Turkish-American Jews Celebrate Hanukkah at Turkish House in New York For First Time
New Age Islam News Bureau
23 December 2022
19th-century menorah lit in Turkish House on fourth
night of Hanukkah: Photo/ aa.com
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• Muslim Countries Blast Taliban for University Ban
for Afghan Women
• Iran’s Clerical Leaders to Grapple with Deepening
Dissent In 2023
• "Mere Allah Burai Se Bachana Mujhko"
Prayer Gets UP Principal Suspended
• Govt to Protect Minorities Rights of All Religions
In Line With Quaid’s Teachings: PM
North America
• Top US military general warns Turkey against Syria
incursion
• US accuses Russia of using weapons from North Korea,
Iran in Ukraine in violation of UN resolutions
• Blinken congratulates Netanyahu, hopes to work on
shared ‘values’
• Bilawal ends US visit with call to help flood
victims
--------
South Asia
• ECW Calls on Afghan Authorities to Allow Girls to
Return to Education
• Nationwide Reactions to the Suspension of University
Education for Afghan Girls
• Afghan YouTuber Ajmal Haqiqi & his Colleagues
Gets Released
--------
Mideast
• Iran says arrested Mossad spies planning ‘terrorist’
attacks
• Taliban's Ban on Women at University against Islam:
Türkiye FM Çavuşoğlu
• Gaza Christians say travel curbs separate families
at Christmas
• Chile planning to open embassy in Palestinian
territories
• Netanyahu Regime under US Pressure to Contain
Far-Right Tactics in West Bank
• Turkiye: Sweden still has requirements to meet to
join NATO
• Israeli forces kill Palestinian young man in Kfar
Qassem
--------
India
• Claim of Puja at Gyanvapi Mosque Site Till 1993
Fictitious, Being Made To Bypass the Places of Worship Act, 1991, HC Told
• Gujarat:
Sadhu, Pundrik Maharaj, Booked For Offensive Remarks against Islam
• Concerned About Taliban Banning Women from
Universities: India
• Demolition Of Part Of Dargah Takes Political Colour
In Karnataka
• Drone shot down by BSF along India-Pakistan border
in Punjab
• IUML rejects reports of proximity to Left Front in
Kerala
--------
Pakistan
• In Visit to CMH, PM Vows To Extirpate Terror, Break
Terrorists Nexus
• One policeman martyred in suicide blast in
Islamabad’s I-10: police
• Kabul renews pledge to curb cross-border terrorism:
FO
• Three remanded in FIA custody over Bajwa data leak
• Bajaur peace body to march against terror incidents
• Christians playing commendable role in Pakistan’s
development, says Punjab governor
• Pakistan reiterates engagement with Afghanistan for
regional peace
------
Arab World
• Muslim World League Urges Afghan Government to Lift
University Ban For Women
• Foreign Ministers of UAE, Pakistan discuss
developments in Afghanistan
• Lebanon PM says sweeping reforms still needed
despite return to growth
• Saudi Arabia keen to accelerate joint activities
with Türkiye
• 3 Iraqi soldiers killed in attack in Kirkuk,
northern Iraq
• Two Iraqi soldiers killed in ambush blamed on extremists
• Arab citizen ambushes officers, shot dead: Israeli
police
• Saudi crown prince launches National Intellectual
Property Strategy
• Syria: UNSC must stop recurrent Israeli attacks,
remove blockade
--------
Europe
• Muslim Man Cremated As German Hospital Mixes Up Dead
Bodies
• Sweden Vows To 'Do Everything' To Implement NATO Deal
with Türkiye
• Spaniards' Interest in Türkiye Rises Sharply Due To Turkish
TV Series, Health Tourism
• Refugees stage hunger strike in Austrian province of
Styria
• Trauma of 'Bloody Christmas' still fresh in minds of
Turkish Cypriots
• France’s Emmnuel Macron urges Lebanon to ‘get rid’
of leaders blocking reforms
--------
Southeast Asia
• Kuala Lumpur Islamic Religious Council Donates
RM210, 000 to Malaysia Aids Foundation for Treatment for Asnaf HIV Patients
• PM Anwar: No more middlemen at Ramadan bazaars,
allocation of business lots
• Vice President opens 2nd ASEAN Islamic Conference in
Bali
• Islamic affairs minister meets Indonesian VP
--------
Africa
• Nigeria to Benefit from $10.54bn Islamic Bank Fund
for Agriculture
• Somalia military liberates strategic town from
al-Shabaab terror group: Official
• Türkiye donates agricultural equipment for farmers
in South Sudan
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/turkish-american-jews-hanukkah/d/128698
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Turkish-American Jews Celebrate Hanukkah at Turkish
House In New York For First Time
19th-century menorah lit in Turkish House on fourth
night of Hanukkah: Photo/ aa.com
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Betül Yürük
22.12.2022
NEW YORK
Turkish Jews in the US, also known as Sephardic Jews,
gathered at Turkish House in New York for the first time to celebrate Hanukkah,
the Festival of Light.
At a ceremony to celebrate Hanukkah hosted by the
Turkish Embassy in Washington, D.C. and the Turkish Consulate in New York,
members of the Jewish community lit a 19th-century menorah.
The 150-year old menorah, which now belongs to Jewish
collector Thomas Gelb, was recovered from a synagogue in Prague burnt down by
the Nazis during World War II.
Speaking at the ceremony, Turkish Ambassador to the US
Hasan Murat Mercan said that Turkish House is home to all Turkish Jews, their
friends and relatives.
''The Jewish community is an inseparable part of our
land, our community, whether they live in Türkiye or New York,'' he said.
''Türkiye has been home to different religions, different cultures, and all of
them helped with the cornerstone of our collective history...Our diversity
reflects our strength.''
Turkish Consul General in New York Reyhan Ozgur said
that today's gathering is another testament to the growing friendship between
the Turkish and Jewish peoples.
''The doors of Turkish House are always wide open to
our Jewish friends,'' he said. Today’s Hanukkah celebration is historic in the
sense that for the first time, menorah candles will be lit in Turkish House.''
He said that Sephardic Jews have become an integral
part of Turkish society, enriching its culture and economy.
Asaf Zamir, Consul General of Israel in New York,
thanked Türkiye for celebrating Hanukkah at Turkish House and for its
friendship.
''The fact that you decided to have this event this
evening is extremely important to us.'' he said.
The Chief Rabbi of Türkiye, Isak Haleva, also attended
the ceremony from Istanbul via video conference to wish Jews in the US a happy
Hanukkah.
Source: Anadolu Agency
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original story:
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Muslim Countries Blast Taliban for University Ban for
Afghan Women
Afghan female university
students, stopped by Taliban security personnel, stand next to a university in
Kabul, Dec. 21, 2022.
----
Akmal Dawi
December 22, 2022
From Saudi Arabia to Turkey, Muslim countries have
unanimously condemned the Afghan Taliban’s ban on higher education for women.
The Taliban announced Tuesday that they had banned
women from attending public and private universities. The Islamist leadership
closed secondary schools to girls more than a year ago.
Taliban officials have said their policies are based
on Islamic jurisprudence, a claim many majority Muslim countries and Islamic
scholars reject.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expresses the Kingdom
of Saudi Arabia’s astonishment and regret at the decision of the Afghan
caretaker government to deny Afghan girls the right to university education,
and calls on it to reverse this decision,” read a statement issued Tuesday.
The United Arab Emirates said the ban on university
attendance by women and “earlier bans on girls from accessing secondary
education violate fundamental human rights, contravene the teachings of Islam
and must be swiftly reversed.”
Turkey, Pakistan, Indonesia, Qatar and many other
governments across the Muslim world have made similar statements decrying the
Taliban’s ban on women’s work and education.
On Wednesday, the Organization for Islamic Cooperation
said, “The OIC, though still committed to its engagement policy with the de
facto administration, cannot but denounce the decision, calling on Kabul
authorities to reverse it for the sake of maintaining consistency between their
promises and actual decisions.”
No country or Islamic organization has backed the
Taliban’s policy on women’s education and work thus far.
On Thursday, U.S Secretary of State Antony Blinken
praised what he called a global chorus, including from Islamic countries, in
condemnation of the Taliban’s ban.
“There are going to be costs if this is not reversed,”
Blinken told reporters in Washington on Thursday but gave no details.
The ban, if not reversed, will damage Taliban’s
prospects of improved relations with the international community, Blinken said.
In a joint statement released Thursday, foreign
ministers of Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands,
Norway, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the U.S. decried the Taliban
ban.
“We urge the Taliban to immediately abandon the new
oppressive measures with respect to university education for women and girls and
to, without delay, reverse the existing decision to prohibit girls’ access to
secondary school,” the statement said.
Afghans inside and outside Afghanistan have also
widely condemned the Taliban policy.
Some male university lecturers have resigned to protest
the policy, while female students have protested outside university campuses in
different parts of Afghanistan.
Ashraf Ghani, the former Afghan president who escaped
the country as the Taliban seized power in August 2021, has called the denial
of higher education for women “a vivid sign of gender apartheid in the 21st
century.”
Taliban reasons
In an interview with the Taliban-run state broadcaster
of Afghanistan, the Islamist regime’s minister for higher education, Neda
Mohammad Nadeem, gave four reasons for the ban on higher education for women.
Dormitories where female students stayed without
qualified male chaperones, mixed-gender classes, women's studies of subjects
like engineering and agriculture, and overall poor compliance with female face
and body covering rules “forced the leadership to close the universities until
further instruction,” Nadeem said.
Nadeem did not say when, if ever, the ban would be
lifted.
“Allah will bring such a day when all schools and
universities will be opened for all. Do not despair. The country’s education
system will be organized, independent, advanced and free of all kinds of
corruption,” a Taliban official tweeted in the Pashto language on Thursday.
Taliban leaders have justified their gender
segregating governance as being in line with Islamic laws and teachings.
However, Afghanistan is the only Muslim country in the world where women are
not allowed to go to secondary schools and universities.
Human rights groups say the Taliban’s policies are
aimed at erasing women from public and political spheres in Afghanistan.
Despite being in control of all of Afghanistan for
over a year, the Taliban’s de facto government has failed to gain recognition
from any other country and most Taliban leaders are under terrorism-related
international sanctions.
Source: VOA News
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original story:
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Iran’s Clerical Leaders to Grapple with Deepening
Dissent In 2023
Photo: Reuters
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22 December, 2022
Nationwide protests sparked by the death in custody of
Iranian Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini have ushered Iran into a new era of deepening
crisis between the clerical leadership and society at large.
Amini’s family said she was beaten after being
arrested by the morality police on September 13 for violating the Islamic
Republic’s imposed dress code. Amini died three days later. Authorities have
blamed the 22-year-old’s death on preexisting medical problems.
Her death unleashed years of pent up grievances in
Iranian society, over issues ranging from tightening social and political
controls to economic misery and discrimination against ethnic minorities.
Facing their worst legitimacy crisis since the 1979
Islamic Revolution, Iran’s religious leaders have tried to portray the unrest
as breakaway uprisings by ethnic minorities threatening national unity rather
than its clerical rule.
Those efforts by authorities have been undermined by
solidarity between Iran’s different ethnic groups during the protests,
according to activists and rights groups, with protesters chanting slogans in
support of minorities.
Protesters from all walks of life have taken to the
streets, calling for the downfall of the Islamic Republic. Women have torn off
and burned the compulsory headscarves in fury.
Iran’s rulers have accused a coalition of “anarchists,
terrorists and foreign foes” of orchestrating the protests in which the
activist HRANA news agency said 506 protesters had been killed as of December
21, including 69 minors.
HRANA said 66 members of the security forces had also
been killed. Two protesters have been executed, drawing strong Western
condemnation, and thousands have been arrested.
Why it matters
The turmoil, with women and youth in the forefront,
poses a grave threat to the priority that has defined Supreme Leader Ayatollah
Ali Khamenei’s rule since 1989 - the survival of the Islamic Republic and its
religious establishment, at any cost.
However, the persistent unrest does not mean the
four-decade-old Islamic Republic will disappear any time soon given the power
wielded by its security apparatus. The protest movement is leaderless, a
challenge to forcing a new political order.
But the unrest has shown the establishment’s
vulnerability to popular anger, raising concerns among top leaders that a
misstep could mean more trouble ahead, even if current protests subside.
There is no guarantee greater force will end the
unrest, as so far the violent crackdown has only stoked more protests.
The clampdown on the protests and Iran’s suspected
transfer of drones and missiles to Russia to help Moscow in its war in Ukraine
have made Western leaders reluctant to push for the revival of a 2015 nuclear
pact that would provide Tehran billions of dollars worth of extra resources.
Alarmed by popular discontent, the clerical leaders
fear economic misery could alienate core supporters among middle and
lower-income Iranians should the nuclear deal remain on ice.
What does it mean for 2023?
The Islamic Republic will be engulfed by what analysts
call a “revolutionary process” that will likely fuel more protests into 2023,
with neither side backing down.
