FIR Registered Against 9 Twitter Handles Over 'Biryani Jihad'
New Age Islam News Bureau
22 May 2023
Image used for representational purpose only
----
India
• Centuries-Old Mosque, 4 Temples Among 8 Places Razed By
Smart City Administration In Gujarat
• BJP Leader Calls Off Daughter’s Wedding To Muslim Man
After Religious Leaders And Right Wing Groups Expressed Their Protest Against
The Wedding
• 21 Accused Named In Case Linked To Muslim Men's
Killing: Rajasthan Cops
--------
South Asia
• Dutch Politician Leads Fact-Finding Mission To
Bangladesh To Investigate Genocide Committed By Pak Army
• ACCI Welcomes Reduction in Taxes by Islamic Emirate
• Afghanistan Will Reach Self-Sufficiency in Education:
Shikib
• Massive Earthquake Rocks Badakhshan; Tremors Felt in
Kabul
• WHO Warns of Potential Surge in Dengue Fever Cases In
Afghanistan
• Bangladeshi woman, her Indian husband held in Assam
for entering India illegally
---------
Southeast
Asia
• Man with psychiatric history arrested for sending bomb
threat via email
• Ties between Umno and DAP: Impossible but possible
• Umno members should not be forced to vote for DAP
candidates, says Johor leader
• Zahid to Muhyiddin: Let's see who is more accepted by
the people
• Govt continuing talks with crown prince of Abu Dhabi
on 1MDB: Anwar
• Indonesia ready to bridge Ukraine-Russia peace
efforts: Jokowi
--------
Mideast
• Iran condemns fresh sacrilege to al-Aqsa Mosque
• Talks Underway On Direct Israel Saudi Flights For
Muslim Pilgrims
• Turkish Imam of Cebeci Mosque Asks Congregation To
'Prepare Their Weapons' On May 28Election Night
• Hamas Condemns Ben-Gvir’s Storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque
• Gov. seeks more ties with neighbours, Muslim nations
• UAE condemns Israeli minister's storming of Al-Aqsa
Mosque
• Qatar condemns Israeli minister's storming of Al Aqsa
Mosque courtyards
• 'Strongly condemn' Israel minister's raid on Al Aqsa
Mosque complex: Ankara
• Saudi Arabia condemns Israeli minister’s visit to
Al-Aqsa mosque compound
• Palestinian presidency condemns official Israeli
incursions into Al-Aqsa Mosque
--------
Europe
• Muslim dad's fury after bacon found in daughter's
McDonald's Filet-O-Fish burger
• Nobody in the Muslim world supports sanctions on
Russia – deputy PM
• Muslim Council condemns National Conservatism
conference extremism
• British university blocks Russian writer
• Pro-Western president calls for boycott of national
airline
--------
North
America
• "Hate Will Not Win": Solidarity Rally Held
After Minnesota's 6th Suspected Mosque Attack This Year
• Julani and Qahtani Move Away from “Jihad”, Two
Messages to the West
• Russia to collab with Islamic World for financial
independence
--------
Pakistan
• Prime Minister of Pakistan Vows To Stamp Out Terrorism
From Country
• Pakistan’s Shariah Court Strikes Down Provisions Of
Transgenders’ Rights Law; Activists To Appeal
• Army Act only for those who attacked military
property: PM
• Imran sees ‘80 per cent chances’ of his arrest
tomorrow
• Another MNA parts ways with PTI over May 9 riots
• Search for suspects continues amid reports of
harassment of families
• Long-lost siblings reunite after 75 years at Kartarpur
• Kashmiris can’t be silenced with G20 event: Bilawal
• Asad Ali Memon becomes first climber from Sindh to
conquer Mount Everest
• 1st Hajj flight carrying 316 Pakistani Pilgrims lands
at Madinah Munawara
• China, Pakistan Celebrate 72 Years Of Diplomatic
Relations
--------
Arab World
• Makkah Grand Mosque Expansion To Be Officially Named 'The
Saudi Riwaq'
• Mataf Expansion Building In Grand Mosque Named Saudi Portico
• Saudi astronauts successfully launch toward Space
Station
--------
Africa
• Muslim Students Write Nigerian Govt Over Sexual
Contents In Primary School Books
• Swear With Qur’an You Didn’t Steal Govt Money – El-Rufai
Challenges Ex-Govs
• Blasphemy: Islamic clerics blocking Sheikh Kabara’s
move to appeal death sentence in Kano
• Tinubu’s Cabinet: Muslims lobby president-elect for
more ministers than Christians
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL:
https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/twitter-biryani-jihad/d/129828
------
FIR Registered Against 9 Twitter Handles Over 'Biryani Jihad'
Image used for representational purpose only
----
May 22, 2023
Coimbatore:
Cybercrime police have registered a case against 9 people who posted on Twitter
that they are selling biryani mixed with contraceptives to Hindus and doing
‘Biryani Jihad’.
When he
observed, ‘Biryani Jihad in Coimbatore. It was revealed that false posts were
published on Twitter saying that biryani was being sold to Hindus with
contraceptive pills and biryani was being sold only to Muslims without contraceptive
pills and the police found it.
Cybercrime
Police SI, Thamaraikannan filed a complaint against 9 Twitter bloggers who
published such posts. Accordingly, Inspector Arun registered a case under four
sections. The police, who are looking for these Twitter bloggers, have warned
that strict action will be taken against those who publish such posts.
Coimbatore:
Cybercrime police filed a case against 9 people who posted on Twitter that they
were selling biryani to Hindus mixed with contraceptives and doing ‘biryani
jihad’ in Coimbatore.
Source: india.postsen.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://india.postsen.com/News/amp/574058
--------
'Send Sheikh Hasina To Graveyard': Bangladesh Opposition Leader Directs His Activists For The 1975-Styled Assassination
Sheikh
Hasina's father, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rehman, and members of his family
were killed in cold blood on August 15th, 1975 (Photo: Reuters/File)
------
May 21, 2023
By Sahidul
Hasan Khokon:
A video of a
BNP leader, which is the opposition party in Bangladesh, is making rounds on
social media where he is heard giving an open threat to Prime Minister Sheikh
Hasina, saying 'Send Sheikh Hasina to her grave'.
Abu Sayeed
Chan, a top BNP leader from Rajshahi, has publicly directed his activists for
the 1975-styled assassination bid against Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in an
oblique reference to the gruesome massacre of almost her entire family in a
military coup then.
“No more
movement to realise our 27-point or ten-point demands. Rather, our movement now
should only revolve around one point- send Sheikh Hasina to her grave”,
threatened Abu Sayeed Chan, convener, Rajshahi Zila unit.
Sheikh Hasina's
father, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rehman, and members of his family were
killed in cold blood on August 15th, 1975, by senior army officers, which
plunged Bangladesh into political chaos. The massacre resulted in a military
regime running the country for a number of years, thereby suspending the
democratic process.
The BNP leaders
have been calling for the ouster of this government in the next three months
without an election. After the video went viral, Bangladesh Awami League’s
verified Facebook page posted the clip with a caption “BNP publicly threatens
to assassinate our leader Sheikh Hasina”.
Source: indiatoday.in
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/send-sheikh-hasina-to-graveyard-bangladesh-opposition-leader-gives-open-threat-to-pm-2382333-2023-05-21
--------
Zakir Naik Vs
Charles Santiago: Four-Year Dispute Ends With An Apology By Charles Santiago
- NSTP/Mohamad
Shahril Badri Saali
------
May 22, 2023
KUALA LUMPUR:
The defamation suit filed by controversial Muslim preacher Dr Zakir Naik
towards former Klang member of parliament Charles Anthony Santiago in 2019 ends
today after the High Court ordered the latter to apologize to the former in
open court, this morning.
High Court
judge Datuk Akhtar Tahir, in delivering his decision for the suit today said
that he found Santiago's first statement made publicly towards Zakir for his
talk in Kota Bharu, Kelantan on August 8, 2019, was not defamatory and does not
tarnish Zakir's reputation.
Zakir, in the
talk, delivered sensitive remarks that touches on the Malaysian Chinese and
Indians where Zakir said the former were 'old guests' who should go back to
their ancestral land, and the former were more loyal to India's prime minister
rather than Malaysia's prime minister.
Santiago, on
August 13, 2019, issued a statement in response to Zakir's talk given in Kota
Bharu, Kelantan titled 'Misconception of Islam by the non-Muslim', saying that
the talk had the potential to cause racial riots as well as bitterness amongst
Malaysian.
In the same
press statement, Santiago questioned why the Malaysian authorities were giving
shelter to a person who was wanted by the Indian counter-terrorism agency and
shunned by the United Kingdom as well as Bangladesh for his links to possible
terrorism.
To this, Akhtar
today ruled that the press statement, made by Charles in the public domain are
indeed directed towards the plaintiff (Zakir).
However, the
judge said that the court has to look into the circumstances and context of the
speech to determine whether it is defamatory against Zakir and that it had
tarnished the preacher's image and reputation.
"In the
view of this court, the topic itself is inappropriate in the Malaysian context
as there is nothing to suggest that there is widespread misconception of Islam,
by the non-Muslim in Malaysia. The court feels that this is an unnecessary
topic to be debated in Malaysia.
"In
listening to the plaintiff's talk, the court notes that the plaintiff also made
remarks about the Malaysian Chinese. It is clear that the plaintiff has
interposed his personal grievance of being asked to leave the country by making
these unnecessary remarks that the Malaysian Chinese should be also asked to
leave the country.
"The court
agrees with the defendant's (Santiago) press statement that the plaintiff's
remarks can cause a threat to multiracial Malaysia. In fact, the court notes
that this remark of the plaintiff had attracted a rebuke from the Malaysian
Prime Minister and many other politicians.
"It is
therefore the court's decision in this case that the defendant's first
statement is not defamatory and in fact a statement which is justified and a
fair statement," he said.
Akhtar then
delivers his ruling on the second statement made by Santiago in a lecture
titled 'Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) on November 25, 2019, where the
lecture was then published by news portal FMT titled 'Criticism of Zakir Naik
may have led to LTTE arrests, says MP,' on November 26 the same year, where
Zakir had alleged that Santiago's statement had defamed him and it was
motivated by malice and hatred against him.
To this, Akhtar
found Santiago's remark to be of dual prong, despite it being attributed to
Zakir.
"One
directed towards the Malaysian police and the government, and at the other
directed towards the plaintiff.
"The
implication that can be derived from the remark against the plaintiff is that
he had an influence over the police and the government in the arrest".
He said that
despite the court finding the remarks are an expression of Santiago's opinion,
however, it is speculative in nature, and found to be defamatory against Zakir.
"The court
also notes that the remark, instead of tarnishing the image and reputation of
the plaintiff, has in fact enhanced the reputation of the plaintiff as being
someone who is influential in Malaysia.
"The
court, therefore, rules that the plaintiff is not entitled to any damages, but
as the second statement is defamatory, the court directs the defendants to
apologise publicly for the remarks made linking the plaintiffs to the
arrest".
He ordered both
parties in the suit to step forward, and Santiago to apologise to Zakir. He
then repeats the order after Santiago was seen briefly looking at his lawyers.
"I
apologised for my second statement," Santiago said, to which Zakir
replied, "I accept your apology".
The judge then
ended his decision by ruling that each party, involved in the suit, to bear its
own cost of the proceedings.
Lawyers Datuk
Akberdin Abdul Kadir and Dr Mohd Rafie Mohd Shafie represents Zakir while S.N.
Fam and Tan Tai Hwa represents Santiago.
Source: nst.com.my
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.nst.com.my/news/crime-courts/2023/05/911961/zakir-naik-vs-charles-santiago-four-year-dispute-ends-apology
--------
Israeli
National Security Minister Ben-Gvir Raids Al-Aqsa Mosque in Occupied East
Jerusalem
Israeli
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir visits Al-Aqsa compound also known
to Jews as the Temple Mount in Jerusalem’s Old City on May 21, 2023. | Photo
Credit: Reuters
------
2023-05-21
Israel's
far-right Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir, raided the Al-Aqsa
Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem.
"I'm happy
to be ascending the Temple Mount, the most important site for the Jewish
people," said Ben-Gvir, who entered the Haram al-Sharif in the early hours
of the morning under the heavy protection of his private bodyguards and Israeli
forces.
The far-right
minister, known for his racist and violent rhetoric and provocative actions
against Palestinians, has carried out the same provocation for the second time
since taking office.
HARSH REACTION
FROM TÜRKİYE TO THE PROVOCATION
According to
TGRT News, Türkiye did not remain indifferent to Ben-Gvir's provocative
behavior. In a statement made by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the raid by
the racist Israeli minister was condemned with harsh words. Calling on Israel
not to engage in provocative and fascist actions, the Foreign Ministry made the
following statements:
"We
strongly condemn the raid on the Haram al-Sharif on May 21 by the Israeli
Minister of National Security, accompanied by Israeli security forces, which
clearly violates international law. It is totally unacceptable for members of
the Israeli government to challenge the historical status of the Haram
al-Sharif in this way and to engage in provocative and fascist acts.
"We once
again call on the Israeli government to immediately cease all provocative
actions that violate the historical status of the Haram al-Sharif based on
international law and to act responsibly," the ministry said.
Source: turkiyenewspaper.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.turkiyenewspaper.com/politics/15069
--------
One Of
Britain’s Youngest Imams, Adeel Shah, Wins Town And District Seats In Local
Elections
Adeel Shah,
who at 28 is one of Britain’s youngest imams
------
21-05-23
Adeel Shah, who
at 28 is one of Britain’s youngest imams, was elected as a councillor in the
East Hampshire locals. Shah is with the Whitehill & Bordon Community Party,
which ‘strives to be the voice of the community with the powers above and to
work on local projects to benefit fellow residents‘ and to lay the foundations
for peace.
