life and that violence is the only solution to the Yemeni crisis,” he added.
“Iran
… is trying to create mayhem in the region through different militias ... This
is an issue. The affiliation of the Houthis to Iran is problematic.”
Al-Amrani
said in many instances when it appeared that the Houthis might engage in
constructive dialogue, the Iranians sent instructions to stop. The Houthis have
been “trying to avoid any binding agreements,” he said.
“The
peace process requires two parties that have the same determination to put an
end to the conflict.” The Houthis “haven’t been a party” to peace efforts,
Al-Amrani said.
Lenderking
said the US is committed to “helping improve Yemeni lives, creating the space
for Yemenis to collectively determine their own future and to advance a durable
resolution that ends the conflict in Yemen.
“We’re
not talking about a ceasefire here. We’re talking about ending the conflict and
getting Yemen back on its feet. This remains a top US foreign policy priority.”
He
added: “In terms of humanitarian assistance, the US has provided the people of
Yemen more than $4 billion since the crisis began more than seven years ago.”
Source:
Arab News
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original story:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2024636/middle-east
--------
Seizure
of Afghanistan assets example of US piracy: Analyst
13
February 2022
International
lawyer and political analyst Barry Grossman says the US move to block Afghan
assets is an illegal act and an example of what he calls American piracy.
US
President Joe Biden issued an executive order authorizing the release of half
of the $7 billion in frozen Afghan funds held in the US for humanitarian aid to
be made available for a possible payment to victims of the September 11
attacks.
A
massive demonstration in Afghanistan on Saturday condemned Biden’s seizure of
$3.5 billion in Afghan assets for families of America’s 9/11 victims.
The
protesters pointed out that Afghans had nothing to do with the September 11,
2001 terrorist attacks that killed about 3,000 Americans.
The
demonstrators who gathered in the Afghan capital of Kabul asked the US for
financial compensation for the hundreds of thousands of Afghans killed during
the 20-year-long US war and occupation of their country.
Source:
Press TV
Please
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https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2022/02/13/676755/Afghanistan-assets-block-US-piracy-
--------
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/terrorist-fatwa-awqaf-moderate-islam/d/126376