With Khamenei, 83, believing compromise on the
republic’s ideological pillars such as hijab would bring its collapse, the
establishment will double down on repression, resulting in more anger among the
85 million population, 70 percent of whom are under 30.
The question of who will eventually succeed him as
supreme leader, a role with vast power, may intensify jockeying among the
elite, potentially widening rifts in the establishment.
Four years of sanctions have not stopped Iran’s
expansion of its nuclear program or curtailed its support for proxies abroad.
But its domestic crisis will likely give Western powers more scope to increase
pressure on Tehran.
Explore the Reuters round-up of news stories that
dominated the year, and the outlook for 2023.
Source: Al Arabiya
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original story:
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"Mere Allah Burai Se Bachana Mujhko" Prayer
Gets UP Principal Suspended
A video had gone viral of
the students singing along to the prayer (Screengrab from video)
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December 23, 2022
Lucknow: The principal of a government-run school in
Uttar Pradesh's Bareilly district has been suspended by the state's education
department after right-wing groups reportedly complained to the police about a
prayer song sung by the children. The police have filed a case. No one has been
arrested yet.
The suspension came after a video clip of the children
singing a popular Urdu language prayer "Lab Pe Aati Hai Dua Banke Tamanna
Meri" in the morning assembly was widely circulated.
The clip shows the part where the children are heard
singing the lines "Mere Allah Burai Se Bachaana Mujhko".
The police said they filed the case because the prayer
is not part of the daily prayer schedule of government schools and has to do
"with a religion".
"The prayer was not part of the approved list and
pertained to a community," said a senior police officer of the area.
The education department said the principal has been
suspended on basis of initial information and they will conduct an inquiry into
the matter.
The song in question was penned in 1902 by Urdu poet
Mohammad Iqbal, who also wrote the famous lines "Sare Jahan Se Achcha
Hindustan Hamara".
In 2019, a headmaster in the state's Pilibhit district
was also suspended after the students were heard singing the song. Following a
complaint by the local unit of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, the authorities had
taken action.
At the time, reports said the Pilibhit District
Magistrate had claimed the headmaster was suspended because he was not making
the students sing the national anthem.
Last month, right-wing activists in Karnataka's Udupi
held protests against the authorities of a private school after the students
staged a performance of "Azan", the Muslim call to prayer at a sports
event. The Mother Teresa Memorial School at Shankaranarayana town had to
apologise after the activists confronted the school authorities.
Source: ND TV
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original story:
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Govt to Protect Minorities Rights of All Religions In
Line With Quaid’s Teachings: PM
Photo: Pakistan Today
----
December 23, 2022
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Thursday
assured that the government would protect the rights of people from all
religious minorities, including Christians, Sikhs, Hindus and Parsis, and
ensure a secure environment for them.
Speaking at a ceremony organized here to celebrate
Christmas, he said, “We want that Pakistan should move forward according to the
thinking and teachings of the Quaid-e-Azam and Allama Muhammad Iqbal, who
called for peace and brotherhood among all religions.”
He reminded that Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, in
his speech on August 11, 1947, gave a clear message about the equality of
rights of minorities.
Under the Constitution of Pakistan, people of all
religions in the country had equal constitutional and political rights, and
they were allowed to take part in all fields of life, he added.
Unfortunately, PM Shehbaz said due to extremism and
terrorism in the last decades, a number of incidents happened which was
unfortunate and weakened the protections given to the minorities who felt
threatened and vulnerable.
However, the Pakistani state succeeded in eradicating
terrorism and extremism, he said while referring to the latest incident in
Bannu where terrorists made people hostage but later they were killed by armed
forces. The personnel of armed forces embraced martyrdom during the incident,
he noted.
While felicitating the Christian community on
Christmas, he said, “We all share the happiness of the Christian community on
this auspicious occasion.”
He lauded the Christian community for its sacrifices
and services for the nation right from the start of the movement for the
independence of Pakistan.
People from all walks of life including teachers,
students, religious scholars, doctors, engineers and labour contributed to the
country’s freedom, he observed.
“We value from the core of our heart your services for
Pakistan. Your services for the progress and development of Pakistan will be
remembered in golden words. Justice Cornelius, Group Captain Cecil Chaudhry,
and Sister Ruth Pfau who was German and served the Pakistani nation for 55
years, were examples of service to Pakistan.”
He said the Christian community contributed immensely
in the fields of education and defence. “I myself got education in a missionary
school Sacred Heart”.
He said Hazrat Isa gave a message of peace,
brotherhood and love to the humanity. The Holy Quran mentioned Hazrat Isa and
Hazrat Maryam on numerous occasions, he said, adding all religions promoted
peace and brotherhood in the world.
“People from all religions across the world whether
Christians, Hindus, Sikhs, Parsis or Muslims wanted to live in peace and
harmony. Nobody should oppress and do injustice to others or violate rights of
others and change religion of each other by force. Islam nor any other religion
allow this.”
Islam ordered that rights of people of all religions
should be protected, he stressed.
He assured that as per demand of the religious
minorities a national minority commission would be formed after legislation in
the Parliament.
While speaking on the occasion, Minister for Religious
Affairs Mufti Abdul Shakoor said Islam taught that followers of all religions
should be treated equally. He felicitated the Christian community on the
occasion of Christmas.
The prime minister along with bishops and leaders of
the Christian community and other minorities also cut a Christmas cake at the
event.
Source: Pakistan Today
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original story:
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North America
Top US military general warns Turkey against Syria
incursion
22 December ,2022
The top US military general for the Middle East warned
Thursday that Turkey’s potential land operation into Syria could further
destabilize the entire region.
“I’m very, very concerned about that because that can
destabilize the region and call our SDF partners off of the [ISIS] prisons;
they have about 28 prisons across northern Syria,” CENTCOM head Gen. Erik
Kurilla said.
Turkey has been furious with Washington in recent
years as the US partners with the Syrian Democratic Forces to fight ISIS inside
of Syria and Iraq.
Turkish forces have also recently bombed Kurdish
targets in Syria and Iraq, attributing these attacks to a necessary response to
the November bomb attack in Istanbul. Turkey blamed a Kurdish militia for
carrying out the attack, which the Kurds vehemently denied.
But the Pentagon has said that uncoordinated military
actions threaten Iraq’s sovereignty and have repeatedly warned Ankara against
carrying out a land operation against the Kurds in Syria.
“It could cause them to pull off of those [prisons]
and put those at risk,” Kurilla told reporters in a phone briefing on Thursday.
He pointed to the January breakout of almost 4,000 ISIS detainees.
A Turkish invasion could also put the security at risk
of Al-Hol camp, Kurilla said. The camp is filled with ISIS sympathizers and
families. Estimates place the number of residents inside the camp at around
55,000, with approximately 90 percent being women and children.
Source: Al Arabiya
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US accuses Russia of using weapons from North Korea,
Iran in Ukraine in violation of UN resolutions
Betul Yuruk
22.12.2022
UNITED NATIONS
The US accused Russia on Thursday of using weapons in
Ukraine procured from North Korea and Iran – violations of UN Security Council
resolutions.
“The United States can confirm that the DPRK has
completed an initial arms delivery to the Russian private military company
known as Wagner, which paid for the equipment and currently has thousands of
troops deployed to Ukraine,” said American envoy to the UN, Linda
Thomas-Greenfield.
“Last month the DPRK delivered infantry rockets and
missiles into Russia for use by Wagner.”
She said it is “despicable” that Russia, a permanent
member of the Security Council, is using weapons from North Korea and Iran.
“Wagner’s purchase of weapons from the DPRK to wreak
destruction in Ukraine also contributes to instability on the Korean peninsula
by giving the DPRK funds it can use to further develop its prohibited weapons
of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs,” she said.
Thomas-Greenfield said the US intends to raise North
Korea's and Russia's violations in future meetings with the Council.
She renewed her call for the UN to send a team to
Ukraine to investigate Russia’s use of Iranian drones against Ukraine's
infrastructure.
Russia denies it used Iranian drones in Ukraine and
opposes any UN investigation.
Source: Anadolu Agency
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Blinken congratulates Netanyahu, hopes to work on
shared ‘values’
22 December ,2022
Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday
congratulated Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu on forming a government, which
includes far-right figures, and called for commitment to “values” including on
Palestinian rights.
“I want to say congratulations to Prime Minister
Netanyahu on announcing the formation of a new government,” Blinken told a news
conference.
Asked if President Joe Biden’s administration would
deal with extremists in the government, Blinken repeated that Washington would
“engage with and judge our partners in Israel on the basis of the policies they
pursue, not the personalities that happen to form a government.”
“We look forward to working with Israel to advance
both the interests and the values that have long been at the heart of our
relationship and also to promoting a broader approach to try to bring equal
measures of security, opportunity, prosperity and dignity to Israelis and
Palestinians alike,” Blinken said.
Blinken said that the United States has a history of
“very candid conversations” with Israel on disagreements due to the “rock-solid
partnership” and US commitment to the Jewish state’s security.
Netanyahu, who had testy relations with previous
Democratic president Barack Obama, announced the formation of a government to
bring him back to power just before a Wednesday deadline following Israel’s
fifth election in less than four years.
Source: Al Arabiya
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Bilawal ends US visit with call to help flood victims
Anwar Iqbal
December 23, 2022
WASHINGTON: Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari
concluded his week-long visit to the United States on Thursday with an appeal
to the international community to help Pakistan recover from the devastation of
floods.
His talks with senior US officials and lawmakers —
including Secretary of State Antony Blinken — also focused on Pakistan’s
rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts.
“The deputy secretary and the foreign minister
discussed Pakistan’s continuing efforts to recover from devastating floods and
noted the upcoming Jan 9 International Conference on Climate Resilient Pakistan
in Geneva,” said a statement issued on Wednesday afternoon after his meeting with
the US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy R. Sherman.
A day ago, Mr Bhutto-Zardari had a telephone
conversation with Secretary Blinken which also focused on the floods and the
UN-sponsored conference in Geneva. They did not have a face-to-face meeting.
The statement issued after his meeting with Ms Sherman
said that they “committed to strengthen counterterrorism cooperation between
the two nations.”
They also spoke about economic, energy, and
environmental cooperation.
The deputy secretary and the foreign minister also
discussed “the Taliban’s deplorable decision to further restrict women’s and
girls’ access to education as well as efforts to hold the Taliban to its
commitments regarding the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan,” the
statement added.
On Wednesday evening, the foreign minister had his
first, and only meeting with the Pakistani media on the trip to Washington, in
which he too spoke about the need to stay focused on rehabilitation and
reconstruction works, particularly in Sindh and Balochistan.
“No, I am not on a SOS plan,” said Mr Bhutto Zardari
when asked if he had come to Washington with an SOS message to save the
Pakistani economy from a possible collapse.
“We talked about not just the floods but also the
economic situation,” he said, adding the floods had caused “a historical
humanitarian crisis” in Pakistan as it inundated more than one-third of the
country.
“It is the right of the victims that we talk about
them first, but there was no SOS call,” he said.
The foreign minister said he reiterated this message
in his meetings with US officials, lawmakers, and think-tank scholars.
The Jan 9 meeting in Geneva, he said, will be the
first of many as Pakistan will soon do roadshows to highlight the issue.
“We also need support from international financial
organisations, like the World Bank,” he said.
The foreign minister pointed out the Ukraine war had
gravely impacted the international economy and Pakistan was facing the
consequences too. “That’s why it needed help from the international community,”
he added.
When asked to explain his earlier statement saying the
TTP was an “absolute red line” for Pakistan and it would not allow anyone to
conduct cross-border attacks into Pakistan, he said Pakistan will not declare
war on Afghanistan.
“But Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers must stop these
cross-border attacks.”
Mr Bhutto-Zardari said holding direct talks with the
TTP would not help because they did not listen to logic and soft persuasions
would not compel them to end violence.
“They will not become peaceful, chant Pakistan
Zindabad and lay down weapons” like this.
“Only a hammer and anvil approach, with Kabul’s
support, would work,” he said. But he did emphasise the need to engage the
Afghan Taliban.
“They are our neighbours. We need to talk to them and
stay engaged,” he said.
Commenting on the political situation, Mr
Bhutto-Zardari said former prime minister Imran Khan was seeking early
elections “because he still has his men in certain institutions.”
The foreign minister said Mr Khan wanted to use his assets
in those institutions to rig the elections “but we will not allow this.
Elections will be held on time.”
Source: Dawn
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.dawn.com/news/1727788/bilawal-ends-us-visit-with-call-to-help-flood-victims
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South Asia
ECW Calls on Afghan Authorities to Allow Girls to
Return to Education
By Nizamuddin Rezahi
December 23, 2022
Education Cannot Wait calls on Afghanistan’s interim
authorities to allow all girls to return to education.