Having won the
town council elections in May 2019, the Whitehill & Bordon Community Party
stood candidates for the six East Hampshire District Council (EHDC) seats. Shah
joined the Whitehill & Bordon Community Party and was co-opted on to
Whitehill Town Council in January. In the local elections in May, he won the
local town seat uncontested, as well as the district seat, substantially
beating the Green, Conservative and independent candidates to be duly elected.
Adeel Shah is
one of an estimated 30,000 Ahmadi Muslims in Britain. He began studying to
become an imam at 17. He is a member of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, the
third most popular branch of Islam. Ahmadiyya is committed to the teachings of
peace, love, justice and sanctity of life. The young Imam is based in and
around London and also in the Baitul Futuh mosque, the largest mosque in
Britain and one of the biggest in Western Europe. He has spoken out to raise
awareness about Islamophobia in society and the media.
Left Foot
Forward caught up with the young imam to find out what motivated him to stand
as a councillor and what he hopes to achieve.
“As an imam and
a councillor, you have the opportunity to serve people in different
capacities,” he said.
“Both roles
involve serving the community and helping people. Islam teaches us to be of
service to others and to do good deeds. By fulfilling the role required from a
councillor by the residents they represent, you are in many ways fulfilling
this fundamental teaching of Islam. You help people by addressing their
concerns and providing them with guidance and support. By being able to
contribute positively in their lives, you are able to serve the people in the
best possible manner and make a positive impact in their lives.”
Shah described
how the position of imam and councillor are crucial because they both involve
aiding those in need and serving the community.
“As a
councillor, I can use the knowledge and skills I acquired as an imam to make a
positive difference in people’s lives. My experiences as an imam, which
includes travelling to Ghana, Pakistan, Czech Republic, Italy, Germany, across
the UK and much more, and spending time with the local residents, will help me
better comprehend the realities of the people I represent as a councillor. We
owe it to the people who depend on us to take care of them.
“Combining my
responsibilities as an imam and a council member enables me to devote time and
energy to both while making sure I carry out my duties in a way that is just to
the people that I represent – and this includes all in East Hampshire.”
The councillor
said that the response to the election campaign and his seat selection was
incredible, with people sharing their support and solidarity to him and the
Whitehill & Bordon Community Party.
“Good,
hard-working, honest folk with no agenda other than to help the town and do
their very best for it,” said one resident.
The councillor
says that his ultimate goal is to create a positive impact in the communities
he interacts with, and “to know that by the end, the residents and all service
users were content with the service and care that was provided to them.”
Gabrielle
Pickard-Whitehead is a contributing editor to Left Foot Forward
Image credit:
Adeel Shah
As you’re here,
we have something to ask you. What we do here to deliver real news is more
important than ever. But there’s a problem: we need readers like you to chip in
to help us survive. We deliver progressive, independent media, that challenges
the right’s hateful rhetoric. Together we can find the stories that get lost.
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Source: leftfootforward.org
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://leftfootforward.org/2023/05/young-imam-wins-town-and-district-seats-in-local-elections/
--------
India
Centuries-Old
Mosque, 4 Temples Among 8 Places Razed By Smart City Administration In Gujarat
May 21, 2023
A mosque,
believed to be around a century old, was among eight places of worship razed
Saturday by the Dahod Smart City administration in Gujarat. Amid huge police
deployment, the massive demolition drive began at Nagina Mosque around 4.30 am.
The mosque was
razed under a Smart City road widening project after the Masjid Trust failed to
get relief from the Gujarat High Court or produce land record documents on
Friday, officials said. Hours after the mosque demolition, four temples and
three other dargahs were also razed.
As a part of
two-tier security arrangements, around 450 police personnel were deployed for
the 4.30 am demolition. The mosque was “demolished in a peaceful and amicable”
manner, officials added.
“The Trust had
sought time on its own until Friday to produce land records. The administration
conceded to the request. But on Friday, the records it brought were not
reliable,” Dahod Superintendent of Police Balram Meena, who is part of the
district-level panel for the implementation of the Smart City Project, told The
Indian Express.
“On Friday
evening, a meeting was held between the mosque members with the sub-divisional
magistrate, Prant Officer, and chief officer of the municipality, among others,
where the Trust members agreed to evacuate the premises on being given the
option to demolish the structure on their own. We did not have to enter the
premises as they had already evacuated the structure. The police deployment
will remain but we do not anticipate any trouble,” Meena added.
In their
petition before Gujarat High Court, the Trust had pointed out that notices
under the Gujarat Municipalities Act were issued to nearby shops over alleged
encroachment and these were demolished on May 15. But the authorities also
started demolishing other shops that were under the ownership of the petitioner
Trust “without any notice”.
A member of the
Masjid committee told The Indian Express, “We were informed by the
administration on Monday the documents will have to be produced by Friday
otherwise the demolition will be done after the Jumma prayers. The High Court
too did not grant us relief. So on Friday afternoon, we were told to remove our
belongings. When the authorities had razed six feet of the compound earlier
this week, we had already removed some of our important belongings.”
Owing to the
ongoing summer vacation at Gujarat HC, the petition remains to be registered.
The trust will
be approaching the court, people privy to the matter said, seeking that status
quo ante be maintained now following the demolition, as the masjid was a Waqf
property and such action would have also required approval of the Waqf Board.
The Trust further stated the mosque had been standing since 1926 in a part of
the Trust’s land, which was registered in 1953.
Source: indianexpress.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/ahmedabad/centuries-old-mosque-4-temples-among-8-places-razed-in-dahod-8620499/
--------
BJP Leader
Calls Off Daughter’s Wedding To Muslim Man After Religious Leaders And Right
Wing Groups Expressed Their Protest Against The Wedding
May 21, 2023
ISHITA MISHRA
Yashpal Rawat
alias Yashpal Benam, a BJP leader in Uttarakhand who is the Nagar Palika
chairperson of Pauri Garhwal district, cancelled his daughter’s wedding with a
Muslim man due to protests from religious leaders and right wing groups.
The wedding,
scheduled on May 28, became the talk of the town after the invitation card went
viral. It mentioned the names of the bride and groom who met during their
engineering course in a college in Roorkee. As the news spread, Mr. Rawat
started receiving ‘warnings’ to call off the wedding.
During a public
event organised in State capital Dehradun by a religious leader, Swami Darshan
Bharti, the public was asked to boycott Mr. Rawat because by marrying his
daughter to a Muslim, he was supporting “love jihad”.
“He should be
the first one to oppose ‘love Jihad’ and ‘land jihad’. But look, how
shamelessly he is calling Muslims to come to ‘Devbhoomi’ (land of gods) and
marry our daughters,” said Mr. Bharti and asked the attendees if Mr. Rawat
should be taught a lesson. The audience raised hands in affirmation followed by
more ‘hate speeches’.
A right wing
group from Haryana, whose members were on their way to Char Dham yatra and got to
know about the wedding via social media, stopped at Pauri, especially to raise
‘objections’. They went to Nagar Palika office to threaten the chairman who
fled seeing the group.
NGOs memorandum
Some NGOs also
gave a memorandum to District Magistrate (Pauri) expressing concern over the
wedding.
“Such
inter-religious marriages will disturb the peace of the land of Uttarakhand. We
request you to ensure that even if this wedding happens, Mr. Rawat should go
outside the State to do the same,” the memorandum given by EK Prayas, the NGO,
said.
After facing a
weeklong protests, Mr. Rawat called off the wedding on Saturday. Speaking to
The Hindu, he maintained that he could name many big leaders of his own party
and Opposition who married off children into other communities and expressed
shock at the kind of protest that he faced when he did the same.
“Due to
people’s outrage, both in person and on social media, I have to cancel the
wedding of my daughter,” Mr. Rawat said. He will be meeting the groom’s family
in Amethi soon to decide the next course of action.
Source: thehindu.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/bjp-leader-in-uttarakhand-cancels-daughters-wedding-with-muslim-man-after-protests/article66877744.ece
-----
21 Accused
Named In Case Linked To Muslim Men's Killing: Rajasthan Cops
May 21, 2023
Jaipur: The
Rajasthan Police on Sunday named 21 people, including Bajrang Dal member Monu
Manesar, in the alleged abduction and killing of two Muslim men whose charred
bodies were found in Bhiwani district of Haryana.
"We have
named 21 accused in the FIR, including Monu Manesar, for abduction, assault and
murder of Junaid and Nasir. All of them are accused of destroying evidence and
providing financial help and shelter as well as guiding others to
abscond," Bharatpur SP Shyam Singh said. Manesar, a prominent face of cow
vigilantism in Haryana, had been denying his involvement in the case. The
charred bodies of Junaid, 35, and Nasir, 27, were found inside a vehicle in
Bhiwani on February 16 after they were allegedly kidnapped, beaten and murdered
by members of the right wing group Bajrang Dal, which had rubbished the claim.
On February 22,
Bharatpur police had named nine accused Rinku Saini, Anil and Srikant Pandit
from Nuh, Kalu Jaat from Kaithal, Kishore from Karnal, Monu and Gogi from
Bhiwani, Vikas and Sashikant Sharma from Jind.
On April 14,
police had arrested Monu Rana and Gogi. Earlier on February 17, Rinku Saini was
arrested.
The charge sheet
in the case was presented in Kaman court on May 16.
The 21 accused
in the case are Mohit alias Monu Manesar from Gurugram; Lokesh Singla from Nuh;
Vishal Jebli from Charkhi Dadri; Badal from Nuh; Shivam from Karnal; Tushar
from Nuh; Rajveer from Jind; Pravesh and Ravindra from Charkhi Dadri;
Sukhwinder from Jind; Ashu from Rewari; Ramesh alias Mesa from Sisar; Bhola,
Manoj from Gohana; Yogendra Acharya and Azad Acharya, Deepak, Sanjay Parmar,
Navneet, Bholu and Devi Lal from Haryana, police added.
Source: ndtv.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/21-accused-named-in-case-linked-to-muslim-mens-killing-rajasthan-cops-4054069
--------
South Asia
Dutch
politician leads fact-finding mission to Bangladesh to investigate genocide
committed by Pak army
22 May, 202
London [UK],
May 22 (ANI): Dutch politician and former Member of Parliament Harry van
Bommel, along with a European delegation is on a visit to Bangladesh from May
20-26, where the delegation will investigate the genocide committed by Pakistan
in 1971.
The mission is
an initiative of the European Bangladesh Forum (EBF) and will also consist of
genocide scientist Anthonie Holslag (VU), political analyst Chris Blackburn,
British EBF chairman Ansar Ahmed Ullah and Dutch EBF chairman Bikash Chowdhury
Barua.
The mission’s
goal is to obtain firsthand information on the genocide committed by the
Pakistani army in Bangladesh during the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971.
The delegation
tends to meet victims, witnesses, genocide researchers, academics, policymakers
and government representatives in Bangladesh. In addition, the team visits a
number of killing fields and war museums in and around the capital Dhaka and
the second major city Chittagong, according to an official statement.
The mission to
Bangladesh takes place at a time when there is worldwide attention for the
genocide in Bangladesh.
Recently, two
members of the US Congress submitted a resolution to the US House of
Representatives calling on the President of the United States, Joe Biden, to
recognize the crimes against humanity committed by the Pakistani military at
the time.
In the United
Kingdom, too, recognition of the 1971 genocide has been discussed in
parliament. According to delegation leader Van Bommel, “Dutch recognition of
this genocide is relevant because in 1972 the Netherlands was one of the first
countries to recognize the independence of Bangladesh.”
According to
the official statement, the fact-finding mission will communicate its findings
to the Dutch government and the House of Representatives. The European
Bangladesh Forum will also organise a conference on the findings. (ANI)
Source: theprint.in
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://theprint.in/world/dutch-politician-leads-fact-finding-mission-to-bangladesh-to-investigate-genocide-committed-by-pak-army/1587203/
---------
ACCI Welcomes
Reduction in Taxes by Islamic Emirate
21-05-23
The Afghanistan
Chamber of Commerce and Investment (ACCI) said that the recently announced
reduction in taxes will help the Afghan private sector, but the Islamic Emirate
should bring reforms to the tax system.
Speaking at an
event organized by the ACCI, the acting head of the Afghanistan Chamber of
Commerce and Investment, Mohammad Younus Momand, said that taxes should be
collected at customs offices from the traders.
“The taxes
should be enforced in consideration of the current status of the citizens. I
mean, we should enforce all types of taxes based on the level of the business
of the citizens,” he said.
A member of the
ACCI’s executive board, Khan Jan Alokozai, said that Afghan traders import
commodities worth $5 billion to $6 billion annually, and he urged the Islamic
Emirate to reduce the tariffs.
“There are a
lot of materials in Afghanistan that no company has. But its tariff are high.
Another commission is being established for tariff issues and our friends will,
inshallah, talk about it (tariff),” Alokozai said.
Meanwhile, some
traders complained about the closing of some crossing ports and problems in the
issuance of visas for foreign countries.
“The visa is a
serious and central problem ahead of the traders. Lately we cannot simply
receive visas with which we can travel to different countries--to the
neighboring countries,” said Omid Haidari, a trader.
“They should
try not to mix the political issues with economic issues… because our trade
sector has been massively affected,” said Ismail Danish, a trader.
Earlier, the
economic deputy prime minister, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, said that the
Islamic Emirate had established a commission to address the challenges facing
traders in Afghanistan.
Source: tolonews.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-183457
--------
Afghanistan
Will Reach Self-Sufficiency in Education: Shikib
21-05-23
The acting head
of the Islamic Emirate’s embassy in Pakistan, Sardar Mohammad Shikib, said that
the interim government was fully prepared to address challenges in the Afghan
educational sector.
Speaking at a
graduation ceremony of Afghan students in Pakistan, Shikib praised Pakistan for
providing educational scholarships for Afghan students.
“We can say it
with assurance that in the near future, we will not only succeed in the
education sector, but Afghanistan will reach self-sufficiency in education,” he
said.
This comes as
schools for female students in grade 7-12 have remained close for more than 600
days.
Last December,
the Islamic Emirate in an order banned all female students from going to their
universities.
“If a country
wants to improve, it should allow girls and their brothers to work together for
the improvement of their country,” said Fatima Rizai, a student.
“We call on the
Islamic Emirate to reopen the doors of the schools and universities as soon as
possible,” said Marriam Hashimi, a school student.
The closing of
schools and universities for female students by the Islamic has faced strong
reactions both inside and outside Afghanistan.
Source: tolonews.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
According to
the UN, Afghanistan is the only country where girls are deprived of going to
school.
https://tolonews.com/index.php/afghanistan-183456
--------
Massive
Earthquake Rocks Badakhshan; Tremors Felt in Kabul
May 22, 2023
An earthquake of magnitude 4.9 rocked 98 Km
southeast of Faizabad Badakhshan province, and the tremors were felt in Kabul,
on Monday, at 10:43 am local time.
The earthquake of
4.9 happened at 10: 43 am local time today with a depth of 100 Km in Faizabad
capital city of Badakhshan province, the Indian National for Seismology (NCS)
said.
No causalities
have been reported so far; further details are awaited.
This is the
second earthquake within 10 hours; the first earthquake occurred with a
magnitude of 4.0, 69 Km east of Faizabad, Badakhshan province of Afghanistan,
on Monday.
“Earthquake of
Magnitude: 4.0, Occurred on 22-5-2023, 1:52 am local time, Lat: 37.04 &
Long: 71.35, Depth: 10Km, Location Faizabad, Badakhshan province, Afghanistan,”
The Indian National Center for Seismology (NCS) tweeted.
Natural
disasters like earthquakes, landslides, avalanches, torrential rain, and
flooding are widespread in Afghanistan.
Due to a lack
of infrastructure and a proper management system, the country’s severity and
damage from natural disasters are massive.
As a result,
additional safety measures and precautions are required to decrease the
severity of the disaster, particularly in the north and northeast, including
the capital city of Kabul.
Source: khaama.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.khaama.com/massive-earthquake-rocks-badakhshan-tremors-felt-in-kabul/
--------
WHO Warns of
Potential Surge in Dengue Fever Cases In Afghanistan
May 22, 2023
The World Health Organization (WHO) issued a
warning regarding the potential surge in cases of dengue fever, often known as
bone-breaking fever, the organization stated on Sunday.
The organization
also expressed its readiness for its health workers to manage the disease in
the country.
“With the onset
of the rainy season, dengue cases could increase. We are preparing our health
workers to manage dengue cases,” the organization tweeted.
WHO emphasized
educating medical personnel to control dengue fever in eastern Afghanistan,
which endangers high risk.
The
organization also held training sessions for 300 medical professionals across
the eastern provinces of Afghanistan.
“WHO has
recently trained 300 doctors, nurses & lab technicians from 18 hospitals
& 250 health facilitates from Kunar, Laghman, Nuristan & Nangarhar,”
the organization added.
The three-day
program on managing dengue cases featured 12 groups of 65 female health
workers.
The organization
also asked the people of Afghanistan to take the appropriate precautions to
safeguard their families from mosquito bites and prevent dengue.
“The three-day
dengue case management training was done in 12 batches where 65 female health
workers participated. As we prepare health facilities, we remind the public to
protect themselves and their family from mosquito bites and prevent dengue,” it
stated.
Source: khaama.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.khaama.com/who-warns-of-potential-surge-in-dengue-fever-cases-in-afghanistan/
--------
Bangladeshi
woman, her Indian husband held in Assam for entering India illegally
May 21, 2023
Police said
while the woman belonged to the Zakiganj area of neighbouring Bangladesh, her
husband is a resident of Teliakhalerpar village in Assam’s Karimganj district
Assam’s Cachar
police on Sunday arrested a young couple, a Bangladeshi woman and an Indian
man, for illegal border crossing, officials said.
Police said
while the woman belonged to the Zakiganj area of neighbouring Bangladesh, her
husband is a resident of Teliakhalerpar village in Assam’s Karimganj district.
Police said the
couple, identified as Dipankar Namasudra and Apara Namasudra, are in their teenage
years.
According to
the police, the woman entered India without any legal documents with help from
her Indian husband.
Upon
interrogation, Dipankar revealed that he crossed to Bangladesh from the Indian
side to meet Apara, who he met on social media about six months ago and stayed
in Bangladesh, where he worked as a carpenter.
After the
marriage, he, along with Apara entered India. However, on Saturday, locals in
the Gumra area of Cachar district noticed the couple and informed the police.
“Their movements
were suspicious, hence we stopped them and called the police,” a local resident
said.
The police
reached the area and brought them to the local police station. “This is a case
of love marriage. It seems they don’t have any other intentions,” said the superintendent
of police of Cachar district, Numal Mahatta.
Mahatta said
that upon interrogation it was found that the girl entered India without
documents. “Since the boy is from Karimganj and, according to him, he crossed
the border from that district, we have handed them Karimganj police,” he added.
During
interrogation, Dipankar informed that they spent ₹4,000 to cross
the international border. He said that some officials also helped them but did
not reveal their identity, said the SP.
Source: hindustantimes.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/others/young-couple-arrested-for-illegal-border-crossing-from-bangladesh-to-india-in-love-marriage-with-help-from-indian-husband-101684677848011.html
--------
Southeast
Asia
Man with
psychiatric history arrested for sending bomb threat via email
May 22, 2023
IPOH: Police
have arrested a 43-year-old man for allegedly sending a bomb threat via email
to the management of a shopping mall here yesterday.
District police
chief Assistant Commissioner Yahaya Hassan said police were alerted to the
incident at 2.56pm after the shopping mall management had received an email on
the bomb threat.
"A team of
Bomb Disposal Unit from the Perak police contingent headquarters were
dispatched to the scene. Further checks in the building confirmed that it was a
hoax bomb threat," he said in a statement today.
Following this,
Yahaya said the manager of the shopping mall had lodged a police report at 4.57pm
yesterday.
"The
manager said the shopping mall management had received an email from an unknown
person stating that there was a bomb in the shopping mall and asked them to
upgrade security measures.
Yahaya said
following this, police managed to arrest a man in Kampar yesterday at 11.30pm
and seized a communication device from him.
"The man
has a psychiatric history and is receiving treatment at the Psychiatric
Specialist Clinic, Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital (HRPB) here.
"A
preliminary urine screening test was also conducted on the man and found that
he was not under the influence of drugs.
"The
investigation of this case has been completed and the investigation papers will
be referred to the deputy prosecutor for further instructions," he said.
The case is
being investigated under Section 507 of the Penal Code for criminal
intimidation by an anonymous communication, which carries a seven-year jail
term if convicted.
Yahaya added
that members of the public were advised not to spread fake information which
could affect public safety and order.
Source: nst.com.my
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.nst.com.my/news/crime-courts/2023/05/911958/man-psychiatric-history-arrested-sending-bomb-threat-email
--------
Ties between
Umno and DAP: Impossible but possible
May 22, 2023
GEORGE TOWN: A
collective Malaysian spirit of understanding and cooperation seems to be the
pressing imperative now, a senior DAP lawmaker said.
According to Dr
P. Ramasamy, if Umno and DAP can sink their differences to come together, it is
certainly an indicator that things are working well for the unity government.
The Penang
Deputy Chief Minister II said the coming together of these parties was an
indication that moderate politics in the larger interest of the nation was the
best formula for the future.
"Politics
based on race and religion might be beneficial for short term political
interests, but unsustainable and dangerous for a country has that different
races and religions.
"The
sinking of differences between Umno and DAP leadership might be difficult to
accept at the grassroots levels.
"Years of
hostility cannot be wiped out in matter of few months, but an important start
has been made.
"It is
just a matter of time before such friendship is accepted at all levels,"
he said in his latest Facebook entry.
Politics,
Ramasamy said, was the art of impossibility and possibility.
He said what
was thought of as impossible or unthinkable could become possible under
different political circumstances.
"This is
nowhere more true in the case of the relationship between Umno in Barisan
Nasional (BN) and DAP in Pakatan Harapan (PH).
"Just a
few months ago, nobody would have thought that the two parties would smoke the
pipe of peace to engage in electoral collaboration.
"All this
was made possible by Umno's loss of Malay support in the last federal elections
in November last year. It was Umno's loss of Malay support that gravitated the
leadership to support the PH coalition under the leadership of Datuk Seri Anwar
Ibrahim, who subsequently became the prime minister.
"Umno's
support, coupled with the support of the coalitions in Sabah and Sarawak,
propelled the formation of the unity government with the PH coalition. The
formation of the unity government made it possible for Umno and DAP not only to
cease their earlier years of enmity but to think of future cooperation and
collaboration," he added.
As it is,
according to Ramasamy, the years of hostility between both the parties have
somewhat ceased to the extent of both working out strategies to enable the
unity government to win in the state elections scheduled in June or July this
year.
Elaborating, he
said Umno's loss of Malay support to Perikatan Nasional (PN) in the last
general elections was the key.
He noted that
without the necessary Malay support, the party became weak and rudderless.
"It was in
this context, the party opted to join the government of Anwar.
"Joining
the PH coalition was certainly a lesser evil for Umno rather than having a
Faustian pact with PN.
"The
formation of the unity government was an excellent opportunity for Anwar to
bring in the strange and contentious bedfellows under one broad umbrella.
"The unity
government's excellent performance in the last few months have provided a
conducive opportunity for parties such as Umno and DAP to come together,"
he said, adding that in the last few weeks or so, PH had engaged with Umno to
discuss electoral strategies and how best they could work together to win in
the state elections.
Ramasamy
stressed that cooperation between PH, and DAP in particular, was seen as an
appropriate measure to reduce extreme ethnic and religious politics in the
country.
"However,
the presence of PN might mitigate such an effort.
"Without
the twin pillars of race and religion, PN might be rendered irrelevant,"
he said.
Source: nst.com.my
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.nst.com.my/news/politics/2023/05/911988/ties-between-umno-and-dap-impossible-possible
----------
Umno members
should not be forced to vote for DAP candidates, says Johor leader
May 21, 2023
ISKANDAR
PUTERI: Umno members and supporters must be given the freedom to vote for any
candidate in the upcoming state elections.
Iskandar Puteri
Umno Division deputy head Datuk Pandak Ahmad said they should not be forced to
vote for DAP candidates.
He said Umno
members and supporters need to have the right to make their own decision.
He said Umno's
Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan has no right to force or issue
such instruction to the grassroots because he is no longer the party's
secretary general.
"The
statement made by Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan appeared to be personal in nature. He
seem to not understand the sentiment on the ground,
"We (Umno
and DAP) can work together in the unity government but in the context of
calling or forcing Umno supporters, he (Ahmad) has no authority, so be careful
when making statements," he said when met at the Aidilfitri Open House
organised by the Iskandar Puteri police headquarters.
"We don't
want to lose the trust of the grassroots members, especially the loyal
ones," he said.
Pandak, who is
also a former Johor Umno working secretary, said Umno leadership should reduce
making personal statements.
"The
people, including Umno supporters, will decide based on the current
developments. They will evaluate the changes made by the unity government.
"Perhaps
such statement was intended to increase the people's confidence in the
government, but it is not that easy," he said.
Yesterday,
Ahmad said that Umno members should choose candidates from the unity government
including DAP to strengthen the unity government.
He also said
the call was in line with Umno's stance to uphold Yang di-Pertuan Agong's
desire to see a stable and strong government after GE15.
Source: nst.com.my
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.nst.com.my/news/politics/2023/05/911860/umno-members-should-not-be-forced-vote-dap-candidates-says-johor-leader
--------
Zahid to
Muhyiddin: Let's see who is more accepted by the people
May 21, 2023
KUALA LUMPUR:
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi urged Perikatan Nasional
(PN) chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to use the state elections as a platform
to gauge the people's support.
"Let us
prove who is more accepted by the people through the six state elections,"
he said and wished Muhyiddin "good luck" in the upcoming election.
Zahid said this
during Vaisakhi celebration here today. Also present were Malaysia Punjabi
Association (PPM) president Datuk Gurjeet Singh Rhande and MIC deputy president
Datuk Seri M Saravanan.
Yesterday,
Muhyiddin said that PN could win up to 80 per cent votes especially from the
Malays in the upcoming state elections.
He said the
prediction was based on research and facts which showed that the combination of
Bersatu, Pas and Gerakan was leading in terms of popularity and leadership.
Speaking about
state elections, Zahid said that seat allocation discussions with Pakatan
Harapan (PH) has also reached the final stage and will be confirmed soon.
"BN
Supreme Council has decided that BN candidates will use own logo when
contesting," he said.
Meanwhile, he
said BN will consider PPM's proposal to join the coalition.
He said that
the move would strengthen BN's position as preparation for the coalition to
face any possibility in the future.
However, he
said, the core parties in BN need to agree to amend the constitution first,
before making the decision.