ECW in a statement asked the Taliban authorities in
Kabul to revoke their decision to suspend the university education of Afghan
women. Education Cannot Wait (ECW) is the United Nations global, the
billion-dollar fund for education in emergencies and protracted crises.
Following the complete ban of university education for
Afghan girls announced by the acting minister of higher education of
Afghanistan’s interim regime, condemnations continue coming from governments
and international organizations one after another.
“Education Cannot Wait stands in solidarity with every
girl and woman in Afghanistan. Each one has an inherent human right to
education. We also stand in solidarity with every Afghan father, brother,
husband and son, suffering the pain of seeing their daughter, sister, wife and
mother brutally denied their right to an education,” the statement reads.
The statement further added, “education and knowledge
are cornerstones of the teachings of Islam, cornerstones of an enlightened
society, and cornerstones of peace, economic prosperity, and progress
everywhere. Girls and women who are guaranteed their human rights – especially
their right to seek knowledge – are the backbone of a greater society arising
out of war and poverty.”
The overwhelming criticism towards the Taliban’s
extremely harsh restrictions on girls’ university educations comes as girls’
secondary schools have been closed for the past year. Meanwhile, Afghan women
are barred from working at government organizations or attending public places.
Source: Khaama Press
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of the original story:
https://www.khaama.com/ecw-calls-on-afghan-authorities-to-allow-girls-to-return-to-education/
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Nationwide Reactions to the Suspension of University
Education for Afghan Girls
By Nizamuddin Rezahi
December 23, 2022
Dozens of female students, social activists and
teachers protested on Thursday in reaction to the ban on university education
of girls in different Kabul, Takhar and Nangarhar provinces of Afghanistan.
The suspension of university education for girls was
put in place the day right before the final exams, banning female students from
attending both private and public universities effective from December 21.
The suspension of universities for Afghan girls
received criticism and caused demonstrations in different parts of the country.
Some social activists and students came on the streets of Kabul calling for
“women’s access to education and work”. The protests will continue until their
demands are fulfilled. One protestor said. They also chanted “education for
all, or education no one”.
Furthermore, a number of male university lecturers at
Kabul University and other academic institutions resigned in protest against
the ban on women’s education, saying there is no reason for them to educate
boys while girls are being deprived of their very natural and fundamental human
rights.
“From the perspective of Islam, men and women have the
right to study, learn and educate. It means they have the right to study and
educate,” said Ahmad Rahman Alizada, a religious cleric.
Following the suspension of university education for
girls, the act drew mass criticism from foreign governments and the
international community including the United States of America, the United
Nations, and the United Kingdom. Different organizations called on the
Taliban’s de facto regime to revoke their decision and immediately allow women
to access education and work.
Source: Khaama Press
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Afghan YouTuber Ajmal Haqiqi & his Colleagues Gets
Released
By Nizamuddin Rezahi
December 22, 2022
Afghan YouTuber Ajmal Haqiqi and his three colleagues
arbitrarily arrested on charges of “insulting Islamic sacred values” were
released on Wednesday.
In a video circulating on social media, Haqiqi
confirmed his release and that of his three colleagues namely, Omid Aman,
Ghulam Sakhi, and Obidullah Majeedi. He says they spent nearly six months in
prison.
Haqiqi and his colleagues’ release comes right after
the release of two American nationals on Tuesday. Two American nationals along
with their Afghan colleague Faizullah Faizbaksh were arrested while they were
filming the scene of a U.S. drone strike that killed Al-Qaeda leader Ayman
al-Zawahiri earlier in August in Kabul.
The U.S. Department of States Spokesperson Ned Price
described it as a “good gesture” from the Taliban authorities, however, their
Afghan colleague, Faizullah Faizbaksh has not been released and no one knows
about his whereabouts.
Amnesty International, Committee to Protect
Journalists and other journalism advocacy organizations have repeatedly called
on Afghanistan’s de facto regime to immediately release journalists who have
been arbitrarily arrested.
Source: Khaama Press
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https://www.khaama.com/afghan-youtuber-ajmal-haqiqi-his-colleagues-gets-released/
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Mideast
Iran says arrested Mossad spies planning ‘terrorist’
attacks
22 December ,2022
Iran’s intelligence ministry said on Thursday it had
arrested a number of Mossad spies who were planning “terrorist” attacks in the
country, state media reported.
“Four operational teams of the Mossad were identified
and all their members were arrested,” the ministry said in a statement carried
by state media.
The ministry accused Israel of planning to carry out
“terrorist” attacks in Iran by “taking advantage of the riots” in the country,
but “all the terrorists were arrested before they could take any action.”
The statement did not specify the nationalities of
those arrested or give any further details.
The announcement comes amid anti-regime protests –
described by authorities as “riots” – which have swept across Iran since
September 16 when 22-year-old Iranian Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini died after her
arrest by the morality police in Tehran.
Since Amini’s death, demonstrators have been calling
for the downfall of the regime in a movement that has become one of the boldest
challenges to the Islamic Republic since its establishment in 1979.
Iran has blamed the unrest on foreign powers, namely
the US and Israel.
Source: Al Arabiya
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Taliban's Ban on Women at University against Islam:
Türkiye FM Çavuşoğlu
DEC 22, 2022
"The Taliban's decision to ban women from
universities in Afghanistan has no basis in Islam," said Foreign Minister
Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu on Thursday. "Their decision is a source of serious
concern," Çavuşoğlu added during a joint news conference with his Yemeni
counterpart in the capital Ankara, adding that Türkiye rejects this decision.
"This ban is neither Islamic nor humanistic.
Islam encourages education," he asserted.
Çavuşoğlu reiterated that Türkiye has, since the
beginning, defended engaging with the Taliban without officially recognizing
the group for the sake of stability while supporting education in Afghanistan.
"We asked them to be inclusive. On the other side, we conveyed to them
(Taliban) our thoughts on women's rights and girls' education."
Saying that there are around 1 million women eligible
for university education, Çavuşoğlu continued: "What kind of harm could
women's education have for humanity or for Afghanistan? What kind of benefit
does such a decision carry?"
A day earlier, the Turkish foreign ministry also
emphasized that education is a fundamental human right that all should benefit
from without discrimination on the basis of equality, and no one should be
deprived of it.
In a written statement, the ministry called on Afghan
authorities to review the decision and take necessary steps about it.
“The Taliban administration made a decision banning
female students from entering universities in Afghanistan. This is a decision
that goes against the spirit of Islam,” echoed Presidential Spokesperson
Ibrahim Kalın on Wednesday.
The Taliban regime's closure of universities for women
also sparked shock and anger in Afghanistan, where many were trying to process
how their lives had been upended.
Source: Daily Sabah
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Gaza Christians say travel curbs separate families at
Christmas
22 December ,2022
As pilgrims from around the world flock to Bethlehem,
Jerusalem, and Nazareth for Christmas, members of Gaza’s Christian community
wait to hear whether Israel will grant them a travel permit.
This year, Israeli authorities have approved travel
for nearly 600 Palestinian Christians in Gaza, according to COGAT, a unit in
Israel’s defense ministry that coordinates civilian issues with Palestinians.
But Palestinians say Israel’s permit allocations deny
many families a rare opportunity to leave the strip and travel together because
permits are not always granted to all family members.
“It is a tragedy when the mother or the father gets a
permit and not the children or the opposite. That means there is no travel and
there is no celebration,” Suhail Tarazi, director of Gaza’s Young Men’s
Christian Association (YMCA).
“Such suffering happens to many families and it is
repeated every year,” Tarazi told Reuters during a tree-lighting celebration in
Gaza City on Dec 10.
COGAT said the accusations were an “absolute lie” and
that it had denied about 200 applications from Christians this year on security
grounds.
Gaza’s 2.3 million population comprises an estimated
1,000 Christians, most of whom are Greek Orthodox who celebrate Christmas in
January.
Gaza is run by the Hamas group. Citing security
concerns, Israel restricts the movement of people and goods and maintains a
naval blockade of the densely-populated coastal strip, where unemployment and
poverty are high. Egypt also maintains some restrictions along its frontier
with the territory.
“I got a permit, but neither my wife nor my son did,
therefore, I won’t be able to travel and enjoy Christmas in Bethlehem, the
birthplace of Jesus,” Majed Tarazi said. He is not related to Suhail, the YMCA
director.
For journalist Samer Hanna, the situation is reversed.
He has been denied permits for the last 15 years on security grounds, while his
wife and two children can travel.
“They get upset when they go and I am not with them,
and if they stay here because of me, they still wish they could go to the West
Bank or Jerusalem,” Hanna said.
Even though Bethlehem is only a 90-minute drive away,
the travel ban has prevented him from reconnecting with extended family and
friends in the West Bank.
Source: Al Arabiya
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Chile planning to open embassy in Palestinian
territories
22 December ,2022
President Gabriel Boric of Chile, whose country has
the largest Palestinian population outside of the Middle East, said Wednesday
that he planned to open an embassy “in Palestine.”
The announcement by the leftist president, who began
his four-year term in March 2022, came at a Christmas ceremony for Chile’s
Palestinian community, estimated to be more than 300,000 strong.
“One of the decisions we have taken as a government, I
think we have not yet made it public... is that we will raise the level of our
official representation in Palestine,” Boric said. “We will open an embassy
under our government.”
Chile in 1998 opened a representative office to the
Palestinian Authority in Ramallah, and in 2011 recognized Palestine as a state
and supported its entrance to UNESCO.
Palestinians began immigrating to Chile in large
numbers during the 20th century, when the area was still part of the Ottoman
Empire.
Source: Al Arabiya
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Netanyahu regime under US pressure to contain
far-right tactics in West Bank
MOHAMMED NAJIB
December 22, 2022
RAMALLAH: Washington has informed Tel Aviv that it
will not grant entry visas to the US for Israeli security personnel or settlers
who engage in violence in the West Bank, according to Israeli sources.
The US also indicated it may reduce its military aid
to Israel, or may not grant annual guarantees for $33 billion in assistance for
the next 10 years, if used against Palestinians in the West Bank.
This development coincided with incoming Israeli Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announcing success in forming a new government.
Washington has sent warning messages to Netanyahu
through its ambassador to Israel, Tom Nides, in the wake of the success of
right-wing Israeli parties in elections in early November.
The US identified red lines that President Joe Biden
will not allow to be crossed, including Israel taking unilateral steps to
undermine the two-state solution, and changing the status quo of Al-Aqsa Mosque
in Jerusalem.
Israeli political analyst Yoni Ben Menachem told Arab
News that the Netanyahu government is obliged to abide by the US requests
because it needs weapons from Washington for military operations in Iran.
Netanyahu “will not enter into a confrontation with
Biden because he needs to obtain this American weapon, and he informed both
(coalition partners Itamar) Ben-Gvir and (Bezalel) Smotrich of this,” Ben
Menachem told Arab News.
The analyst indicated that Biden does not want a
confrontation with Netanyahu as it would strengthen extremists in the incoming
government, undermine the Palestinian Authority and the two-state solution
Palestinian political analyst Ghassan Al-Khatib told
Arab News that the composition of the new Israeli government constituted a
challenge and embarrassment to the Biden administration.
He said the president would pressure Netanyahu to curb
those far-right elements in his coalition, which, Al-Khatib said, would also be
in the interests of the new prime minister, so as to lessen their influence
over him.
Netanyahu has for some time pursued a strategy of
exaggerating the Iranian threat to the region in order to entice more Arab
countries to normalize relations with Israel and to obtain advanced American
weapons, as well as using that threat domestically to imply an existential
threat against Israel.
But he is struggling to promote the idea whilst
simultaneously claiming the Palestinian Authority poses an equally existential
threat.
The PA, meanwhile, may benefit from US pressure on
Israel and the presence of extreme right-wing elements in government to
revitalize its own efforts to improve relations with international
organizations and European countries.
In another development, Palestinians sources say the
Jewish shrine of Joseph’s Tomb, located in the center of Nablus beside the
Balata refugee camp, has become a hotbed of tension and violence.
The frequent storming of the site by dozens of
religious settlers, protected by the Israel Defense Force, often leads to
stone-thowing or armed confrontations between Palestinians, settlers and the
IDF.
The number of Palestinians killed at the site since
the beginning of the year is estimated at 20, the latest of whom was soccer
player Ahmed Daraghmeh, who died on Wednesday night in an incident that saw 22
others injured when Palestinian militants exchanged fire with Israeli troops
escorting Jewish worshippers to the tomb in the Palestinian city.
Palestinian sources say incursions increased after
Netanyahu and his allies performed well in the polls in November, and that
settlers stoke tensions by posting photos and videos upon their arrival at the
shrine on social media.
A high-ranking Palestinian security officer in Nablus,
who preferred not to be named, told Arab News that the IDF and settlers’
repeated incursions into the area often occurred without prior official
coordination with the Palestinian security services, instead making
announcements in advance through Israeli social media and official settler
webpages.