Source: nst.com.my
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.nst.com.my/news/politics/2023/05/911840/zahid-muhyiddin-lets-see-who-more-accepted-people
--------
Govt continuing
talks with crown prince of Abu Dhabi on 1MDB: Anwar
May 22, 2023
KUALA LUMPUR:
The government will continue discussions with Abu Dhabi crown prince and
executive council chairman Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to
resolve the 1Malaysia Development Bhd issue.
Prime Minister
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the discussions would be carried out following
the crown prince's four-day visit to Malaysia until May 24.
"It is
widely known that the crown prince's visit (to Malaysia) is to bring the
discussions forward. This includes (for) investment purposes.
"The 1MDB
settlement with International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC) will involve
additional revenue of US$1.8 billion for the country," he said during a
question-and-answer session in the first meeting of the Dewan Rakyat, today.
He was
responding to a question from Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin (Perikatan
Nasional-Larut) about new policies that have been implemented to boost the
economy.
In February,
IPIC and Aabar Investments PJS agreed to pay US$1.8 billion to the Minister of
Finance (Incorporated) and 1MDB.
Anwar also told
the house the government's implementation of reforms in governance has
benefited the economy.
Approved
investment in the first quarter of 2023 amounted to RM71.4 billion, a 60 per
cent increase from the corresponding period last year.
"Malaysia's
economy recorded growth of 5.6 per cent in Q1 this year, better than regional
countries such as Indonesia (five per cent), China (4.5 per cent) and Vietnam
(3.3 per cent).
"The
growth is also stronger than Bank Negara's projection for 2023 of between four
and five per cent.
"The
confidence in the government's economic management is also proven by Fitch
(February 2023) and Moody's (April 2023), which maintained Malaysia's credit
rating," he said.
Source: nst.com.my
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2023/05/912008/govt-continuing-talks-crown-prince-abu-dhabi-1mdb-anwar
--------
Indonesia ready
to bridge Ukraine-Russia peace efforts: Jokowi
Jakarta
(ANTARA) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has expressed his support for peace
efforts in Ukraine in the bilateral meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr
Zelenskyy, held on the sidelines of the Group of Seven (G7) Summit in
Hiroshima, Japan.
Jokowi also
conveyed that Indonesia is also ready to be a bridge of peace between Russia
and Ukraine.
"President
Zelenksyy, I have been following the situation in Ukraine. My condolences to
the victims who continue to fall," President Jokowi remarked, according to
a statement received here on Sunday.
Zelenskyy
expressed his appreciation of Indonesia's role in seeking peace settlement in
Ukraine.
He added that
he still remembers the moment when President Jokowi visited Kyiv last year,
becoming the first Asian leader who visited Ukraine since the invasion.
In the meeting,
the two leaders also discussed the importance of the world food supply chain,
which also had been discussed during Jokowi's visit to Kyiv last year.
President Jokowi conveyed his support for the extension of the Black Sea grain
deal.
"I welcome
the extension of the Black Sea grain deal for another two months. It's very
important for the continuity of the world wheat supply chain," Jokowi
said.
In addition,
the meeting also discussed humanitarian assistance. Indonesia has committed to
contributing to the renovation of one of the hospitals in Ukraine.
"The
Indonesian government continues to coordinate with the World Bank and Ministry
of Health of Ukraine to discuss this (plan)," the President added.
In the
bilateral meeting with Zelenksyy, President Jokowi was accompanied by
Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar
Pandjaitan, Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi, and Cabinet Secretary
Pramono Anung.
Source: en.antaranews.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://en.antaranews.com/news/282399/indonesia-ready-to-bridge-ukraine-russia-peace-efforts-jokowi
--------
Mideast
Iran condemns
fresh sacrilege to al-Aqsa Mosque
May 22, 2023
TEHRAN, May 22
(MNA) – Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman has condemned the fresh sacrileges
to al-Aqsa Mosque by an extremist member of the apartheid Zionist regime's
cabinet.
Nasser Kan'ani
said on Monday that such brazen and provocative attempts are another aspect of
the widespread and ongoing crimes committed by the Zionist apartheid regime
against the Palestinian nation, the religious and Islamic sanctities of this
land that require an effective, immediate and deterrent reaction by the Islamic
world and the international community.
He emphasized
that the Holy Quds is and will remain the eternal and united capital of
Palestine, and the continuous attacks by the Zionist forces towards this city
and its Islamic sanctities will not change its reality and historical status.
On Sunday,
Israel’s far-right security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who was escorted by
occupation troops, stormed al-Aqsa Mosque in al-Quds’ Old City.
During his
incursion into the al-Aqsa Mosque complex on Sunday morning, Ben-Gvir claimed
that the Israeli regime was “in charge here,” drawing a wave of condemnations.
Source: en.mehrnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://en.mehrnews.com/news/201006/Iran-condemns-fresh-sacrilege-to-al-Aqsa-Mosque
--------
Talks underway
on direct Israel Saudi flights for Muslim pilgrims
An Israeli
official said on Sunday that talks were proceeding to allow direct flights from
Israel to Jeddah for pilgrims to Mecca, estimating agreement could come within
a month.
The subject was
raised by U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and Brett McGurk,
President Joe Biden's envoy to Saudi Arabia. McGurk raised the matter with
officials in Jerusalem and with the Director General of the Foreign Ministry
Ronen Levi during his visit to Washington last week.
The Biden
administration has been trying to convince the Saudis to agree to the direct
flights for the past year but has yet to succeed. Sullivan hinted at a chance
for a change in the kingdom's policies earlier this month in a speech to the
Washington Institute for Near East Policies ahead of his visit to Riyad.
On Sunday,
Saudi Arabia strongly condemned Israel for the visit of National Security
Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir to the Temple Mount, seen as a provocation of Muslims.
Ben-Gvir said his visit was an indication to all as to who is in charge.
The pilgrimage
to the Muslim holy sites in the Gulf Nation is set to begin in June so
logistics must be in place before that.
Israeli Muslims
have had to travel via Jordan in order to fulfill their religious duty in the
pilgrimage and direct flights from Israel to Saudi Arabia would constitute a
financial blow to the neighboring kingdom. One possible solution would be to
allow Jordanian airliners to transport the pilgrims from Israel.
Saud Arabia
opened its airspace to Israeli flights last July and in February, Oman also
allowed Israeli carriers to use its airspace, shortening flight time to the Far
East.
Source: ynetnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/skv9fxdrn
--------
Turkish Imam of
Cebeci Mosque Asks Congregation To 'Prepare Their Weapons' On May 28Election
Night
May 21 2023
A Turkish imam
working in the Cebeci Mosque in Istanbul’s Sultangazi district called the
congregation to “prepare their weapons” on the night of run-off presidential
election on May 28.
While
delivering the Friday sermon, imam Murat Gündoğdu said to the congregation that
“Prepare your weapons. Prepare your weapons on May 28 night. My two guns are
fully loaded. What is this we suffer from them (the opposition)? For 80 years,
what has this country suffered from them, from Armenian progenies?,” the daily
BirGün reported on May 21.
İmam Gündoğdu’s
remarks stirred a reaction among the congregation of the mosque, as well as on
social media as the footage of the moments spread.
On the other
hand, it was learned that the citizens complained about Gündoğdu defending the
government and making party propaganda during almost every Friday sermon.
After the
reporting, the Religious Affairs Directorate (Diyanet) on May 21 announced that
they launched an investigation into the incident.
Turkey held
parliamentary and presidential elections on May 14. In the presidential elections,
Erdoğan officially received 49.52% of the votes, whereas Kılıçdaroğlu received
44.88%. This is the first time Turkey will experience a run-off election on May
28.
Source: duvarenglish.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.duvarenglish.com/turkish-imam-asks-congregation-to-prepare-their-weapons-on-election-night-news-62446
--------
Hamas Condemns
Ben-Gvir’s Storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque
21 May, 2023
The Islamic
Resistance Movement Hamas spokesperson for occupied Jerusalem Mohammed Hamada
condemned on Sunday, 21 May 2023 the Israeli far-right minister Ben-Gvir’s
storming of Al-Aqsa mosque.
In a press
release, Hamada said that the Israeli occupation’s minister of National
Security’s breaking into the blessed al-Aqsa Mosque’s courtyards accompanied by
a group of colonial settlers highlights the serious threat facing the holy site
under the new fascist government.
He added that
Hamas held the Israeli occupation’s government responsible for the
repercussions of desecrating the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Hamade
reiterated that the Palestinian people will continue to be steadfast in the
face of violent Israeli attacks that violate all international laws and
conventions.
He also
confirmed that the Palestinian people will continue to defend Christian and
Muslim holy places against Israeli violations.
Earlier today,
Far-right Israeli minister Itamar Bin-Gvir along with dozens of colonial
Israeli settlers invaded the courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque and performed
provocative rituals under high Israeli protection.
Ben Gvir
invaded the Al-Aqsa Mosque for the second time since the formation of the
far-right government last December, fueling the Palestinians’ and Arabs’ anger
amid a scale of condemnation.
The visit of
Ben Gvir came a few days after the “Flags March” marking the Israeli occupation
of Palestinian East Jerusalem following the 6-day war in 1967, a step that is
not internationally recognized.
“I have been to
the Temple Mount. Jerusalem is our soul,” Ben Gvir wrote on his Telegram
account.
The leader of
the far-right party was charged more than 50 times in his youth for inciting
violence or for hate speech, and convicted in 2007 of supporting a terrorist
group and inciting racism.
Colonial
settlers’ backed by the Israeli occupation forces repeatedly invade Muslims and
holy places in the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem in a flagrant violation of
all international conventions and laws, guaranteeing Palestinian people’s right
to worship in their sacred sites.
As part of a decades-old
accord between Jordan and the Israeli occupation, non-Muslims are not allowed
to perform any religious rituals inside the confines of Al-Aqsa Mosque, nor are
Israeli symbols allowed to be displayed.
In 2003, the
Waqf’s management of Al-Aqsa visits was revoked by Israeli authorities. Since
then, Israeli forces have allowed colonial settlers to break into the site on a
near-daily basis.
Illegal
settlers repeated violations of Muslim, as well as Christian, symbols as a
deliberate attempt to Judaise the occupied Jerusalem, with the progressive
expulsion of the local population; the Palestinians.
In 2022, 56670
colonial settlers invaded Al-Aqsa Mosque courtyards and performed Talmudic
provocative rituals in its squares, according to Palestinian figures.
Source: daysofpalestine.ps
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://daysofpalestine.ps/hamas-condemns-ben-gvirs-storming-of-al-aqsa-mosque/
--------
Gov. seeks more
ties with neighbors, Muslim nations
May 21, 2023
TEHRAN, May 21
(MNA) – The Iranian President reaffirmed his administration's focus of its
foreign policy on strengthening relations with neighboring and Muslim
countries.
Addressing a
cabinet meeting on Sunday afternoon, President Ebrahim Raeisi recalled the
remarks made by the Leader of the Islamic Revolution in yesterday's meeting
with the ambassadors and officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and
reemphasized the need to strengthen the relations and interactions of the
Islamic Republic of Iran with Muslim, neighboring and friendly countries.
Raeisi
emphasized that not only the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but all apparatuses
should pursue that issue seriously.
The president
further described actions to enhance the level of relations and expand interactions
with Muslim, neighboring and allied countries as the duty of all apparatuses,
adding "Although relations with the target countries have considerably
increased over almost the past two years, there is space for more enhanced
relations according to the existing capacities and potentials."
Commenting on
the recent accomplishing the around-the-world mission by the Iranian Navy 86th
flotilla, the president described the sailing as "a sign of the might and
power of the navy and armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran that
deserves appreciation."
Source: en.mehrnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://en.mehrnews.com/news/200994/Gov-seeks-more-ties-with-neighbors-Muslim-nations
--------
UAE condemns
Israeli minister's storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque
21/May/2023
ABU DHABI,
Sunday, May 21, 2023 (WAFA) – The United Arab Emirates today condemned Israeli
minister Itamar Bin Gvir's storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque under the protection of
the Israeli police.
In a statement
issued today, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
affirmed the UAE's firm position on the need to provide full protection for
Al-Aqsa Mosque, and to stop dangerous and provocative violations in it.
It stressed the
importance of supporting all regional and international efforts to advance the
peace process in the Middle East, as well as putting an end to illegal
practices that threaten reaching a two-state solution and establishing an
independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its
capital.
Source: english.wafa.ps
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://english.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/135910
--------
Qatar condemns
Israeli minister's storming of Al Aqsa Mosque courtyards
MAY 21, 2023
The State of
Qatar condemned in the strongest terms Israeli National Security Minister
Itamar Ben-Gvir's storming of the courtyards of Al Aqsa Mosque, under the
protection of the occupation authorities, considered the storming a flagrant
violation of international law and of the Hashemite custodianship of the holy
sites in occupied Jerusalem.
In a statement
on Sunday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs warned against the escalatory policy
adopted by the Israeli government in the occupied Palestinian territories,
stressing that the attempts to harm the religious and historical status of Al
Aqsa Mosque are not only an attack on the Palestinians, but also on millions of
Muslims around the world.
The Ministry
held the Israeli occupation authorities solely responsible for the cycle of
violence that will result from the reoccurring violations and storming of the
blessed Al Aqsa Mosque and the systematic escalatory policy against the
Palestinian people, their land, and their Islamic and Christian sanctities,
urging the international community to take urgent measures to stop these
attacks.
The Ministry
reaffirmed the State of Qatar's firm position on the justice of the Palestinian
cause and the legitimate rights of the brotherly Palestinian people, including
the full right to practice their religious rites without restrictions, and to
establish their independent state on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as
its capital.
Source: gulf-times.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.gulf-times.com/article/661479/qatar/qatar-condemns-israeli-ministers-storming-of-al-aqsa-mosque-courtyards
--------
'Strongly
condemn' Israel minister's raid on Al Aqsa Mosque complex: Ankara
Türkiye has
"strongly condemned" Israeli National Security Minister Itamar
Ben-Gvir's storming of the Al Aqsa Mosque complex in occupied East Jerusalem.
"We
strongly condemn the storming of Al Haram Al Sharif on May 21 by the Israeli
Minister of National Security under the protection of Israeli security forces
in clear breach of the international law," the The Turkish Foreign
Ministry said in a written statement.
Entering the
Haram Al Sharif area early in the morning with special guards and under the
protection of the Israeli forces, Ben-Gvir claimed Israel's ownership of the
complex in a video message from the mosque's courtyard.
Ankara called
on Israel to "act responsibly, and to put an end to all kinds of
provocative actions violating the historical status of Al Haram Al Sharif that
is based on the international law."
"It is in
no way acceptable that Israeli Government members challenge the historical
status of Al Haram Al Sharif in this manner and commit inflammatory and
fascistic actions," the Turkish ministry added.
This was the
second time Ben-Gvir entered the complex since taking office as national
security minister in the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last
December.
Ben-Gvir
previously entered the Al Aqsa Mosque compound on January 3, days after he took
office, and with this action, he became the first Israeli minister on duty to
enter the mosque in five years.
Holding
far-right views on Palestinians and having called for their displacement,
Ben-Gvir has repeatedly joined Israeli settlers in storming the flashpoint Al
Aqsa Mosque complex in the occupied East Jerusalem.
Al Aqsa
represents the world's third-holiest site for Muslims. Jews call the area the
Temple Mount, saying it was the site of two Jewish temples in ancient times.
Israel occupied
East Jerusalem, where Al Aqsa is located, during the 1967 Arab-Israeli War. It
annexed the entire city in 1980 in a move never recognized by the international
community.
Last November,
Israeli President Isaac Herzog warned in a leaked audio that "the whole
world is worried" about Ben-Gvir's far-right views.
Source: trtworld.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.trtworld.com/middle-east/strongly-condemn-israel-ministers-raid-on-al-aqsa-mosque-complex-ankara-13320082
--------
Saudi Arabia
condemns Israeli minister’s visit to Al-Aqsa mosque compound
21 May ,2023
Saudi Arabia’s
foreign ministry on Sunday strongly condemned a visit by an Israeli official to
the Al-Aqsa mosque compound.
In a statement,
the ministry said such actions represent “a flagrant violation of all
international norms and covenants” as well as a provocation to the sentiments
of Muslims worldwide.
For all the
latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.
“The ministry
holds the Israeli occupation forces fully responsible for the repercussions of
the continuation of these violations,” added the statement.
Israel’s
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir visited the Al-Aqsa mosque compound
on Sunday, a controversial move by the extreme-right politician amid heightened
tensions in annexed east Jerusalem.
The move came
three days after Ben-Gvir and tens of thousands of Jewish nationalists marched
through the Old City and just over a week into a fragile Gaza ceasefire.
Al-Aqsa mosque
is the third holiest site in Islam and is administered by Jordan. Non-Muslims
are permitted to visit the site, but not pray there.
The compound is
also the most sacred site for Jews, who pray below it at the Western Wall.
Tours of the
site by Jewish nationalists have long been criticized by Palestinians and Arab
nations, while Ben-Gvir’s visits have taken on added weight since he took
office in December.
Source: english.alarabiya.net
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://english.alarabiya.net/News/middle-east/2023/05/21/Saudi-Arabia-condemns-Israeli-minister-s-visit-to-Al-Aqsa-compound
--------
Palestinian
presidency condemns official Israeli incursions into Al-Aqsa Mosque
21 May 2023
Occupied
Jerusalem: Official spokesman for the Palestinian presidency Nabil Abu Rudeina,
described today hard-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir's
incursion this morning into the courtyards of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied
Jerusalem as a blatant attack on the holy site that will have serious
consequences.
"Attempts
by Itamar Ben Gvir and his likes of extremists to change the status quo in
Al-Aqsa Mosque are condemned and rejected and will fail. Our Palestinian people
will be on the lookout for them," said Abu Rudeineh in a press statement,
carried by Palestine's news agency (WAFA).
The
presidential spokesman said, "Extremist Ben-Gvir's incursion at an early
hour, like thieves, into the Al-Aqsa Mosque courtyards will not change the
reality and will not impose Israeli sovereignty over it."
He pointed out
that Ben-Gvir's incursion into the holy site necessitates immediate action from
the international community, particularly the US administration, which in order
to preserve the status quo in Jerusalem.
"Harming
Al-Aqsa Mosque is playing with fire, and will push the region into a religious
war with unimaginable consequences that will affect everyone," he
concluded.
Source: thepeninsulaqatar.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/21/05/2023/palestinian-presidency-condemns-official-israeli-incursions-into-al-aqsa-mosque
--------
Europe
Muslim dad's
fury after bacon found in daughter's McDonald's Filet-O-Fish burger
21 MAY 2023
A father has
been left angry after his daughter was served a McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish burger
containing bacon.
The girl was
visiting a McDonald’s branch in Walsall and had avoided ordering pork-based
items on the menu as it’s strictly forbidden within Islam.
However, despite
opting for the Filet-O-Fish burger she was "horrified" to find a
large piece of bacon wedged in the meal.
She had taken
several bites of the burger before noticing something pink among the white fish
filling.
The girl’s
father told BlackCountryLive: “My daughter found bacon in her Filet-O-Fish
burger. Due to her religious beliefs and values, we want this to be known so it
doesn’t happen again.”
McDonald’s has
since apologised to the father and daughter and said it was “extremely
disappointed” that the incident had occurred.
A McDonald’s
spokesperson said: “We’d like to apologise to the customer in question for
their experience. We take order accuracy very seriously and have a number of
procedures in place to avoid inaccurate orders.
“We are
extremely disappointed that we fell short of these on this occasion and
recognise that this is unacceptable. Our customer services team has also been
in contact with the customer to offer our apologies and help find a resolution.
This is not the
first time in recent days that McDonald’s have had to apologise for order
contamination.
Earlier this
week, another teen was shocked to find a winged insect deep fried among her
garlic mayo chicken wrap.
The wrap was
ordered from a different McDonalds branch, this time in Hemel Hempstead, and
delivered by UberEats.
McDonald’s
similarly issued an apology to the girl and her mother, who had made the order,
and stated that the establishment had been given a five star hygiene rating
just two months prior.
Source: dailystar.co.uk
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest-news/muslims-dad-fury-after-bacon-30034973
--------
Nobody in the
Muslim world supports sanctions on Russia – deputy PM
20 May, 2023
Islamic
countries do not support the West’s sanctions on Russia, and the agreements
signed at this week’s Kazan economic forum prove this, Russian Deputy Prime
Minister Marat Khusnullin told RT on Saturday.
Bringing
together delegations from Russia and the countries of the Organization of
Islamic Cooperation, the ‘Russia-Islamic World’ forum in the city of Kazan
resulted in hundreds of meetings and more than 100 trade agreements being
signed, Khusnullin said.
“The forum has
become a place where political and economic interests have gathered, because
the countries of the Muslim world support us,” he stated. “None of the
countries of the Muslim world support sanctions against us.”
While a handful
of Arab nations – most notably Saudi Arabia and Egypt – formally condemned Russia
over its military operation in Ukraine, no Islamic nation has followed the
West’s lead and imposed economic sanctions on Moscow.
Trade between
the Islamic world and Russia has continued largely unimpeded, and Khusnullin
revealed that more deals are in the works, including bilateral agreements on
agricultural products and Halal food, crude oil processing, and banking.
Increased trade
will be facilitated by the construction of the International North South
Transport Corridor, a 7,200-kilometer span of ship, rail, and road routes for
moving cargo between India, Iran, Azerbaijan, Russia, Central Asia, and Europe.
Moving freight from Russia to India is quicker and cheaper than via the
traditional Suez Canal route, while eliminating the risk posed by EU sanctions.
“A lot of
ground has been covered here,” Khusnullin said. “People have exchanged
connections, questions, and contacts, and this will give more and more momentum
for the future.”
This year’s
Kazan forum took place at a time of upheaval in the Islamic world. Aside from
the broad refusal to join the West’s sanctions regime, the oil-producing Gulf
states have refused to increase production at the US’ request, Saudi Arabia and
Iran have resumed diplomatic relations after Chinese-brokered talks, and Syria
has been welcomed back into the Arab League amid protests from the West.
Russia and
Islamic nations share a common geopolitical vision, Syrian Ambassador to Russia
Bashar Jaafari told RT on Friday. “The world needs to quickly move from the
unipolar system to a multipolar system,” Jaafari said, calling on Moscow and
its Islamic partners to sign a “political declaration” in the near future.
Source: rt.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.rt.com/russia/576638-russia-muslim-countries-sanctions/
--------
Muslim Council
condemns National Conservatism conference extremism
May 21, 2023
FOLLOWING A
SPEECH by UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman at the National Conservatism
Conference in London this week, the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) has asked
if it is time for the Equalities and Human Rights Commission to examine the
Conservative Party’s “persistent drive towards division and discrimination”.
The MCB
released the following statement on 17 May 2023:
The Muslim Council
of Britain (MCB) today called on the Conservative Party to take firm action
against the radical right-wing extremism that is now infecting its ranks.
This manifested
itself this week with the Home Secretary Suella Braverman endorsing the
hard-right polemicist Douglas Murray during her speech at the National
Conservativism Conference. Murray’s shocking views were on full display at the
event with his statements on Germany and the two world wars, reducing the
horrors of fascism and the Holocaust to a “muck up”.
Douglas
Murray’s record of hate is well documented. In a 2006 speech, he infamously
declared “conditions for Muslims in Europe must be made harder across the
board”, called Islam an “opportunist infection”, Muslims a “demographic time
bomb”, and that mosques should be “pulled down.” So extreme are Murray’s views,
that the Conservative party has previously broken off relations with him.
The Home
Secretary also doubled down on her demonising of an entire ethnic group by
asserting grooming gangs were over represented by British men of Pakistani
descent, even though the Home Office’s own report found no evidence of this.
The National
Conservatism Conference has form in courting controversy by inviting far-right
figures, so much so that in 2020, the Conservative Party censured one of its
MPs for attending. Now, three years later, the Home Secretary, former Cabinet
ministers and Conservative MPs are actively participating, endorsing the
forum’s divisive messaging.
Coupled with
the Conservative Party’s still unsatisfactory record in dealing with
Islamophobia within its rank and file,
is it time for the Equalities and Human Rights Commission to take on its
responsibilities. Is the body content with the Conservative Party’s persistent
drive towards division and discrimination?
It is time for
all of us, including Conservatives themselves, to stand and be counted against
such alarmingly divisive voices.
Source: ekklesia.co.uk
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.ekklesia.co.uk/2023/05/21/muslim-council-responds-to-national-conservatism-conference/
--------
British
university blocks Russian writer
20 May, 2023
University
College London (UCL) abruptly canceled a performance by Russian satirist and
author Viktor Shenderovich on Saturday, without stating any reason for the
decision. According to the BBC, the public who had arrived found the organizers
and the author himself standing “clueless” in front of closed doors leading
into the university buildings scheduled to host the event.
Shenderovich
later confirmed on Facebook he was “barred from his own performance in London”
but still did not explain the reasons behind the incident. He also mockingly
thanked “all the idiots” responsible “for such an incredible promotion.”
The author
eventually moved to nearby Regent’s Park together with his would-be audience,
where he held an impromptu performance “in the natural setting,” Shenderovich
himself said in his Facebook statement. The author called the event “one of his
best performances” and said that it was attended by “some 300 people.” He also
published a photo of a sizable crowd gathering around him in the park.
The UCL has not
commented on the incident.
Shenderovich is
known in Russia as an author, journalist, and anchor. The satirist was also
known as a staunch and long-time Kremlin critic. Back in 2010, he, together
with other Russian opposition figures, called on Vladimir Putin, who headed the
Russian government at that time, to leave his post. In 2014, he opposed Crimea’s
accession to Russia. In 2021, he left Russia after being designated a “foreign
agent” by the authorities. In 2022, he slammed the Russian military campaign in
Ukraine.
However,
Shenderovich found himself at the center of a scandal in late April, when he
referred to the Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine as “our boys” in an
interview with the YouTube ‘Living Nail’ podcast. “This is still our country
and our boys, misguided and unfortunate, even killers sometimes but they are
ours,” he said, calling it the “zone of responsibility” of Russians.
He also said
that even Russian liberals can only be temporary “partners” with Ukrainians
“until Putin is toppled.” The satirist then said he would like to see Russia
preserved, adding that he was by no means sure that Ukrainians want the same.
“Many Ukrainians would just like to see… Russia go down in flames, with me and
you, all of us… [They] want it to perish.” The author then slammed Ukrainians
over calling Russians a “nation of slaves” and described such sentiments in
Ukraine as “outbursts of Nazism.”
His words
sparked a wave of indignation in Ukraine and in the Russian opposition scene.
On May 11, a group of pro-Ukrainian activists sought to cancel a performance he
was scheduled to give in the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius. When Shenderovich
came out to talk to the crowd that had gathered outside of the venue where he
was about to perform, one of the activists sprayed him with tomato sauce. The
author later said that his words had been “taken out of context.”