Loud music, dancing, screaming and partying are common
when they arrive, said the Palestinian
officer, adding that settlers often set up tables laden with food at the
shrine. “This is a provocative act, not a prayer,” he added.
The official said that before, visits were limited to
once a month during daylight hours, when Palestinians in the area tended to be
at work or school, but that they now take place more often and usually at
night, with increasingly provocative, far-right overtones.
The visits cause an increase in the security burden
and widespread embarrassment for the Palestinian security services, as every
visit to the shrine ends with violence and, increasingly, the killing and
wounding of Palestinians.
“Palestinian citizens are wondering where the
Palestinian security is to protect us from the oppression of the army and the
storming settlers. But, according to the agreements with the Israeli side, we
cannot engage in armed clashes with the Israeli army, which harms the image and
prestige of the Palestinian security forces in the eyes of its people,” the
source told Arab News.
He described the shrine as having become one of the
most bloody and tense points between the Palestinians, the IDF and the Israeli
settlers in the West Bank, second only to Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Palestinian police guard the tomb around the clock,
but withdraw when the IDF and settlers arrive to visit the site.
Source: Arab News
Please click the following URL to read the full text
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2220486/middle-east
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Turkiye: Sweden still has requirements to meet to join
NATO
December 22, 2022
ANKARA: Turkiye appreciates Sweden’s steps so far to
to get approval to join NATO but is not even “halfway” through fulfilling a
list of commitments it made to secure Ankara’s support, the Turkish foreign
minister said Thursday.
Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said a Swedish
court’s decision not to extradite a man wanted by Turkiye for alleged links to
a 2016 failed coup had “poisoned” a positive atmosphere in negotiations on
Sweden’s membership in the military alliance.
Sweden and Finland dropped their longstanding policies
of military nonalignment this year and decided to apply to join NATO following
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The move requires the unanimous approval of the
alliance’s current 30 members.
Turkiye has held up the process while pressing the two
Nordic countries to crack down on groups it considers to be terrorist
organizations and to extradite people suspected of terror-related crimes.
The parliaments of 28 NATO countries have already
ratified Sweden and Finland’s membership. Turkiye and Hungary are the only
members that haven’t yet given their approval.
Speaking at a joint news conference with Swedish
Foreign Minister Tobias Billström, Cavusoglu said the Turkish government still
was waiting for a “concrete development” on extraditions and asset freezes.
“There is a document, it needs to be implemented.
We’re not even at the halfway point yet. We’re at the beginning,” he said,
referring to a memorandum which Turkiye, Sweden and Finland signed in June.
Under the memorandum, the two countries agreed to
address Turkiye’s security concerns, including requests for the deportation and
extradition of Kurdish militants and people linked to a network run by US-based
Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen. The Turkish government accuses Gulen of
masterminding the 2016 coup attempt, which he denies.
Billström’s visit came days after Sweden’s top court
refused to extradite journalist Bulent Kenes, whom Turkiye accuses of being
among the coup plotters. Kenes, who received asylum in Sweden, was the editor
of the English-language Today’s Zaman newspaper, which was owned by the Gulen
network and the government closed down as part of its crackdown on the group.
“The negotiations (between Turkiye and Sweden) were continuing
in a constructive way,” Cavusoglu said. “But this last (incident), the
rejection of Kenes’ extradition, unfortunately, seriously poisoned this
atmosphere.”
Billström reiterated that Sweden was determined to
fulfill its commitments and said Stockholm was in the process of strengthening
its anti-terrorism legislation.
A constitutional amendment will enter into force on
Jan. 1 that restricts the freedom of association of groups that engage in or
support terrorism and targets the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, he
said.
The Swedish government also plans to introduce
legislation that further impedes people taking part in the activities of
terrorist groups, Billström said.
Source: Arab News
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2220501/middle-east
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Israeli forces kill Palestinian young man in Kfar
Qassem
23 December 2022
Israeli occupation forces have killed a Palestinian
young man from the city of Kafr Qassem as unchecked crimes against Palestinians
rage on in the deadliest year in the occupied territories since 2005.
23-year old Mahmoud Naim Badir was killed as the
Israeli forces claimed he was carrying out an alleged shooting and ramming
attack, injuring two occupation forces.
The Israeli forces said the suspect phoned in a false
report of a violent incident in Kafr Qassem – northeast of the city of Tel Aviv
in the occupied territories - to draw first responders and then opened fire
when they arrived.
It was not immediately clear what the allegations
against the suspect were based upon.
However, the family of the slain Palestinian man said
"the Israeli forces killed our son Naim Badir in cold blood, and the
Israeli story on our son carrying out an attack on Israeli forces is a false
claim.”
Naim’s family went on to say that "the police,
after killing our son, stormed the house and destroyed it completely in front
of children, who screamed, cried, and were terrified by the Israeli violent
behavior."
Earlier in November, Israeli forces shot dead a young
Palestinian man in Ariel settlement in the West Bank city of Salfit, after he
allegedly killed three settlers in a stabbing and car ramming attack.
Israeli occupation forces and settlers have been
escalating their attacks against Palestinian civilians in the West Bank and
other occupied areas, in an attempt to forcibly expel Palestinians from their
lands and make way for expanding illegal Israeli settlements.
Since the start of 2022, Israeli troops have killed
more than 220 Palestinians, including more than 50 children, in the occupied
West Bank and East al-Quds as well as in the besieged Gaza Strip.
Source: Press TV
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India
Claim
of Puja at Gyanvapi Mosque Site Till 1993 Fictitious, Being Made To Bypass the
Places of Worship Act, 1991, HC Told
December
23, 2022
Lawyers
representing the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee (AIMC) on Thursday told the
Allahabad High Court that the claims made by the lawyers representing the Hindu
side that puja was performed at the Gyanvapi mosque complex till 1993 were
“fictitious”.
Senior
Advocate Syed Farman Ahmad Naqvi, who represented the AIMC in the High Court,
said that the claims were being made to bypass the Places of Worship Act, 1991.
The
Act prohibits conversion of any place of worship and provides for the
maintenance of the religious character of any place of worship as it existed on
August 15, 1947.
Naqvi
told the court that the Hindu side made a “fictitious claim” that puja was
performed at the mosque complex till 1993 and that it was stopped by an “oral
order”. The court was hearing a civil revision filed by the AIMC, challenging
the maintainability of the suit filed by five Hindu women who are seeking the
right to “worship deities in the Gyanvapi mosque complex”. A local court in
Varanasi on September 12 rejected the AIMC’s application challenging the
maintainability of the suit.
“The
first thing we told the court was that the suit filed by the Hindu side is not
maintainable because there is no cause of action. The cause of action is of
1993 – when the Hindu side says that puja was stopped at the site by the then
government. And as per provisions of the Limitation Act, the limitation for
seeking a decree of declaration is three years. And that has passed as it ended
in 1996. They didn’t seek any relief and didn’t file a suit within that
period,” Naqvi said.
“I
also told the court that the claim of the Hindu side that puja was stopped by
the state government through an oral order in 1993 is a fictitious claim to
bypass the Places of Worship Act. The state government never passes any oral
orders. It should be in writing. It is unheard of a government order given
orally. Also, the state government is not coming ahead with anything to
substantiate the claim before the High Court or other courts. It is an
artificial date given by the Hindu side to bypass the Places of Worship Act
which says that the nature of a religious place shall remain the same as it was
in 1947,” Naqvi added.
Advocate
Hari Shankar Jain, who is representing the five women in the High Court, said,
“I told the court that the religious character of the place is Hindu and not of
the Muslims, and the puja was being performed at the site for ages. The temple
was destroyed and a structure was built. If someone destroys a temple and
builds a mosque, it can’t be considered a mosque as per Islamic laws. The property
doesn’t have a Waqf deed.”
Asked
about the Muslim side’s contention regarding the state government giving an
order to allegedly stop puja at the site, Jain said, “That is a presumption. It
will become clear when the government files a reply in the court.”
Source:
Indian Express
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Gujarat:
Sadhu, Pundrik Maharaj, Booked For Offensive Remarks against Islam
22nd
December 2022
Ahmedabad:
South Gujarat’s Navsari town police have booked a ‘sadhu’ and local news
channel journalist for “deliberately” hurting religious sentiments.
Complainant
Sajid Alam Alad has alleged that Sadhu’s statement can create enmity among
communities. “A video clip is in circulation on the social media, in which
sadhu Pundrik Maharaj is making derogatory remarks against Islam and Muslims…
in his statement, he attempted to diminish prophet Mohammad and create enmity
between two communities. Sadhu’s statement has hurt Muslims in the Navsari
town,” Alad stated in his complaint.
The
complainant said that the sadhu in an interview to a local news channel has
made this (controversial) statement, which is uploaded on social media.
Source:
Siasat Daily
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of the original story:
https://www.siasat.com/gujarat-sadhu-booked-for-ofensive-remarks-against-islam-2485936/
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Concerned
about Taliban banning women from universities: India
Dec
23, 2022
NEW
DELHI: India expressed concern over the Taliban ban on university education for
women in Afghanistan saying it has consistently supported the cause of female
education in the country. The government also reiterated the importance of the
establishment of an inclusive and representative government that respects the
rights of all.
"We
have noted with concern the reports in this regard. India has consistently
supported the cause of female education in Afghanistan. We have emphasised the
importance of the establishment of an inclusive and representative government
that respects the rights of all Afghans and ensures the equal rights of women
and girls to participate in all aspects of Afghan society, including access to
higher education," said the ministry of external affairs spokesperson.
"I
would also recall UN Security Council Resolution 2593, which reaffirms the
importance of upholding human rights including those of women and also calls
for full, equal and meaningful participation of women," he added.
Several
countries, including the US, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan and the
United Kingdom, have strongly condemned the Taliban's decisions to ban women
from universities.
Source:
Times Of India
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Demolition
of part of dargah takes political colour in Karnataka
21st
December 2022
Dharwad:
The demolition of a part of a dargah at Bhairidevarakoppa in Dharwad city of
Karnataka following court orders has taken a political turn.
Crying
foul, Opposition Congress has alleged that the action is being taken keeping
upcoming assembly polls in mind.
The
demolition task was taken up in the wee hours of Wednesday with heavy police
security cover considering the sensitivity of the issue.
M.M.
Hindasageri, former minister and senior Congress leader stated that ruling BJP
has hurt religious feelings of people and damaged the historical heritage of
the dargah.
“The
government is claiming that the dargah is cleared as it hinders BRTS (Bus Rapid
Transport System) project. But, in spite of the BRTS project being completed,
there is a conspiracy to vacate the dargah intentionally. This is condemnable,”
he said.
Hindasageri
further stated that twin cities Hubballi and Dharwad are known for harmony.
“Ruling BJP is carrying out politics of hate on this sacred land. The decision
to vacate dargah to get mileage is not tenable. BJP should stop hurting
religious feelings of one community,” he added.
Muslim
leader Altaf Hallur maintained that vacating of dargah at Bhairidevarakoppa is
undertaken to divide Hindus and Muslims. It is a part of hidden agenda by BJP
to get to power by hook or crook.
“The
BRTS corridor has 36 meter width from Dharwad to Hubballi. But, only near the
dargah, it has been marked for 44 metres. There is conspiracy to save the
showroom owned by BJP MLA Arvind Bellad,” he alleged.
Prasad
Abbaiah, MLA for Hubballi-Dharwad East station maintained that the BJP
government is hurting the sentiments of people. The Muslims have attached their
religious feelings here. By vacating dargah, BJP is pursuing divide and rule
policy.
“The
dargah could have been saved. But, BJP is intentionally getting it removed,” he
added.
BRTS
had acquired the land, where dargah is situated, for the project. The
management of dargah had obtained a stay order in 2016.
Source:
Siasat Daily
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of the original story:
https://www.siasat.com/demolition-of-part-of-dargah-takes-political-colour-in-karnataka-2485224/
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Drone
shot down by BSF along India-Pakistan border in Punjab
Dec
22, 2022
NEW
DELHI/AMRITSAR: A drone that entered into India from Pakistan has been shot
down near the international border in Punjab by the Border Security Force
(BSF), an officer said Thursday.
The
unmanned aerial vehicle was downed by firing at 8 pm on Wednesday near the
Harbhajan border post in the Ferozepur sector of Tarn Taran district.
BSF
troops fired "heavily" taking aim of the drone. It was was recovered
lying in a farmland on Thursday morning when a search of the area was
conducted, a BSF spokesperson said.
Source:
Times Of India
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the original story:
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IUML
rejects reports of proximity to Left Front in Kerala
Dec
23, 2022
The
Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) on Thursday rejected speculations that it is
coming closer to the left camp and said it will remain an integral part of the
Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF).
Talking
to newsmen in Malappuram, senior leader P K Kunhalikutty said the League has no
history to hopping from one front to another and termed discussions in this
regard baseless.
“We
are not a political party that moves from one front to another overnight, like
one changes shirt. People who know the history of League will not believe in
such speculations or theories,” he said adding the party will remain an
integral part of the UDF.
Of
late many CPI(M) leaders were too soft towards the League and the party state
secretary M V Govindan even said League was not a communal outfit and praised
its role. Earlier the party always considered it a communal outfit. Chief
Minister Pinarayi Vijayan also welcomed the League’s position on a number of
issues including the one against Governor Arif Mohammad Khan. The League openly
supported the move to remove the Governor from the chancellor post. Later the
ruling CPI(M) extended olive branch to the party several times.
“Leaders
usually make different statements on different occasions and you cannot
interpret them as political positioning or standing. We see left leaders’
statements like this,” said Kunhalikutty. He said party leader Abdul Wahab’s
speech in Rajya Sabha praising the central ministers was a closed issue since
he explained his position to the party state president.
Source:
Hindustan Times
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Pakistan
In
visit to CMH, PM vows to extirpate terror, break terrorists nexus
December
22, 2022
RAWALPINDI:
Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday visited Combined Military
Hospital (CMH) where he met officers and soldiers injured in an operation
against in the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) complex in Bannu.
According
to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the prime minister visited Combined
Military Hospital (CMH) in Rawalpindi where he enquired after the health of
injured soldiers. On the occasion, the prime minister paid tribute to the
courage and valour of troops who cleared CTD complex in Bannu, seized by
militants.
Speaking
on the occasion, PM Shehbaz reiterated the resolve to extirpate terrorism and
break the nexus between terrorists, their supporters and sympathizers till
achieving peace and stability.
The
Prime Minister said writ of the state will be established at every cost and no
one will be allowed to disrupt the hard earned gains of war on terror achieved
through unparalleled sacrifices of the nation and the valiant armed Forces.
Paying
tribute to the troops, PM Shehbaz added that the martyrs and their families
have rendered supreme sacrifices for ensuring safety and security of people of
the country.
Defence
Minister meets injured officers, soldiers
Meanwhile,
Minister for Defence Khawaja Asif on Thursday met injured officers and soldiers
at CMH who got injured during Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) complex Bannu
Operation.
According
to the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) news release, the Defence
Minister paid tribute to courage and valour of troops who cleared CTD complex
Bannu.
A
day earlier, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir visited Combined
Military Hospital (CMH) in Rawalpindi and met officers and soldiers who got
injured during Bannu operation.
According
to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), COAS Asim Munir remained with
them for some time and inquired about their well-being.
Source: Pakistan Today
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
--------
One
policeman martyred in suicide blast in Islamabad’s I-10: police
December
23, 2022
A
policeman was martyred and at least six people — including four police officers
and two civilians — were injured in a suicide blast in Islamabad’s I-10/4
sector on Friday, police officials said.
Television
footage showed the fiery wreckage of a vehicle with a large number of police
personnel at the scene.
According
to Deputy Inspector General of Police Sohail Zafar Chattha, the police spotted
a “suspicious vehicle” with a man and a woman aboard at 10:15am in the area.
“When
the police stopped the vehicle, the couple came out of the car. The long-haired
man, while being checked by the officers, went inside the vehicle on some
pretext and then detonated himself,” he said in a media briefing at the crime
scene alongside Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Irfan Nawaz Memon.
Chattha
said a police officer of the Eagle Squad was martyred in the blast while four
others officers were injured. He lauded the police for “saving Islamabad from a
major foul play”.
Separately,
in an interview with Geo News, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah confirmed that
“two terrorists were killed in the blast”.
“The
vehicle used in the blast was registered in Chakwal. It entered Islamabad from
Rawalpindi,” he said, adding that the police saved the capital from a huge
tragedy today.
Meanwhile,
the joint executive director of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences
(Pims), Dr Iqbal Durrani, told Dawn.com that two bodies and five injured
policemen had been brought to the hospital.
Earlier
in a tweet, the Islamabad police identified the slain officer as Head Constable
Adeel Hussain. It said that terrorists had been targeting police for some time
to demoralise law enforcement personnel.
In
another tweet, the police said that diversions had been placed for both sides
of traffic at Service Road East of Sector I-10/4. It advised citizens to use
Service Road West of Sector I-10/4 as an alternate and stay away from the blast
site.
Red
alert issued
Immediately
after the blast was reported, the Islamabad inspector-general issued orders for
a “security red alert” across the city.
In
a tweet, the police said that strict action will be taken against vehicles with
“non-specimen” number plates, adding that no one will be allowed to carry arms.
It
also advised residents to carry documents of identification while travelling.
A
day ago, Islamabad police issued a statement, saying its Eagle Squad had checked
2,024 suspicious persons, motorcycles, and vehicles as part of a security
measure, especially in the aftermath of a new wave of terrorism in Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
Condemnations
Foreign
Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari condemned the blast and expressed grief over
the martyrdom of the policeman.
In
a statement issued after the blast, he paid tribute to the “brave men of
Islamabad police”.
Information
Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said that Islamabad was secured from a “big
disaster” today. “ Adeel Hussain and the injured comrades who sacrifice their
lives in the line of duty are heroes of the nation.“
She
tweeted that Pakistan’s salvation and prosperity lay only in freedom from
terrorism.
PTI
leader Asad Umar said the presence of a “suicide bomber” in Islamabad signified
that the country was moving towards destruction at a rapid pace.
“Terrorism
is already spreading rapidly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the economy and public
order have been destroyed — in which direction are they leading the country in
their greed for power?” he tweeted.
Condemning
the blast, Awami National Party leader Asfandyar Ali Khan said the seriousness
of the situation could be gauged from the fact that “terrorists have reached
Islamabad”.
In
a tweet, the ANP leader said rulers and law enforcers must take stock of the
situation and adopt measures accordingly.
“Terrorists
had been organising here [in Islamabad] for the last 3 years, and now even the
capital is not safe,” he claimed, adding that the situation could get worse if
the counter-terrorism measures planned after the APS attack were not
implemented.
Source:
Dawn
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.dawn.com/news/1727851/one-policeman-martyred-in-suicide-blast-in-islamabads-i-10-police
--------
Kabul renews pledge to curb cross-border terrorism: FO
Baqir
Sajjad Syed
December
23, 2022
ISLAMABAD:
The Foreign Office on Thursday said Afghanistan’s de facto government has
renewed its commitment to rein in cross-border terrorism and hoped that the
Taliban administration would live up to its pledge.
“We
have received some assurances and have held some important consultations with
the Afghan authorities. We hope that the Afghan interim government will fulfil
the commitments that it has made to Pakistan in terms of security,” FO
spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said at the weekly media briefing.
The
remarks, made in response to media questions, come against the backdrop of
spate of recent terrorism incidents in the country, believed to have been
planned and directed by the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) leaders
based in Afghanistan, including the incident at the Counter-Terrorism
Department’s interrogation facility in Bannu.
“We
have certain mechanisms with Afghanistan in which we engage to discuss these
issues. We will continue to engage with them to ensure that the Afghan
authorities fulfil the commitments that they have made to Pakistan that Afghan
territory will not be used to destabilise or to threaten Pakistan’s
security,” she said.
Bannu
stand-off underscored Pakistan’s resurgent terrorism problem. The TTP, which
has ideological linkages with the Afghan Taliban, has executed around 115
attacks so far this year, most of which happened after August this year when
the group’s peace talks with the Pakistan government began to falter. The
ceasefire was formally ended last month by the TTP.
The
group that has been involved in terrorism for 15 years and executed some of the
deadliest attacks in the country’s history, including the one on Army Public
School, Peshawar, in December 2014 had been weakened by successive counter-terrorism
operations and many of its fighters and commanders fled to neighbouring
Afghanistan.
Islamabad
had been pressing successive governments in Kabul to take action against the
TTP and other militants based in Afghanistan. While the previous governments
turned a deaf ear to Pakistani pleadings, the Afghan Taliban persuaded
Islamabad to hold peace talks with the militants.
The
peace talks that began last year broke down twice and nothing substantive was
achieved by Pakistan, but it helped the TTP secure release of some of its
detained leaders, while allowing a large number of its Afghanistan-based
fighters to relocate here.
TTP
chief Noor Wali Mehsud’s message in the middle of hostage crisis in Bannu this
week left little doubt that the group’s leaders were directing terrorist
attacks from their hideouts in Afghanistan.
“I
congratulate you for carrying out this sacred act. I instruct you not to
surrender to these infidels and apostates under any circumstances,” Mehsud said
while addressing the hostage takers in Bannu in an audio message, according to
VoA.
The
FO spokesperson pointed to engagement with other countries as well on the
issue of terrorism threat emanating from Afghanistan as she said: “We are
engaged with international partners, including our neighbour Afghanistan, to
ensure that terrorist groups do not threaten Pakistan’s security.”
Ms
Baloch did not specify any particular international partner with which Pakistan
is engaging on this particular terrorist threat.
Commander
of US Central Command (Centcom) Gen Michael Kurilla, who visited Pakistan last
week for meetings with the Pakistani military leadership, it should be
recalled, toured Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, besides his meetings in Islamabad, to
discuss the security situation along the border with Afghanistan.
Pakistan’s
other major concern is the recent border incidents involving Taliban forces.
Ms
Baloch, meanwhile, emphasised that despite these irritants Islamabad will
remain engaged with the Taliban administration, which is still not internationally
recognised.
Source:
Dawn
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.dawn.com/news/1727803/kabul-renews-pledge-to-curb-cross-border-terrorism-fo
--------
Three
remanded in FIA custody over Bajwa data leak
Malik
Asad
December
23, 2022
ISLAMABAD:
An Islamabad court remanded three suspects in custody of the Federal
Investigation Agency (FIA) on Thursday in connection with the income tax data
leak of former army chief retired Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa.
The
federal government had ordered an investigation on Nov 21 into the leak of
legally protected tax information of Gen Bajwa’s family.
When
the FIA produced the three suspects — Shahzad Niaz, Arshad Ali Qureshi and
Mohammad Adeel Ashraf — before Judicial Magistrate Omer Shabbir, the
prosecution stated that during the course of investigation, it was learnt that
Qureshi had discarded his mobile phone on Nov 23, days after the leak of tax
data of government functionaries on FactFocus, a website.
Shahzad
Niaz and Ashraf also deleted tax data, which “they had accessed illegally”.
Their
mobile phones were sent for forensic analysis to enable the investigators to
extract data obtained by the suspects, according to the prosecution.
During
further investigation, it was ‘established’ that Niaz had been “illegally
facilitating Qureshi” since 2018 by providing him taxpayers’ records on payment
of cash.
According
to the FIA, the amount to Qureshi was being sent by Sajid Aziz.
The
FIA requested the court to grant physical remand of the suspects for five days
so that details about Sajid Aziz could be collected and records from bank and
Easypaisa retrieved.
Source:
Dawn
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.dawn.com/news/1727783/three-remanded-in-fia-custody-over-bajwa-data-leak
--------
Bajaur
peace body to march against terror incidents
December
23, 2022
BAJAUR:
Bajaur Peace Action Committee decided here on Thursday to hold a march on
January 5 against the incidents of terrorism in the region.
The
decision to arrange “Qaumi Aman March” was made in a meeting of the committee
held in Nawagai town with its chairman Maulana Abdur Rasheed in the chair. The
participants of the meeting said that they would not allow more bloodshed in
Bajaur.
The
meeting of Bajaur Peace Action Committee, a body of local politicians,
religious scholars and traders, was addressed by ANP leaders Sheikh Janzada,
Gul Afzal Khan and Nisar Baz Khan; PPP’s Haji Sher Bahadur; PML-N’s Gul Kareem
Khan; All Bajaur Political Alliance president Qazi Abdul Manan; Malik Shaheen
Khan; Malik Attaullah Khan; Malik Mohammed Yar Khan; Malik Sultanzeb; Malik
Hifzur Rahman; JUI-F’s Haji Said Ahmad Jan; Maulana Khanzeb; and All Bajaur
Traders Association president Mohammad Hameed.
They
showed concerns over the prevailing law and order situation in the district.
They said that incidents of violence were on the rise in the district.
The
speakers said that residents of Bajaur were peace-loving people and wanted
protection of their lives and properties. They said that the residents of
Bajaur played vital role in the war against terrorism. They demanded of the
district administration and police to take effective steps to improve law and
order.
Source:
Dawn
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.dawn.com/news/1727739/bajaur-peace-body-to-march-against-terror-incidents
--------
Christians
playing commendable role in Pakistan’s development, says Punjab governor
December
22, 2022
LAHORE:
Punjab Governor Baleeghur Rehman has praised the contributions of Pakistani
Christians in the progress and development of the country, especially in the
fields of education, health and defence.
Addressing
the annual Christmas dinner of IBADAT Trust and tree lighting ceremony at St
Thomas Center on Wednesday night, Governor Rehman said IBADAT Trust was playing
a commendable role in addressing illiteracy in Pakistan.