Source: rt.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.rt.com/russia/576641-british-university-block-russian-writer/
--------
Pro-Western
president calls for boycott of national airline
21 May, 2023
Georgian President
Salome Zurabishvili has declared a personal boycott of Georgian Airways over
its decision to resume flights to Russia, and urged her fellow citizens to
follow suit.
Speaking at a
briefing on Saturday, Zurabishvili, who has supported Tbilisi’s aim of NATO and
EU integration while condemning Russia’s military campaign in Ukraine, accused
Georgian Airways of being “ready to do anything for money” and “taking
advantage of a reality that is unacceptable for a very large part of our
population.”
“I want to tell
you that I am boycotting Georgian Airways and I urge you to join,” she said,
adding that she did not want to enrich the company.
Responding to
Zurabishvili’s criticism, Tamaz Gaiashvili, the founder of Georgian Airways,
said that until the president “apologizes to the Georgian people,” she will not
be allowed onboard the airlines’ aircraft. He also criticized the president for
what he said was a belief that stopping one airline would bring the Russian
economy to its knees.
Last week,
Russian President Vladimir Putin lifted the air travel ban and visa regime with
Georgia, both of which were imposed in 2019 in the wake of anti-Russia protests
in Tbilisi. The first flight carried out by a Russian airline landed in the
Georgian capital on Friday, sparking a demonstration at the airport which
resulted in clashes with police.
Zurabishvili
earlier described Russia’s decision to cancel the restrictions as “another
provocation” and “unacceptable as long as Russia continues its aggression on
Ukraine and occupies our territory.”
She was
apparently referring to Moscow’s friendly ties with South Ossetia and Abkhazia,
two republics that broke away from Tbilisi in the 1990s and were recognized as
independent states by Moscow after the 2008 conflict between Russia and
Georgia.
However,
numerous high-ranking Georgian officials did not share Zurabishvili's view
about the resumption of flights with Russia, including Tbilisi Mayor Kaha
Kaladze, who said that he welcomed the decision. “There is nothing wrong with
being able to travel without a visa and flying [to other countries],” he said,
while also noting that Georgia has refrained from supporting Western sanctions
against Russia over the Ukraine conflict.
“We won’t take
a decision that will harm our country. We won’t join the sanctions,” Kaladze
reiterated.
Source: rt.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.rt.com/russia/576662-georgia-president-boycott-airline/
--------
North
America
"Hate will
not win": Solidarity rally held after Minnesota's 6th suspected mosque
attack this year
MAY 21, 2023
ST. PAUL, Minn.
– Recent attacks at Twin Cities mosques sparked a show of solidarity Sunday
with the Muslim community.
More than 100
people gathered outside the Tawhid Islamic Center in St. Paul after it
sustained heavy damage in a suspected arson last week.
Jaylani
Hussein, the executive director of CAIR-MN, says it'll cost hundreds of
thousands of dollars to rebuild.
"Our
community is feeling overwhelmed, under-resourced and under attack,"
Hussein said.
The fire is the
sixth suspected attack on a mosque in Minnesota this year. Community leaders of
all faiths made it clear Sunday that Muslims are not alone as they experience
this fear and trauma.
Camphor United
Methodist Church sits next door to the mosque and has offered any help it can
since the fire.
"We are
forging some new paths for relationships and so we hope that good will come out
of it. But yes, it was a very challenging day," said Pastor Frenchye
Magee.
Harold Golden
Jr., who's also with the church, says these incidents bring back memories of
Black churches in the South being damaged.
At the Capitol,
the state legislature has set money aside for security cameras to be installed
at places of worship, and Muslim leaders are lobbying for more.
"In
Minnesota, hate will not win," Hussein said. "In Minnesota,
Minnesotans are always going to stand against hate and fear."
Golden says the
solution is more mental health professionals and "closer scrutiny of those
who need the help."
Said Murekezi,
42, has been charged with arson in the Tawhid mosque fire. Charging documents
show Murekezi said if he wasn't caught, he would've "torch[ed] another
one" or a church.
Arson charges
have also been brought against a man for a fire at a Minneapolis mosque last
month.
Source: cbsnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/hate-will-not-win-solidarity-rally-held-after-minnesotas-6th-suspected-mosque-attack-this-year/
---------
Julani and
Qahtani Move Away from “Jihad”, Two Messages to the West
May 22nd, 2023
The leader of
Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham is actively seeking to shed the “terrorist” label,
sending two significant messages to the West, as shared by journalist Wassim
Nasr of France 24. Nasr recently visited Idleb where he met with al-Julani and
Tahrir al-Sham leader Abu Maria al-Qahtani.
According to
Nasr’s report, Julani stated that his group is no longer committed to the
principles of global jihad, recognizing that it only brings destruction and
failure to their communities. Nasr also quoted Julani, who expressed a clear
understanding of his group’s strengths and weaknesses.
In an interview
with the Counterterrorism Center at West Point Academy, Nasr stated, “There is
a noteworthy shift occurring. A jihadist group and its leaders are distancing
themselves from anything associated with global jihad.”
“We don’t want
to fight the West”
Julani’s
statements align with those of Qahtani, a prominent leader within Tahrir
al-Sham. Nasr reports that Qahtani expressed a desire to move away from
perpetual warfare and emphasized that Tahrir al-Sham does not seek conflict
with the West, but rather aims to combat those who pose a threat to the West
from their region.
Qahtani further
stated that Tahrir al-Sham employs not only force but also persuasion to
dissuade young individuals from joining the Islamic State and al-Qaeda,
showcasing a functioning and viable alternative. Qahtani publicly called for
the dissolution of Qaeda and even reached out to the Yemeni branch, urging them
to cease their activities.
The leader
questioned the purpose of Qaeda’s leadership in Iran, referring to them as the
“sword of justice,” expressing a desire for Tahrir al-Sham to retain its Sunni
identity rather than being influenced by Iran. Nasr emphasizes that Tahrir
al-Sham’s fight against Qaeda and the Islamic State is not merely to appease
the Western audience but is rooted in the belief that these projects are
inherently flawed.
Nasr also notes
that Tahrir al-Sham views foreign fighters as a strategic asset, prepared to
confront the challenges posed by them.
“Modern Islamic
State”
According to
Nasr, Tahrir al-Sham aspires to establish a contemporary Islamic state and has
already established ministries. However, these offices are currently limited in
size and sometimes unoccupied, indicating a strong determination to take
action.
Nasr shares
insights from individuals within the Salvation Government associated with
Tahrir al-Sham, who expressed a desire for political support from the
international community, along with skilled individuals who can contribute to
building the administrative infrastructure. Their goal is not merely to rebuild
but to create an entirely new system from the ground up.
Source: syrianobserver.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://syrianobserver.com/news/83087/julani-and-qahtani-move-away-from-jihad-two-messages-to-the-west.html
--------
Russia to
collab with Islamic World for financial independence
May 21, 2023
Amidst the
fluid dynamics of international politics and economics, Russia is charting new
territories. Alexey Overchuk, the Deputy Prime Minister of Russia, revealed at
the 14th international economic forum Russia – Islamic World: KazanForum that
they are in conversation with Islamic countries about the shift away from
dollar dominance and towards a more independent financial system.
The influence
of the global power shuffle and emerging trends on the country’s relationships
with Islamic nations are noticeable. Processes such as de-dollarization and
independent financial system formation are at the forefront of these
discussions, highlighting Russia’s proactive approach to embracing change.
Shifting sands
of global power dynamics
Overchuk
underscored other salient points as well. They include the processes of
de-globalization, the transfer of industrial production, the wane of Western
investment in the Global South, and the challenges related to energy and food
security.
This broader
agenda offers a glimpse into how these trends might shape the relationships
between Russia and Islamic states, hinting at an optimistic future. The
government, he insisted, is committed to fostering this development.
These
discussions come in the wake of pointed criticism from Moscow and Beijing aimed
at the G7 summit in Hiroshima. Both Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and
China’s Foreign Ministry castigated G7 leaders for purportedly disrupting
international peace and indulging in self-aggrandizement, targeting Russia and
China.
This
confrontation came into focus as both Russia’s offensive in Ukraine and the
handling of an assertive Beijing cast long shadows over the G7 meeting in
Japan.
Notably,
Ukraine’s leader Volodymyr Zelensky made a surprise, in-person appearance at
this gathering of the world’s leading industrialized democracies.
Russia, Islamic
World, and the G7 – Navigating troubled waters
G7 member
countries highlighted the need to cooperate with the world’s second-largest
economy, China, but also expressed the need to counter its “malign practices”
and “coercion”. In a response, Beijing urged the G7 “not to become an
accomplice” in American “economic coercion.”
Interestingly,
the summit saw participation from non-G7 leaders as well, including Indian
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Indonesian President Joko Widodo, and Australian
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
The latter
expressed his concerns about China’s activity, including its military
operations in the South China Sea.
Concerns about China’s
increasingly aggressive military posture towards Taiwan and economic sanctions
against Lithuania over a disagreement about Taiwan have also impacted sentiment
in Europe.
Many European
leaders are watching China’s Xi Jinping tighten ties with President Vladimir
Putin, particularly against the backdrop of Moscow’s invasion leading to a
humanitarian crisis.
As
international alliances shift and new economic realities take shape, Russia’s
move to partner with Islamic nations could signal a significant realignment.
These
discussions and developments highlight the multi-dimensional aspect of
international relations and demonstrate how rapidly geopolitical landscapes can
change.
This
collaborative move by Russia with the Islamic World could be seen as a strategy
to maintain economic stability amidst this global upheaval. The lens of the
international community is now firmly focused on this region as Russia charts
its course toward financial independence.
Disclaimer: The
information provided is not trading advice. Cryptopolitan.com holds no
liability for any investments made based on the information provided on this
page. We strongly recommend independent research and/or consultation with a
qualified professional before making any investment decision.
Source: cryptopolitan.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.cryptopolitan.com/russia-collab-islamic-world-independence/
--------
Pakistan
Prime Minister
of PakistanVows To Stamp Out Terrorism From Country
May 21, 2023
Prime Minister
Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has said that elements responsible for the suicide
attack on the Amir of Jamaat-e-Islami Siraj-ul-Haq in Balochistan will be
brought to justice.
He said his
during a telephonic conversation with Siraj-ul-Haq on Sunday.
The Prime
Minister said we all have to work together to eliminate the menace of
terrorism.
Shehbaz Sharif
also expressed condolences to the affected families of the suicide attack.
Source: radio.gov.pk
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.radio.gov.pk/21-05-2023/pm-vows-to-stamp-out-terrorism-from-country
--------
Pakistans’s
Shariah court strikes down provisions of transgenders’ rights law; activists to
appeal
May 21, 2023
Transgender
activists in Pakistan are planning to appeal a ruling by the Federal Shariat
Court, which has struck down several provisions of the Transgender Persons
(Protection of Rights) Act. This landmark law, passed in 2018, was aimed at
safeguarding the rights of transgender individuals in the country, including
access to legal gender recognition.
The court, on
Friday, deemed several provisions of the law "un-Islamic," and ruled
that individuals cannot change their gender based on their "innermost
feeling" or "self-perceived identity." Instead, as per the
Federal Shariat Court, people must conform to the biological sex assigned at
birth.
According to
the court, the term "transgender" as used in the law creates
confusion by encompassing various biological variations, such as intersex,
transgender men, transgender women, and Khawaja Sira (those assigned male at
birth but identify as female).
The court also
rejected a clause in the law that allows individuals to change their biological
gender in official identification documents.
It expressed
concerns about the potential "serious religious, legal and social
problems" of allowing any person to change their gender in accordance with
his or her inner feeling or self-perceived identity. To prove the point, it
gave the example of a transgender woman (biologically male) and said giving
such an individual to access female-only spaces and vice versa could facilitate
criminal activities.
"This law
will pave the way for criminals in society to easily commit crimes like sexual
molestation, sexual assault and even rape against females in the disguise of a
transgender woman," ruled the court.
However, the
court acknowledges that Islamic law recognises the presence of intersex
individuals and eunuchs, and stated that they should be granted the same
fundamental rights as outlined in the constitution for all Pakistani citizens.
The ruling has
sparked protests and opposition from activists who argue that the legislation
is not contradictory to Islamic principles.
Lawyer Sara
Malkani emphasised that gender identity is not limited to a binary concept and
that Islamic texts, including the Quran, do not prescribe specific behaviours
based on gender. Malkani was speaking at an event organised by the Gender
Interactive Alliance.
Talking to the
press on Friday, Nayyab Ali, executive director of Transgender Rights
Consultants Pakistan, said that they "absolutely intend to appeal the
court’s findings to the Supreme Court, and we will prevail".
On the other
hand, clerics and representatives from religious parties oppose the law,
claiming that it could promote homosexuality in a conservative Muslim-majority
country. They are urging the Islamic court to annul the law.
Critics,
including the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan and Amnesty International,
have expressed disappointment and alarm over the "regressive ruling",
asserting that it seeks the "erasure of an entire demographic and its
fundamental rights."
They argue that
rolling back the law will further marginalise and subject this vulnerable
community to abuse.
However,
surprisingly, some within the eunuch community have supported the court's
decision. Talking to AP, Sana, a eunuch in Rawalpindi, believes the ruling is
necessary to protect their community's access to employment opportunities, as
she claims that many gay men are undergoing medical castration for
opportunities under the job quota provided to eunuchs by the government.
Source: wionews.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistans-shariah-court-rules-self-identifying-as-transgender-un-islamic-activists-to-appeal-decision-594561
--------
Army Act only
for those who attacked military property: PM
May 22, 2023
ISLAMABAD/LAHORE:
The government has decided to prosecute protesters who attacked civilian
infrastructures under the anti-terrorism law while those who vandalised
military property would be put on trial under the Army Act.