“IBADAT
has imparted education to over 0.5 million people since its inception in 1980,
making them responsible citizens,” the governor said, as he appreciated the
efforts of the organisation’s leadership for promotion of education in
Pakistan.
Rehman
also lauded the community’s services in various sectors, particularly
education, health and defence, saying Pakistani Christians have always worked
for the betterment of society and overall progress of the country.
“I
especially want to express my gratitude to the Christian community and church
organisations for helping the government in aiding the flood affectees in their
time of need,” he said.
Addressing
the occasion, Church of Pakistan Moderator Bishop Dr Azad Marshall thanked the
Punjab governor for acknowledging the community’s contributions in the
country’s development.
“On
behalf of the Christian community I want to assure the Pakistani State of our
commitment and dedication to the progress of Pakistan and for its defence”.
“Christians
are patriotic Pakistanis and continue to serve the nation with dedication,
commitment and compassion in all spheres of life. Though our community
continues to face socio-economic challenges, yet we are hopeful that the state
institutions will work to address our concerns,” he said.
Bishop
Azad said the Christian community, including churches and faith-based
organisations, were continuing their work of providing relief to the flood
survivors.
“We
have not forgotten our brothers and sisters in their time of need. On the
occasion of Christmas, I would like to appeal my community members to keep the
flood affectees in their prayers and support them in standing back on their
feet,” he said.
Bishop
Azad, who is also the chairman of the IBADAT Trust, congratulated Executive
Director Obaid Nasir and his team for their work and expressed the hope that
the organisation would achieve more success in the new year.
Source:
Pakistan Today
Please click the following URL to read the full text
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--------
Pakistan
reiterates engagement with Afghanistan for regional peace
December
22, 2022
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan believes in peaceful neighborhood and reiterates that it will continue
engagement with Afghanistan on different issues for regional peace and
stability.
This
was stated by Foreign Office Spokesperson, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch during her
weekly press briefing here in Islamabad on Thursday. She said Pakistan and
Afghanistan have the mechanisms of talks to resolve issues which yield positive
results. She said Pakistan is committed to countering terrorism and we will
definitely defeat the terrorists again.
Replying
to a question, the Spokesperson said all required step will be taken to protect
sovereignty and citizens of the country.
She
said war and instability in Afghanistan caused huge loss to both Pakistan and
Afghanistan. The Spokesperson urged the Afghan interim authorities to revisit
their decision of banning girls from education as they have full right to
participate in all aspects of life.
Talking
about the Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s visit to United States,
Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said it will definitely yield positive outcomes for
Pakistan. She said the visit was an important step towards further
strengthening Pakistan’s broad based bilateral ties with the United States.
About
the grave human rights violations committed by the Indian occupation forces in
Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, she urged New Delhi to stop
massive human rights violations immediately.
Source:
Pakistan Today
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
--------
Arab World
Muslim
World League urges Afghan government to lift university ban for women
December
23, 2022
RIYADH:
The Muslim World League has denounced the decision of the Afghan government to
deny Afghan women and girls the right to a university education.
Mohammed
bin Abdul Karim Al-Issa, the organization’s secretary-general, said in a
statement that the move contradicted the guidance of Islam and the consensus of
Islamic scholars, and violated international and human values.
Al-Issa,
who is also president of the Organization of Muslim Scholars, said the decision
deprived women and girls of their legitimate right to education, and the Afghan
people in general of the contribution women make to the nation’s prosperity and
development.
Source:
Arab News
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2220551/saudi-arabia
--------
Foreign
Ministers of UAE, Pakistan discuss developments in Afghanistan
December
22, 2022
UAEPAKISTANAFGHANISTAN
ABU
DHABI: His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign
Affairs and International Cooperation, today made a phone call to Bilawal
Bhutto Zardari, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of
Pakistan, during which they discussed concerning developments in Afghanistan
and the Taliban's decision to ban the study of girls and women in Afghanistan's
universities.
The
two top diplomats emphasised that Islam as a religion devoted significant
attention to women, granted them a privileged position, and safeguarded their
rights. They affirmed the need to guarantee women's rights, as well as the
importance of full and equal participation of women and girls in all aspects of
life.
Source:
Zawya
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of the original story:
--------
Lebanon
PM says sweeping reforms still needed despite return to growth
22
December ,2022
Lebanon’s
caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati said Thursday that sweeping reforms
remain vital to rescue the stricken economy, despite a return to modest growth
this year.
Mikati
said the economy had grown by nearly two percent in 2022 after two straight
years of severe recession that saw Gross Domestic Product fall by 25.9 percent
in 2020 and by 10.5 percent in 2021, according to World Bank figures.
He
said increased revenues from tourism and a rise in remittances from Lebanese
living abroad were factors behind the modest growth.
He
said the country was now “at a crossroads -- it will either mark the start of
the economic revival we have been hoping for, or a dark decline.”
Mikati
has led a caretaker government since a May general election failed to deliver a
majority to either of Lebanon’s rival power blocs.
The
political deadlock has deepened since end of October, when former president
Michel Aoun’s mandate ended without agreement on a successor.
As
caretaker leader, Mikati has limited powers and cannot deliver the sweeping
reforms demanded by international lenders in exchange for releasing billions of
dollars in bailout loans.
Source:
Al Arabiya
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Saudi
Arabia keen to accelerate joint activities with Türkiye
Elif
Ferhan Yesilyurt
22.12.2022
Saudi
Arabia is disposed to improve and accelerate its joint activities with Türkiye
in the post-pandemic period, the country's investment minister said on
Thursday.
Speaking
at the Turkish-Saudi Business and Investment Forum in Istanbul, Khalid bin
Abdulaziz Al-Falih said it has been three years since he last visited Türkiye
and he was impressed by the developments he witnessed during his current visit
to Istanbul.
The
new Istanbul Airport, he said, made the megacity a global center and became
important in terms of tourism and the business world.
"We
know that investors from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf countries enjoy coming to
and spending time in Istanbul," Al-Falih said.
Türkiye
and Saudi Arabia represent the two largest economies in the region and are
working to develop the growing bilateral investment relations, he stressed.
Al-Falih
also expressed great pleasure about the investments and contributions made by
Turkish companies in Saudi Arabia.
He
said the Turkish-Saudi Business and Investment Forum, which kicked off in
Istanbul on Wednesday and will last for two days, will be important in setting
a road map for the future.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
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of the original story:
--------
3
Iraqi soldiers killed in attack in Kirkuk, northern Iraq
Iyad
al-Nabusi
22.12.2022
BAGHDAD,
Iraq
Three
Iraqi soldiers were killed on Wednesday in an attack in Kirkuk, northern Iraq,
according to local media.
A
security source told the local Baghdad Today news agency that an explosive
device hit an Iraqi army patrol in the Al-Zab area in the al-Hawija district of
the Kirkuk province.
The
source added that the explosion left three soldiers killed and two injured.
Iraqi
authorities have yet to comment on the incident, as no group has yet claimed
responsibility.
On Sunday,
another bloody attack in Kirkuk believed to have been carried out by the
terrorist group Daesh/ISIS killed 12 Iraqi federal police personnel.
Daesh/ISIS
overran Iraq's Mosul, Salahuddin and Anbar provinces in 2014, as well as parts
of Diyala and Kirkuk, before these regions were gradually freed from the terror
group.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
--------
Two
Iraqi soldiers killed in ambush blamed on extremists
22
December ,2022
Suspected
extremists in northern Iraq detonated bombs targeting military vehicles,
killing two soldiers and wounding three, security sources said Thursday.
There
was no immediate claim for the attack which took place late Wednesday near Dibs
outside the northern city of Kirkuk, but army officers blamed the killing on
fighters of the ISIS group.
Two
army vehicles were hit by twin roadside blasts set off by “IS elements,” before
gunmen opened fire on those in the wreckage with automatic weapons, an officer
said speaking on condition of anonymity.
Two
soldiers were killed and three wounded, he said, a toll confirmed by a police
source.
The
attack took place in a zone falling between areas controlled by the federal
government and the autonomous Kurdish region of northern Iraq.
In
the face of repeated attacks by ISIS, the two forces have said they will boost
cooperation to avoid creating a security vacuum.
On
Sunday, ISIS extremists said they had carried out an attack near Kirkuk killing
nine police officers, again by setting off a roadside bomb then machine-gunning
survivors.
ISIS
seized large swathes of Iraq and neighboring Syria in 2014, which they ruled
with brutality before their defeat by Iraqi forces backed by a US-led coalition
in late 2017.
ISIS
lost its last Syrian bastion, near the Iraqi border, in 2019.
ISIS
cells, however, remain active in several areas of Iraq.
The
UN estimates the organization maintains between 6,000 and 10,000 fighters
inside Iraq and Syria, exploiting the porous border between the two countries
and concentrating mainly in rural areas.
The
US-led coalition ended its combat role in Iraq in December last year, but some
2,500 US soldiers remain in the country to assist in the fight against the
terrorists.
Prime
Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, during a meeting Wednesday with security
officials, told officers to “change the military tactics” used in areas where
ISIS fighters remain, and “to adopt unconventional methods of fighting” to
combat them.
Source:
Al Arabiya
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
--------
Arab
citizen ambushes officers, shot dead: Israeli police
23
December ,2022
A
member of Israel’s Arab minority lured police into an ambush and was shot dead
by police officers on Friday, the force said, describing the incident as
terrorism.
Police
said the suspect phoned in a false report of a violent incident in the
Arab-Israeli town of Kafr Qassem - about 19 km (12 miles) northeast of Tel Aviv
- to draw first responders and then opened fire when they arrived.
CCTV
footage released by Israeli police showed officers approaching the door of a
home and an individual stepping out and opening fire. The suspect then entered
his car and attempted to ram into the officers, according to police.
Source:
Al Arabiya
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of the original story:
--------
Saudi
crown prince launches National Intellectual Property Strategy
December
22, 2022
RIYADH:
Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has announced the launch of the
National Intellectual Property Strategy to support the Kingdom’s economy based
on innovation and creativity.
By
establishing an intellectual property value chain that supports economic
growth, the Kingdom is set to become a pioneer in the field in line with the
Saudi Vision 2030, Saudi Press Agency reported.
“We
have minds and energies that are passionate about innovation and creativity,
and by enabling them, the Kingdom will be a fertile environment for the knowledge
economy through an integrated intellectual property system that supports the
development of innovative technologies and industries and contributes to the
growth of enterprises,” SPA said, citing the Crown Prince.
The
National Intellectual Property Strategy is based on four basic pillars:
Generation, management, commercial investment, and protection of intellectual
property.
The
generation of intellectual property came as one of the pillars of the strategy
due to its high importance and its contribution to enhancing the Kingdom’s
ability to generate intellectual property assets of economic and social value.
The
management pillar aims to elevate the value of intellectual property by
establishing a rapid, high-quality system for its registration to ensure
effective management of human creativity.
The
commercial investment will contribute to the growth and attraction of
investments in the Kingdom. This comes in light of the Kingdom’s investments in
future cities and projects based on innovation and creativity, such as The Line
and NEOM, and its distinguished geographical location and strong digital
infrastructure.
Meanwhile,
the protection of intellectual property pillar aims to activate the market
economy through the protection of intellectual property. It works on respecting
intellectual property rights and enhancing the value of their protection for
creative rights.
In
an attempt to achieve these pillars, work will be done to boost cooperation and
integration between national entities as a key partner to back the objectives
of the new strategy.
Source:
Arab News
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2220341/business-economy
--------
Syria:
UNSC must stop recurrent Israeli attacks, remove blockade
22
December 2022
Syria's
Permanent Representative to the United Nations Bassam Sabbagh has called on the
United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to strongly condemn Israel’s acts of
aggression against the Arab country and put an immediate end to the regime’s
recurrent attacks.
Sabbagh
made the remarks during a UN Security Council session on the political and
humanitarian affairs in Syria on Wednesday, stressing that solving the current
crisis in Syria requires the immediate lifting of unilateral coercive measures
imposed by the United States, putting an end to the illegal presence of foreign
troops as well as halting acts of terrorism.
“Solving
the crisis in Syria requires a move by UN Security Council to stop Israeli
recurrent attacks, remove the illegitimate blockade and support the early
recovery projects,” he said.
The
Syrian envoy further noted that “insistence on continuing the aid mechanism
through borders that is encircled with a lot of breaches and faults,” reflects
extreme selectivity and discrimination against the Syrians who deserve those
aids.
He
went on to say that the US and EU countries’ claims of seeking to extend the
so-called "cross-border aid delivery mechanism" to improve the
humanitarian situation in Syria contradicts their unprecedented embargoes.
Sabbagh
further stated that the looting of the nation's oil and wheat by US occupation
forces to their bases in Iraq has escalated the suffering of the Syrian people,
adding, “We are surprised with the unaccepted ignorance of some sides of these
acts.”
The
European Union and the US along with their Middle Eastern allies are viewed as
the main sponsors of militant groups and notorious terrorist outfits operating
since early 2011 to overthrow the government in Damascus.