Initially, the
government had planned to proceed against those involved in the violence
erupted after the arrest of PTI chief Imran Khan in military courts, as was
evident by decisions made by the National Security Committee.
The NSC had
endorsed the decision of the top brass to act against rioters under the Army
Act. However, it seems that criticism from national and international groups
has led the government to make a distinction between the two groups.
Addressing a
meeting on Sunday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said those who attacked
civilian infrastructure would be prosecuted in the anti-terrorism courts while
cases involving military installations and property, such as the Corps
Commander House, would be tried under relevant laws.
According to
the prime minister, May 9 was the “darkest day in the [country’s] history” when
miscreants allegedly belonging to the PTI set fire to the Corps Commander House
in Lahore. He equated this with the attack on Quaid-i-Azam Residency in Ziarat
in 2013.
“On May 9,
Imran Niazi and his followers stoked terrorism and violence that amounted to
anti-state acts,” the premier said, as he drew comparison between the PTI and
the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan over attacks on military installations.
He recalled
that militants had attacked a naval facility in Karachi in the past while the
PTI supporters damaged a plane outside the Mianwali airbase which had been used
to defend the country.
Unfortunately,
these Pakistanis turned into enemies of the country and carried out attacks
targeting the Radio Pakistan and several other buildings across the country,
said Mr Sharif. “Such agonising incidents will continue to haunt the nation,”
he added.
Talking about
progress made on the legal proceedings against rioters, he reiterated that it
has been decided that anyone involved in the incidents of “planning,
instigating, sloganeering, and vandalism” would not escape the iron clutches of
the law.
Naqvi briefs PM
The premier
also chaired a meeting to review various legal aspects pertaining to the May 9
protests and the subsequent action against protesters.
Punjab
Caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi briefed the participants about the steps
so far taken against the culprits.
The meeting
decided that cases of the culprits who had damaged and set on fire public
property and infrastructure would be sent to anti-terrorism courts, while those
rioters who damaged military infrastructure would be tried in military courts
under the Army Act.
Those who
attended the meeting included Azam Nazir Tarar and Musaddiq Malik, Ataullah
Tarar and Salman Rafique.
PM Sharif was
also briefed about various cases being adjudicated by the Supreme Court. He was
quoted as saying that the Jinnah House arson case would never be forgiven
though no innocent would be penalised.
PKLI close to
PM’s heart
In a series of
tweets, Mr Sharif said it was his cherished desire to transform the Pakistan
Kidney and Liver Institute (PKLI) into a splendid institute like Johns Hopkins,
but Imran Khan and a former chief justice had caused huge damage to it. He
passed these remarks after paying a visit to the hospital.
The premier
said he wanted the PKLI to become an identity for Pakistan in the rest of the
world for the treatment facilities for kidney and liver diseases.
“But alas!
Imran Niazi and a former chief justice out of their politics and personal
interests targeted this mission and inflicted huge damage,” he said in a tweet
posted in Urdu.
The prime
minister, expressing his resolve, said these things would not deter his government
and it was his “firm conviction that Allah Almighty supported those who worked
with a passion to serve humanity”.
For
transformation and restoration of PKLI into a world-class health facility, they
were striving and utilising their energies, he said while referring to his
visit to the facility where he reviewed different measures in this regard. The
prime minister also appreciated Dr Saeed Akhtar and his team for leading the
efforts to achieve these objectives and assured his complete support to them.
No new military
court on the cards
Meanwhile,
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, who was in Sialkot, said there would be no new
military courts to prosecute rioters, rather those already working under the
Army Act would try the suspects for attacks on army buildings and
installations.
Speaking to
participants of a rally held to show solidarity with the armed forces, Mr Asif
claimed that a political leader and his coterie were targeting the armed forces
and inviting “foreigners to join this unholy campaign”.
On the other
hand, the PML-N is ‘anxiously’ waiting to see the leadership of PTI behind
bars.
In a tweet,
Senator Irfan Siddiqui expressed his frustration regarding delay in the legal
action against the perpetrators, saying 12 days had passed but “we are still
playing with words” instead of ensuring legal proceedings against the suspects.
Expressing
dissatisfaction at the pace of action against the suspects by his party’s
government, he recalled that neither any joint investigation team nor any
commission had been formed by the UK government after London riots in 2011 and
claimed that even an “11-year-old girl was among those convicted” by courts.
Source: dawn.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.dawn.com/news/1754939/army-act-only-for-those-who-attacked-military-property-pm
--------
Imran sees ‘80
per cent chances’ of his arrest tomorrow
May 22, 2023
LAHORE: PTI
Chairman Imran Khan has said there are 80 per cent chances of his arrest on
Tuesday when he will be in Islamabad to pursue pre-arrest bail in various
cases.
In an interview
with CNN, the former prime minister alleged that PDM was aligned with the army
and was “dismantling the democratic system to keep me out”. Right now, he said,
over 10,000 workers had been arrested and his party’s entire senior leadership
was in jail.
Referring to
violence and arson attacks on state buildings and army installations on May 9,
Mr Khan said: “The way they have used the pretext of arson […] they have used
that reaction after my arrest to dismantle the party.”
Claiming that
hundreds of women and children have been jailed, the PTI chief said: “They are
now trying to try us in military courts.”
Since he had
already stated that he had no conflict with the establishment and did not know
why the other side was annoyed with him, the ex-premier wondered how could
someone win by “taking on your own army”. “In such a situation, even if you
win, the country loses,” Mr Khan said and in the same breath emphasised the
need for a strong army.
“I am a firm
believer that Pakistan needs a strong defence system.”
The former PM
said he did not have any problem with the army “knowing they have been
entrenched”, recalling that he had worked with former army chief Gen Qamar
Javed Bajwa before “he switched horses”.
He claimed the
ruling coalition wanted to “bump him off” because it was scared of losing
elections. Asserting that there was still a threat to his life, the PTI chief
said he had predicted that a religious fanatic would be used to kill him like a
former Punjab governor was assassinated.
Responding to a
question, he said Pakistan is passing through “unpredictable time” and
expressed the fear over the coalition government not holding the national
elections later in October this year.
“My worry now
is that they won’t hold the national elections even in October. I fear they
will hold the elections when clear that PTI will not win.”
Mr Khan said
the situation had deteriorated to such an extent that even the decisions of
judges and courts were being discarded.
Interactive
session
In an
interactive session with journalists, the PTI chairman said a Punjab government
delegation visited him on Sunday and gave him eight names, who they said were
wanted men. “Everyone in the PTI is currently wanted,” he commented.
“The
authorities have apprised me of conducting a search operation at my residence,
but I have refused to do so. They can come as per permission given by the
Lahore High Court,” he maintained.
He said the LHC
had ordered forming a two-member government team comprising a lady police
officer, and the PTI member to aid in the search operation.
While asking
for evidence of his party’s involvement in the May 9 violence, Mr Khan said if
PTI workers were found to be involved, he would help [police] catch them. “The
government is working on plans to bring me and the PTI into conflict with the
army.”
‘Illegal
crackdown’
The PTI and
Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Pakistan (JUI-P) demanded a halt to the ongoing “illegal
crackdown” on PTI workers as well as release of senior party members,
particularly women workers and leaders.
The demand was
made during a meeting of a 12-member delegation of JUI-P, led by Maulana Khan
Mohammad Sherani, with Imran Khan at his Zaman Park residence in Lahore on
Saturday.
The two parties
alleged that the state machinery was fanning internal conflict that would
destabilise Pakistan, besides ruining its economy. They said the government
should stop using excessive force to gag the masses from demanding fundamental
rights.
The meeting
demanded an independent and comprehensive investigation into the May 9
incidents to ascertain who opened fire on unarmed protesters that left 25
people dead and around 700 party workers and supporters injured.
The meeting
expressed concern over police raids on the houses of PTI workers without
ascertaining their involvement in any saboteur activity.
Maulana
Sherani, who had parted ways with the JUI-F and formed his own faction of
JUI-Pakistan, emphasised the need for a comprehensive investigation to bring to
justice those who had damaged public and private property on May 9.
The PTI and
JUI-P condemned victimisation of media houses and journalists, besides
promoting hate propaganda.
They demanded
that the Supreme Court remove the caretaker governments in Punjab and Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa and ensure holding of elections in line with constitutional
requirements.
The JUI-P
delegation condemned Imran Khan’s “abduction” by Rangers from the premises of
the Islamabad High Court.
Source: dawn.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.dawn.com/news/1754937/imran-sees-80-per-cent-chances-of-his-arrest-tomorrow
--------
Another MNA
parts ways with PTI over May 9 riots
May 22, 2023
KARACHI: The
PTI suffered another blow on Sunday when its MNA and Karachi chapter president
Aftab Siddiqui announced quitting the party over “difference of opinion”,
condemning the riots that erupted across the country after the arrest of party
chief Imran Khan.
Mr Siddiqui
said he would also resign from parliament. He announced this in a series of
tweets in line with a recent trend within the PTI, which has so far seen two of
its MNAs and two Sindh Assembly members quitting the party and parliament and
disassociating themselves from the May 9 riots.
“I started my
career as an engineering professional and with the blessing of Allah
established myself as a well reputed and honourable businessman over the past
three decades,” he tweeted.
Known as an
established name in real estate and construction industry, Mr Siddiqui recalled
his professional life and his urge for the welfare of the people which led him
to politics. He also condemned the May 9 violence “as a peaceful citizen and a
true patriot” as well as the “attacks” on military installations and national
monuments that left him dismayed.
“I have decided
to step aside from politics, and therefore, am resigning from my position as
President PTI Karachi and MNA. I will continue to serve my country in my
individual capacity working for the betterment of the people, and as a
businessman contributing to the economy,” Mr Siddiqui added.
With so much
speculation about the authenticity of his tweet that came from an account
created in February 2022 with less than 200 followers instead of his original
account created in 2018 with more than 10,000 followers, Mr Siddiqui came up
with a video message over social media confirming the authenticity of the tweet
about his decision.
“A while, I
tweeted to announce my decision to quit politics and all my offices associated
with this. That tweet is authentic. I want to serve my country in different
capacities. Pakistan Zindabad,” he said in the video message.
With the latest
resignation, the PTI has lost its four legislators from Karachi — two each from
National Assembly and Sindh Assembly — within a week. Earlier, MNA Mahmood B.
Maulvi and MPAs Dr Sanjay Gangwani and Dr Imran Ali Shah had made the similar
announcements on the same grounds.
On Saturday,
two PTI leaders from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa — Ajmal Wazir and Syed Zulfiqar Ali
Shah — left the party, claiming that after the incidents of May 9 it was not
possible for them to stay in the party.
Former KP
minister Hisham Inamullah Khan of Lakki Marwat district and former MNA from
Swabi district Engineer Usman Khan Tarakai also parted ways with the PTI on
Saturday.
Source: dawn.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.dawn.com/news/1754962/another-mna-parts-ways-with-pti-over-may-9-riots
--------
Search for
suspects continues amid reports of harassment of families
May 22, 2023
LAHORE: As the
arrest of suspects wanted in the May 9 violence continues, complaints regarding
harassment of their families, neighbours and friends increase.
In some cases,
police are also targeting working journalists who were covering the PTI
protest. Reports say three different police teams conducted raids at the
residence of journalist Jehangir Hayyat in Ichhra and took him into custody
since he was spotted in Liberty Chowk by CCTV footage.
Jehangir told
them that he was covering the event for his organisation, Business Recorder,
but they were not convinced.
Some local
residents intervened and got him freed from the police custody. The journalist
later visited the Lahore Press Club where he sought help of senior colleagues.
There he learnt that another police team had raided his house the same day. In
the evening, a third team stormed his house and harassed his kids and other
family members.
Jehangir’s
brother told Dawn that he had conveyed to senior police officers that Jehangir
had neither affiliation with the PTI nor had been part of their protests but to
no avail.
In an identical
case, the police teams carried out raids at the residence of a journalist
Sarfraz Khan, working for GNN, for his arrest and allegedly harassed his family
when he was not found there. His colleagues said he was covering the PTI
protests on May 9 but the police put his name on the list of suspects on the
basis of the CCTV footage.
In yet another
matter, a female lawyer said her family was being harassed since she had
visited the Corps Commander House on the 9th to see what was happening there.
There were
reports that several teams of the police including Counter Terrorism
Department, Lahore Crime Investigation Agency (CIA), investigation and
operations wings of the police and other law enforcement agencies were
conducting raids at the residences of suspects involved in the violence.
The sources
said frequent raids had spread panic among the families of the wanted people
who were changing their locations to avoid arrest.
They said most
of the suspects and their families had locked their homes to go underground and
switched off their cell phones. “Most of the displaced families are in immense
trouble where to take shelter,” said an official
PTI activist
Khadija Shah announced surrendering before the authorities amid crackdown on
rioters
A daughter of
former finance minister Salman Shah, Khadija is accused of `leading’ the attack
on the Corps Commander’s House.
She has been in
hiding ever since the authorities launched the crackdown. “I am going to turn
myself to the police. I have taken this decision because the last five days
remained very tough for me,” she said in an audio message on Sunday.
A senior police
officer said she had not visited any police station to court arrest till 9pm.
MORE ARRESTS:
Sources said the police made arrests of some lawyers, YouTubers and PTI
activists on Sunday after they were spotted through video clips and CCTV
cameras in and outside the Corps Commander House on May 9.
Punjab police
official figures stated that the total number of the arrested PTI leaders and
workers involved in attacks on military installations, police and other private
buildings had risen to 3,800, including 2,000 arrested by the Lahore police.