Apart
from fueling militancy in Syria, the EU and the US have imposed a host of
unilateral economic sanctions on the Arab nation over the past decade in what
appears to be an attempt to deprive the Damascus government of its financial
resources and hamper its fight against the terror groups they have been
supporting.
Russia:
Syrians must be assisted without politicization
Meanwhile,
Russia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vassily Nebenzia voiced
concern over the humanitarian situation in Syria, urging the international
community to help the Syrian people without any discrimination or
politicization.
Nebenzia
made the remarks during a session of the UN Security Council on Wednesday,
stressing that the current humanitarian situation in Syria does not provide an
appropriate context for discussions about extending the “cross-border aid
delivery mechanism.”
“It
is difficult to get rid of the feeling that the efforts that are being made to
justify the lack of an alternative to the mechanism for transporting aid across
the borders are more than what is being done to organize supplies across the
line of contact”, Russia’s state news agency, TASS, quoted him as saying.
The
Russian diplomat further said the biased stance of Western states on this issue
has not changed during the last half year.
Nebenzia
said the situation regarding cross-border aid transfer has not become
transparent despite three rounds of informal consultations.
He
also emphasized that the arguments in favor of extending the cross-border aid
transfer mechanism are not convincing due to the fact that the lack of an
alternative to it is fabricated, pointing out that this situation results from
Western countries’ inaction.
Over
the past years, the US has been maintaining an illegal military presence on
Syrian soil, collaborating with anti-Damascus militants and stealing the
country’s crude oil resources.
Source:
Press TV
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--------
Europe
Muslim
man cremated as German hospital mixes up dead bodies
22.12.2022
BERLIN
A
Muslim man’s body has been cremated in Germany after a hospital in Hannover has
mixed up two dead bodies.
Abdulkadir
Sargin, a Turkish citizen, died at the emergency service of the Hannover
Medical School Hospital last week, officials have said.
During
the funeral preparations on Tuesday, Sargin’s family members shocked and
confused when they saw that the person in the coffin was a complete stranger.
Upon
their call to the hospital, they were informed that the staff had mistakenly
handed over his body to another family and that he was cremated.
Cremation
is not permitted in the Islamic tradition and it is as a desecration of the
deceased.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/muslim-man-cremated-as-german-hospital-mixes-up-dead-bodies/2770648
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Sweden
vows to 'do everything' to implement NATO deal with Türkiye
Diyar
Guldogan and Behlul Cetinkaya
23.12.2022
Stockholm
is committed to fulfilling all the obligations under a NATO deal to address
Türkiye's security concerns, the Swedish foreign minister told Anadolu Agency.
"We
will do everything that we have said that we will do within this memorandum to
the last letter as long as it is within the framework of the constitution of
Sweden and the legislation and principles of the rule of law," Tobias
Billstrom said in an exclusive interview.
Billstrom's
remarks came after he met with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu in the
capital Ankara to discuss bilateral relations and Sweden's NATO membership
process.
Sweden
and Finland formally applied to join NATO in May, abandoning decades of
military non-alignment, a decision spurred by Russia's war against Ukraine
which started on Feb. 24.
But
Türkiye – a NATO member for more than 70 years – voiced objections, accusing
the two countries of tolerating and even supporting terrorist groups, including
the PKK and the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO).
This
June, Türkiye and the two Nordic countries signed a memorandum at a NATO summit
to address Ankara's legitimate security concerns, paving the way for their
eventual membership in the alliance.
Billstrom
said that Sweden has extradited three people, including a PKK terror group
member, to Türkiye.
Sweden
will have a new amendment to the constitution as of the new year, making it
possible to pass stricter anti-terrorism laws, he also said.
"Step-by-step
we are fulfilling our commitments within the memorandum and I'm sure you
appreciate amending the constitution is a big thing. It's a big thing for any
country but we are doing this because we have committed ourselves to improving
our ability to combat terrorism and we're doing it hand-in-hand with Türkiye
which was also at the press conference acknowledged by Foreign Minister
Cavusoglu," he said.
Stockholm
understands Türkiye's concerns
Sweden
is now much more enlightened about the problems that Türkiye is facing when it
comes to terrorism, Billstrom said, adding the memorandum has had a
"sobering effect."
"...
Türkiye, the country for decades has been the subject of terrorism, recently in
November suffered another terrorist attack on its territory. I mean that took
place in one of the most crowded streets in Istanbul. We can understand this
and we can understand the worries this created in Turkish society," he
added.
He
stressed that PKK activities should be prohibited not just because of the
memorandum but also because Sweden is an EU member, which designated the PKK as
a terrorist organization.
In
its more than 35-year terror campaign against Türkiye, the PKK – listed as a
terrorist organization by Türkiye, the US, and the EU – has been responsible
for the deaths of over 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants.
"Everything
laid down in the memorandum, we will fulfill. And when that is done, it paves
the way for an improved relationship between Türkiye and Sweden, not only for
NATO accession. That is one thing and that is important.
"We
will also be able to do a lot of things together and we want to do that this is
my promise also to the Turkish people as we sit here today just a few days
before we come to the 1st of January to change our constitution. We do this in
good faith and we do it because we know that this is important also for you,
not just for us," Billstrom said.
Turning
to Russia, the minister said without Sweden and Finland, it will be "very
difficult" for NATO to uphold its security ambitions on its northern
flank.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
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Spaniards'
interest in Türkiye rises sharply due to Turkish TV series, health tourism
Şenhan
Bolelli
23.12.2022
MADRID
Spaniards’
interest in Türkiye increased nearly fourfold compared with last year due to
the popularity of Turkish TV series and health tourism.
The
growing interest in Spain in Turkish TV series particularly during the COVID-19
pandemic has reflected positively on Türkiye’s tourism sector.
"Turkish
TV series and health tourism have had a positive impact on both Turkish
Airlines and tourism in Türkiye," Numan Cizmecioglu, Turkish Airlines'
General Manager in Madrid, told Anadolu Agency.
Cizmecioglu
said Turkish TV series have been gaining popularity in Spain day by day and are
now the most-watched shows on Spanish television.
"We
have witnessed the extent of the interest in Turkish TV series in our sector.
While Spanish people are getting information about Türkiye or buying (airline)
tickets, we are asked questions such as 'Where are these TV series shot?' and
'Can we visit there?'," he said.
"We
also heard that some tourism agencies take Spanish tourists to places where TV
series are shot in Türkiye."
Touching
on another factor that increased Türkiye’s popularity among Spaniards, health
tourism, Cizmecioglu said: "In the first place, the Turkish market for
hair transplantation became very popular among Spanish people. In the meantime,
they realized how high the quality of the health service is in Türkiye and how
affordable the prices are that are offered to them."
He
further said that Spanish people now visit Türkiye for aesthetic, dental and
eye surgery as well.
"We
think that this market will develop further," he added.
Spaniards
who visit Türkiye for health purposes also find the opportunity to take a short
vacation, he noted.
According
to data from Türkiye’s Tourism Office in Madrid, the number of Spaniards who
visited Türkiye was around 75,000 last year, but the figure reached 255,000 in
the past 10 months of this year and is expected to touch 300,000.
Weekly
flights from Spain to Türkiye to increase
Turkish
Airlines reached its pre-pandemic passenger volume in 2022 and even surpassed
it in some locations, Cizmecioglu said, adding the number of passengers
increased by 123% compared to last year.
"The
increase in passengers, revenue and frequency in 2022 in comparison with the
previous year made us very happy in the Spanish market in every sense," he
said.
He
noted that the number of weekly flights of Turkish Airlines from Spain to
Türkiye, which is currently 70, is expected to be increased to 82 for the
coming summer season.
The
number of weekly flights in Madrid and Barcelona, the most important
destinations in Spain, will be increased from 21 to 25, he noted.
The
Turkish flag carrier will celebrate its 30th year in Barcelona next year and
its 40th year in Madrid, said Cizmecioglu.
"We
trust ourselves and the market. With the new capacity, we will both strengthen
our position in Spain and continue to provide better service to more
passengers," he added.
While
Spaniards’ primary destinations in Türkiye are Istanbul and Cappadocia,
Cizmecioglu said that "on the other hand, the Black Sea, Aegean regions
and Antalya are also destinations that have begun attracting attention."
"Recently,
Gobeklitepe has also attracted attention due to its historical importance. We
have also witnessed that family groups do yacht tourism in Türkiye. This is a
new trend for us."
Cizmecioglu
said the Turkish flag carrier’s food service is highly appreciated by
Spaniards.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
Please click the following URL to read the full text
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Refugees
stage hunger strike in Austrian province of Styria
22.12.2022
GENEVA
Refugees
at a camp in the Austrian province of Styria have staged a hunger strike to
protest having to wait for weeks in tents for permanent housing, according to
Austrian public broadcaster ORF.
About
30 of the 70 refugees currently housed in large tents in the municipality of
Spielfeld are involved in the hunger strike since late Wednesday.
The
refugees fear they will be stuck in tents during the Christmas holiday as well.
The
refugees are mostly from war and crisis zones in Syria and Iraq.
"I
come from Syria, from the war, and I've already been stuck here in the tent for
15 days. I just want to know what will happen next and ask to be allowed into
permanent accommodation before Christmas," one refugee told ORF.
Petra
Leschanz of the refugee NGO, Border Crossing Spielfeld, told the broadcaster:
"The people are psychologically worn down. They want nothing more than to
be transferred to permanent quarters."
It
is not clear how long the hunger strike will last, ORF reported.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/refugees-stage-hunger-strike-in-austrian-province-of-styria/2770515
--------
Trauma
of 'Bloody Christmas' still fresh in minds of Turkish Cypriots
Burak
Bir
22.12.2022
LONDON
Although
nearly 60 years have passed, the trauma of the 1963 "Bloody
Christmas" massacre, also called Black Christmas by Greek Cypriots, is
still fresh in the minds of Turkish Cypriots.
Starting
on Dec. 21, following the Greek Cypriot coup of the Cyprus government, some 1%
of the Turkish Cypriot population was killed and 25% displaced by Greek Cypriot
nationalist terrorist group EOKA in less than two weeks.
The
horrors of the deadly, systematic attacks on Turkish Cypriots by members of the
Greek Cypriot terrorist group EOKA live on in people’s memories 59 years after
they led to the deaths of hundreds and displaced thousands from their ancestral
homes.
It
is remembered as the infamous "Bloody Christmas" massacre, also
called Black Christmas, in which they killed more than 370 Turkish Cypriots and
displaced 25,000-30,000 others during the 1963 Christmas season.
Turkish
Cypriots deserve their own sovereign state
Speaking
to Anadolu Agency on the occasion of the 59th anniversary of the deadly
massacre, Kenan Yaman, chair of the British Turkish Cypriot Association (BTCA),
said that for far too long, the Turkish Cypriots have not been given a voice to
explain to the world what they have suffered since then.
He
said that although Greek Cypriots and their supporters would like the world to
believe that the Cyprus problem started around July 1974, in reality it started
over 10 years earlier.
"This
is an absolute total lie. If that is the case, then what was United Nations
peacekeeping force doing in Cyprus in March 1964?” he asked.
“So
there is proof that the Cyprus problem started in 1963, when the Greeks
overthrew the partnership state formed between the Greeks and the Turkish
Cypriots of the island and tried to declare ‘enosis’ (union of the island with
Greece) even back then, and this was unsuccessful."
Recalling
how the Greek Cypriots again tried enosis in 1974 and were unsuccessful, Yaman
stressed that Turkish Cypriots are a part of the island and part of the history
of Cyprus.
"The
Turkish Cypriots must have a voice ... The Greek Cypriots have tried to shut us
out. They have shut us out for far too long. The Turkish Cypriots deserve their
own sovereign state."
The
only solution that they see today, he said, is a "two-state solution for
Cyprus."
Turkish
Cypriots suffered quite a lot
Ersu
Ekrem, who arrived in the UK from Cyprus in 1970, told Anadolu Agency that they
remember those who were killed during Black Christmas and continue to work to
get everybody to remember them as well.
"The
trauma that was caused in 1963 by the Greeks attacking us has remained in our
memories for a long time," underlined Ekrem, adding that many people were
taken from their homes or on the road during that terrible time.
Saying
that there were around 100,000 Turkish Cypriots living on the island, he added
that he knew people who lost their relatives during those events and knows the
pain those people have gone through.
"As
we were young boys growing up together ... So the memory is fresh in their
minds. And they obviously suffered quite a lot. And we Turkish Cypriots in
general suffered quite a lot," said Ekrem, who is a former chair of the
British Turkish Cypriot Association.
On
the dimensions of the massacre, he pointed out that although the casualties –
133 deaths in a 10-day period – may look relatively small, “it's about 0.05% of
the Turkish Cypriot population of the time, which equates to around 90,000
English persons being killed in a 10-day period, and over 13,000 of them being
taken from hospitals when they were inpatients."
Even
taking inpatients from hospitals is “a great sadness" as "it's a war
crime," said Ekrem.
He
added that no one was found guilty or prosecuted for the massacre, and there
was not even an inquiry by the Greek Cypriot police, which took over the whole
government of the Cyprus, usurping Turkish Cypriots' power.
"We
find that after 60 years, although we’re not at fault, we haven’t done anything
to actually deserve this," underlined Ekrem, adding that Turkish Cypriots
still face embargoes, which is "very unjust."
The
events leading up to the Bloody Christmas started in 1955 with the foundation
of EOKA, led by Georgios Grivas, a veteran soldier as well as a staunch
opponent of Turks.
Active
in Cyprus, then ruled by the UK, EOKA targeted not only British soldiers and
civil servants but also Turkish and Greek Cypriots who opposed its extremist
ideology and its goal of union with Greece.
Decades-long
dispute
Cyprus
has been mired in a decades-long dispute between Greek Cypriots and Turkish
Cypriots despite a series of diplomatic efforts by the UN to achieve a comprehensive
settlement.
Ethnic
attacks starting in the early 1960s forced Turkish Cypriots to withdraw into
enclaves for their safety.
In
1974, a Greek Cypriot coup aiming at Greece’s annexation of the island led to
Türkiye’s military intervention as a guarantor power to protect Turkish
Cypriots from persecution and violence. As a result, the Turkish Republic of
Northern Cyprus was founded in 1983.
It
has seen an on-and-off peace process in recent years, including a failed 2017
initiative in Switzerland under the auspices of guarantor countries Türkiye,
Greece, and the UK.
Source: Anadolu Agency
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
--------
France’s
Emmnuel Macron urges Lebanon to ‘get rid’ of leaders blocking reforms
December
23, 2022
BEIRUT:
French President Emmanuel Macron called on Lebanon Friday to “get rid” of
politicians who have for months blocked sweeping reforms vital to bailing out
its stricken economy.
“The
problem with Lebanon is that we must solve people’s problems and get rid of
those who cannot do it,” Macron said, referring to the country’s entrenched
political class.
Source:
Arab News
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2220731/middle-east
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Southeast Asia
Kuala
Lumpur Islamic Religious Council Donates RM210, 000 to Malaysia Aids Foundation
for Treatment for Asnaf HIV Patients
By
Jared Wee
23
Dec 2022
KUALA
LUMPUR, Dec 23 — Some 42 per cent of Malaysian HIV patients are not receiving
Antiretroviral therapy (ARV), according to the Health Ministry.
“This
situation is of grave concern as it hampers the progress that we have made
towards achieving our goal of ending AIDS goal by 2030,” said Malaysian AIDS
Foundation (MAF) chairman Prof Datuk Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman in a statement.
According
to her, ARV medication is able to reduce the spread of the virus in the body to
an undetectable level if taken consistently as prescribed.
The
Ministry provides free treatment for the first-line of treatment for HIV
patients but those in need of stronger medication have to pay on their own due
to high costs and unavailability.
Dr
Adeeba said the price for second-line ARV treatment medications can cost an
average of RM700 per month, a steep cut from the income of patients living
within the B40 income group.
She
added that religious stigma and discrimination remains a ‘regrettable’ barrier
that prevents HIV patients in the Malay Muslim community from getting treatment.
Meanwhile,
Federal Territories Islamic Religious Council (MAIWP) member Dr Yusri Mohammad
presented zakat (tithe) collection worth RM210, 000 to MAF for 25 Asnaf
(eligible tithe recipients) HIV patients in KL at ceremony on Wednesday at the
MAF headquarters in Sentul.
This
serves as a continuation of support between MAIWP and MAF since 2020 towards
the Medicine Assistance Scheme.
“The
HIV epidemic is, by and large, concentrated in Malay Muslim populations,” Dr
Yusri said in a statement.
“As
such, it is our duty to continue supporting MAF in efforts to promote the
health and well-being of our community through HIV treatment.”
Dr
Yusri wants the contributions by MAIWP to give recipients a chance to rebuild
their lives and livelihoods to overcome poverty.
Source:
Malay Mail
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
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PM
Anwar: No more middlemen at Ramadan bazaars, allocation of business lots
By
Yiswaree Palansamy
22
Dec 2022
KUALA
LUMPUR, Dec 22 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today called for an
end to middlemen who monopolise business spaces and control lots at Ramadan
bazaars.
In
his speech at the National Level Traders and Small Traders Convention 2022 in
Putrajaya, Anwar said this must end nationwide to allow traders to make a
living, especially when many struggle to even secure basic funding to start a
business.
“How
many traders have difficulties securing basic funds to start a business? How
many then encounter difficulties finding a spot to run their business from? How
many local councils nationwide force traders and business owners to use agents?
The licence is given to others and later transferred to the traders.
“And
I believe the same goes for Ramadan bazaars too. Sometimes Ramadan bazaars are
monopolised by certain groups. So those who want to do business, who get up in
the morning, cook during the fasting month, who break fast in situations that
are very difficult, are forced to pay not just the rental, but also the agents
who secure them,” he said referring to the business lots.
“I
want to stress not just for Kuala Lumpur or Selangor, but nationwide, stop this
practice and ensure that the benefit reaches the bottom, and this is not at all
hard. For traders and small traders, not hard at all. If this can be done, a
huge part or part of the problem can be sorted,” he added.
Anwar
said that during his meeting with Kuala Lumpur City Council (DBKL) officers
this morning, he was also informed of issues plaguing the Taman Keramat market,
which was attributed to problems with the assigned developer, among other
factors.
Source:
Malay Mail
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
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Vice
President opens 2nd ASEAN Islamic Conference in Bali
Jakarta
(ANTARA) - Indonesian Vice President Ma'ruf Amin opened the 2nd ASEAN Islamic
Conference at the Hilton Hotel, Nusa Dua, Bali, on Thursday.
In
his remarks, the vice president invited all Muslims in Indonesia and the ASEAN
to optimize the momentum of the conference as well as possible.
"I
hope this conference would further strengthen the position of Muslims in the
global arena," Amin noted in Bali.
The
vice president expressed optimism that the conference would further grow
prospects, strengthen cooperation between nations, and intensify cooperation
between ASEAN countries and Saudi Arabia in various aspects, especially in the
field of research education, to accelerate a competitive superior generation
with noble character.
"Hopefully,
the conference would bestow blessings and benefits on the Islamic community in
Indonesia and ASEAN. We must help Muslims in ASEAN and in the world to reach
'khairu ummah' as the Muslims had in early days under the leadership of
Rasulullah SAW," Amin remarked.
Meanwhile,
Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs, Zainut Tauhid Sa'adi, was grateful for
the 2nd ASEAN Islamic Conference in Bali. He said that Bali was selected as the
location for the conference since the region has fundamental reasons, apart
from being a beautiful location.
"Bali
is a meeting point for the international community from all over the world with
an open and friendly character. This diversity is followed by people, who live
side by side in harmony," he stated.
Sa'adi
noted the theme of the conference, "khairu ummah," meant the best
people. He stated that individuals successfully practicing religious moderation
will become the best people since they are able to be moderate with their
views.
He
believes that "khairu ummah" will be realized, through efforts, such
as by respecting and loving each other.
"'Khairu
ummah' are those who have the greatest affection for fellow human beings,"
he stated.
Indonesia
is hosting the 2nd ASEAN Islamic Conference that is a collaboration between the
Indonesian Ministry of Religious Affairs and the Ministry of Islamic Affairs,
Da'wah, and Counseling of Saudi Arabia.
The
conference is scheduled to take place on December 22-23, 2022, in Bali and will
be attended by around 140 participants from Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei
Darussalam, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam, Timor
Leste, and Saudi Arabia.
Other
attendees comprise scholars, academics, and leaders of Islamic community
organizations from Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, and the Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia.
Source:
Antara News
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://en.antaranews.com/news/266910/vice-president-opens-2nd-asean-islamic-conference-in-bali
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Islamic
affairs minister meets Indonesian VP
December
23, 2022
RIYADH:
Indonesian Vice President Marouf Amin on Thursday received Saudi Minister of
Islamic Affairs Sheikh Abdullatif Al-Asheikh on the sidelines of the second
Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ international conference in Bali.
The
ASEAN meeting was attended by 130 leading figures, including government
ministers, muftis, presidents of Islamic universities, centers, and
associations, and religious and cultural leaders from member countries.
In
a speech, Amin said the conference provided a partnership and cooperation
platform between Indonesia and Asian countries, including Saudi Arabia, in
areas including education, and research.
And
he pointed out that religious leaders had an important role to play in helping
tackle some of the challenges facing the world.
Source:
Arab News
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2220541/saudi-arabia
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Africa
Nigeria
to Benefit From $10.54bn Islamic Bank Fund for Agriculture
22
DECEMBER 2022
By
Adegwu John
Nigeria
will directly benefit from the 2022 Food Security Response Program financing
package of $10.54 billion recently approved by the board of executive directors
of Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) to develop agricultural sector among member
states.
This
was made known yesterday in Abuja by Ougfaly Badji, the agriculture and food
security lead expert from IsDB headquarters, Jeddah at a regional training
workshop on strategic planning and policy development in food security,
organised by the Islamic Organisation for Food Security ( IOFS).
According
to Badji, the funding will assist member countries in addressing the immediate
impact of the current food and climate crisis and underlying structural
challenges to food and nutrition insecurity in the medium to long term.
He
said the bank will avail more funding to build the resilience of local
production systems and promote climate-smart agriculture, development of
commodity value chains that will promote sustainable and profitable smallholder
production systems and building of national strategic buffer stocks and
reserves for de-risking and reducing price volatility.
To
address food security matters which are not properly reflected in policy
frameworks of governments, director-general of IOFS, Yerlan Baidauket at the
workshop noted that the organisation placed special attention on enhancing the
institutional capacity of governments at national levels, along with exchanging
knowledge and practices.
He
said, "Today's important event bring together more than 70 government
officials from 13 member states and organised under the IOFS "Year of
Africa" with the key objective to build the capacity of government
officials on basics and practices on strategy development, legislation
improvement, creation of government inter-sectoral mechanisms on food security.
It
is to note that upon successful implementation of "Year of Africa",
the IOFS will strengthen the support to programming activities in Africa under
the "Africa Food Security Initiative (AFSI)".
Source:
All Africa
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
https://allafrica.com/stories/202212230009.html
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Somalia
military liberates strategic town from al-Shabaab terror group: Official
Mohammed
Dhaysane
23.12.2022
MOGADISHU,
Somalia
The
Somali military on Thursday liberated the strategic town of Runirgod in the
middle Shabelle region from the al-Qaeda-affiliated al-Shabaab terrorist group,
the Defense Ministry said.
In
a news conference in the capital Mogadishu, Somalia’s Defense Ministry
spokesman Abdullahi Ali Anod said the government forces backed by locals were
engaged in fierce fighting with terrorists to liberate the Runirgod.
He
said that at least 150 terrorists, including five foreign fighters, were killed
in the clashes, while 15 more were captured.
The
town was the last al-Shabaab stronghold in the region that is located some 240
kilometers (149 miles) north of the capital Mogadishu.
Earlier
this month, the army had also liberated the strategic town of Adanyabal.
The
government forces backed by local clan militias have recently liberated large
swathes of territories mainly in the state of Hirshabele.
Somalia
has been plagued by insecurity for years, with al-Shabaab being one of the main
threats.
Since
at least 2007, al-Shabaab has waged a deadly campaign against the Somali
government and international forces, claiming thousands of lives.
The
UN has also warned of growing instability in the country, with its periodic
reports on Somalia this year detailing attacks by al-Shabaab and pro-Daesh/ISIS
groups.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
Please click the following URL to read the full text
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Türkiye
donates agricultural equipment for farmers in South Sudan
Benjamin
Takpiny
22.12.2022
JUBA,
South Sudan
Türkiye
continues extending humanitarian support to people in South Sudan, the world’s
newest country that remains plagued by instability and security challenges.
The
latest show of support was in the form of a trove of agricultural tools donated
by the Turkish Embassy, specifically for farmers in Jamjang, an area in
northern South Sudan home to a large refugee population.
Turkish
Ambassador Erdem Mutaf said the initiative was sparked by a visit to Jamjang,
where Turkish officials witnessed firsthand farmers’ “dire need for equipment.”
The
embassy, supported by the Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management Authority
(AFAD), procured a range of essential equipment that was handed over at a
ceremony in the capital Juba on Wednesday.
Dut
Akol Kuol, a senior official at South Sudan’s Commission for Refugee Affairs,
said the Turkish initiative “will change the lives of refugees.”
“This
gives them a critical source of livelihood,” he said.
“The
Turkish government has done a lot for South Sudan, and especially the
ambassador who is making continuous efforts to help South Sudanese communities and
refugees,” he added.
Source:
Anadolu Agency
Please click the following URL to read the full text
of the original story:
--------
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