About the
police security outside the residence of former prime minister Imran Khan in
Zaman Park, an official said that the number of personnel had been increased
from 106 to 200.
He said the
security measures were beefed up after the district government and the police
removed tents, containers and other barriers placed by the PTI workers at Zaman
Park.
A new clip
showing Jinnah House arson attacks went viral on Sunday. Burning furniture, the
protesters were heard raising the slogan attributed to the Indian army designs
against Pakistan– ghar me ghuss kar marain gae – will hit Pakistan in their
territory.
Source: dawn.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.dawn.com/news/1754914
--------
Long-lost siblings
reunite after 75 years at Kartarpur
May 22, 2023
NAROWAL: In a
heartwarming event, a man and his sister who were separated 75 years ago
finally reunited in Kartarpur, thanks to the power of social media.
Mahendra Kaur,
81, accompanied by her family members, made the journey from India to Gurdwara
Darbar Sahib Kartarpur via the Kartarpur Corridor. Similarly, 78-year-old
Sheikh Abdul Aziz arrived in Kartarpur with his family from Azad Kashmir. The
Kartarpur Corridor, famously known as the Corridor of Love, Peace, and
Reunification, brought together these long-lost siblings, both originally from
pre-partitioned India. Overwhelmed with emotion, they embraced each other,
expressing profound sadness over the loss of their parents.
During the
partition in 1947, the family of Sardar Bhajan Singh, who resided in Indian
Punjab, was tragically torn apart. Following the Partition, Aziz relocated to
Azad Kashmir while his other family members remained in India. Aziz shared that
he spent years in distress after being separated from his family. He tirelessly
searched for them but couldn’t find any leads. He married at a young age but
always carried the longing to reunite with his estranged family, including his
parents and other relatives.
The family
members revealed that they came across a post on social media detailing the
separation of a man and his sister during the partition. The two families
connected through this post and discovered that Mahendra and Aziz were indeed
the estranged siblings. Overwhelmed with joy, Mahendra Kaur repeatedly hugged
her brother and kissed his hands. In light of this joyful occasion, the
Kartarpur administration adorned both families with garlands and distributed
sweets.
The families
visited Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur together, sitting side by side and
sharing a meal. They also exchanged gifts as a symbol of their reunion.
Mahendra
expressed her gratitude for the Kartarpur Corridor project, praising the
government of Pakistan. She remarked that today, the Kartarpur Corridor has
brought together siblings who were separated 75 years ago, exemplifying its
power to unite families and bridge long-standing divides.
Source: dawn.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.dawn.com/news/1754915/long-lost-siblings-reunite-after-75-years-at-kartarpur
--------
Kashmiris can’t
be silenced with G20 event: Bilawal
May 22, 2023
MUZAFFARABAD:
Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said on Sunday that Delhi would not be
able to suppress the voice of Kashmiris by holding a meeting of tourism
officials from G20 in Srinagar, the capital of India-held Kashmir.
“It is not
possible for India to play an important role in the world by violating the UN
resolutions,” he told reporters after he landed in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK)
on a three-day visit.
He arrived here
to join the Kashmiris in their protest against the G20 huddle in India-held
Kashmir from Monday (today) in sheer disregard for international laws.
Mr
Bhutto-Zardari, who heads the Pakistan Peoples Party, was received at the
helipad by the party’s regional president Chaudhry Muhammad Yasin. Mr Yasin’s
predecessor Chaudhry Latif Akbar, who is still holding the office of the leader
of opposition, and some other PPP lawmakers, including minister without portfolio
Faisal Mumtaz Rathore, were also present.
Talking to a
group of media persons at the helipad, Mr Bhutto-Zardari said the AJK
government had invited him to address the highest representative forum of the
liberated territory at a time when India was holding a controversial event in
the occupied territory.
“Those who
think that by organising a conference they can suppress the voice of [the
people of] occupied Kashmir are mistaken. We will prove them wrong,” he said.
“I believe that when a country takes a step like that India has taken, their
real face comes forth in front of the world,” he added.
He confirmed
that he would also attend a protest rally in Bagh on Tuesday to express
solidarity with the Kashmiri people.
Bagh would go
to a by-election on June 8 in a constituency that fell vacant after the
disqualification of former AJK premier Sardar Tanveer Ilyas on April 11.
It was widely
believed that selecting Bagh for a public meeting of Mr Bhutto-Zardari,
apparently in connection with the Kashmir issue, was linked with the
by-election because the local PPP leaders assumed it could pay them the desired
dividends.
The PPP, its
ally PML-N in the coalition government and the opposition PTI are the three
main parties contesting the by-election.
Later, Mr
Bhutto-Zardari held a meeting with a delegation of post-1989 migrants from
occupied Kashmir, who were earlier scheduled to call on him on Monday morning.
The delegation
members briefed him on the situation prevailing in India-held territory in the
context of their personal observations and information.
According to an
officially released schedule, on Monday, before the foreign minister’s
departure to the Assembly building, AJK Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwarul Haq
would host him a luncheon. Later, the foreign minister would address the
assembly’s special session.
Political
sources told Dawn that Mr Bhutto-Zardari is the first federal minister to
address the AJK Assembly; earlier, this privilege was restricted only to the
head of states and governments in Pakistan.
The Assembly
session, most likely to be presided over by the acting speaker from PTI
Chaudhry Riaz Gujjar, may also witness an interesting situation, as PTI was
reportedly contemplating raising the issue of the office of the leader of the
opposition being held by the PPP while simultaneously being a key constituent
of the coalition government.
After the
assembly session, Mr Bhutto-Zardari would hold a press talk at the adjacent
building of the Planning and Development Department. He would later fly to Bagh
the same afternoon to address a public meeting on the premises of an
educational institution on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, a
protest rally would be held in Burhan Wani Chowk of Muzaffarabad on Monday to
condemn the G20 huddle.
The main
organiser of the rally is Pasban-i-Hurriyat Jammu Kashmir, an organisation of
post-1989 migrants from occupied Kashmir, which has earlier organised a series
of 16 rallies in as many cities and towns of AJK as an awareness campaign.
However, the
government departments concerned would also make their contribution in this
regard. The rally is likely to be addressed by the AJK premier, and Qamar Zaman
Kaira, the adviser to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Shaukat Nawaz
Mir, president of the Markazi Anjuman-i-Tajran Muzaffarabad, has announced that
the traders in the state capital would keep their shutters down as a mark of
condemnation of India’s repressive measures in the occupied territory,
including holding G20 events.
Similar protest
rallies have also been planned in other cities and towns in AJK.
Source: dawn.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.dawn.com/news/1754938/kashmiris-cant-be-silenced-with-g20-event-bilawal
--------
Asad Ali Memon
becomes first climber from Sindh to conquer Mount Everest
May 22, 2023
Asad Ali Memon
of Sindh has achieved an incredible feat by scaling the world’s highest
mountain, Mount Everest, and becoming the first ever from Sindh to print his
name in history books.
Asad Ali Memon
studies at the Institute of Business Management (IoBM).
A statement
issued by the IoBM read, “Conquering the majestic mountain means that he is now
part of an exclusive cohort of individuals to summit Mount Everest and is now
the first and only person from Sindh to achieve this feat.”
It also wished
Memon health and safe descent and return to his family.
Recently,
Pakistan’s mountaineering community has risen to prominence, bringing honour to
the country.
Last Sunday,
Sajid Sadpara of Pakistan, a renowned mountaineer, became the last person to
accomplish this feat without the aid of supplemental oxygen.
On his trek,
Sajid was also without help from Sherpas, who are regarded as expert
mountaineers.
The mountaineer
made history by being the first Pakistani to ascend Mount Everest without using
additional oxygen.
Sajid wants to
climb each of the fourteen eight-thousanders by himself. By accomplishing this,
he has carried out the wish of his late father Mohammad Ali Sadpara, a great
mountaineer.
Source: pakobserver.net
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://pakobserver.net/asad-ali-memon-becomes-first-climber-from-sindh-to-conquer-mount-everest/
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1st Hajj flight
carrying 316 Pakistani Pilgrims lands at Madinah Munawara
May 21, 2023
Pre-Hajj flight
operation to airlift 180,000 intending Pakistani pilgrims to Saudi Arabia began
on Saturday.
The first Hajj
flight carrying 316 intending pilgrims landed at Madinah Munawara today.
Radio Pakistan
correspondent Javed Iqbal reports from Madinah Munawara that these intending
pilgrims arrived through the PIA flight PK 773.
Pakistani
pilgrims were welcomed by Director General Hajj, Abdul Wahab Somroo, Director
Hajj and other officials of Pakistani Hajj Mission.
Gifts and
bouquets were also distributed among the arriving intending pilgrims.
Talking to
Radio Pakistan’s correspondent Javed Iqbal at Madinah Airport, the intending
pilgrims expressed satisfaction over facilities provided by Pakistani and Saudi
authorities at immigration desk and for their transportation.
Meanwhile, 899
other intending Pakistani pilgrims have also arrived in Madinah today through
Serene and PIA airlines from Lahore, Faisalabad and Karachi.
Source: radio.gov.pk
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.radio.gov.pk/21-05-2023/1st-hajj-flight-carrying-316-pakistani-pilgrims-lands-at-madinah-munawara
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China, Pakistan
Celebrate 72 Years Of Diplomatic Relations
May 21, 2023
Chinese Charge
d' Affairs Pang Chunxue says CPEC has become the hallmark of China-Pakistan
cooperation.
Speaking at a
ceremony in Islamabad, on Sunday, on the 72nd anniversary of establishment of
diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan, she said China-Pakistan
relationship has solid public support, and vital practical needs.
Pang Chunxue
stated that this year marks the 10th anniversary of the 'Belt and Road
Initiative' proposed by President Xi Jinping and the 10th anniversary of the
launch of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.
She said that
with the joint efforts of both sides, CPEC has achieved fruitful outcomes
covering areas of industry, agriculture, IT and disaster prevention and
mitigation.
Source: radio.gov.pk
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.radio.gov.pk/21-05-2023/china-pakistan-celebrate-72-years-of-diplomatic-relations
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Arab World
Makkah Grand
Mosque expansion to be officially named 'The Saudi Riwaq'
21 May 2023
Doha, Qatar:
The General President of the Affairs of the Grand Holy Mosque and Prophet's
Holy Mosque Sheikh Dr Al-Sudais said that a Royal decree was issued in Saudi
Arabia naming the portico expansion at the Grand Mosque in Makkah "The
Saudi Riwaq”, the Saudi Press Agency announced.
The Saudi Riwaq
includes the expanded Mataf – the open white area surrounding the Kaaba where
pilgrims perform tawaf – behind the Abbasid portico, and is surrounded by the
Kaaba’s courtyard.
Sheikh Dr
Al-Sudais said The Saudi Riwaq has four floors and can accommodate a total of
287,000 worshipers, or 107,000 pilgrims every hour.
According to
him, The Saudi Riwaq provides wider spaces of high-quality and accurate
engineering standards for worshipers.
The Riwaq was
first expanded in 1955 as a decree from King Abdulaziz to accommodate the
increasing numbers of pilgrims, and work on it continued until its completion
during the reigns of King Fahd and King Abdullah, and until the era of the
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.
Source: thepeninsulaqatar.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/21/05/2023/makkah-grand-mosque-expansion-to-be-officially-named-the-saudi-riwaq
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Mataf Expansion
Building in Grand Mosque named Saudi portico
May 21, 2023
MAKKAH — The
Head of the Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques announced on
Sunday that the higher Saudi authorities have issued approval to name the Mataf
Expansion Building Project at the Grand Mosque as Saudi portico, the Saudi
Press Agency reported.
Sheikh Abdul
Rahman Al-Sudais said that the Saudi portico that surrounds the Abbasid portico
features a much wider area that the Grand Mosque has not seen before.
It consists of
four floors, which are the ground floor, the first floor, the second floor mezzanine,
and the roof. The Saudi portico and the mataf have the maximum capacity to
accommodate 287,000 worshipers, and 107,000 performers of tawaf per hour.
The presidency
chief said that the Saudi portico includes the expansion project of the mataf
(circumambulation area around the Holy Kaaba) behind the Abbasid portico, and
its surrounding courtyard of the Holy Kaaba.
“King Abdul
Aziz, founder of modern Saudi Arabia, ordered the expansion of the Grand Mosque
to accommodate the increasing number of pilgrims, and accordingly, the
expansion work began during the period of King Saud in 1955.
“The portico
building’s expansion continued during the eras of King Saud, King Faisal, and
King Khalid,” he said while noting that expansion of the project is in the phase
of completion during the periods of King Fahd and King Abdullah and the present
era of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman.
He said that
the Saudi portico provides wider spaces for pilgrims and worshipers in
accordance with high-quality and accurate engineering standards.
“It is also
distinguished by the availability of all technical services, as well as sound
and lighting systems, which contribute to creating the much-needed spiritual
ambience for the pilgrims,” he pointed out.
Source: saudigazette.com.sa
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://saudigazette.com.sa/article/632630/SAUDI-ARABIA/Mataf-Expansion-Building-in-Grand-Mosque-named-Saudi-portico
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Saudi
astronauts successfully launch toward Space Station
May 21, 2023
RIYADH: Saudi
Arabia made history on Sunday as its first female astronaut, Rayyanah Barnawi,
and her colleague Ali Al-Qarni launched toward the International Space Station
(ISS).
The duo were on
board the Axiom Space 2 mission, which launched at 5:37 p.m. (EDT time).
Astronaut Peggy Whitson and business pioneer and pilot John Shoffner are also
part of the mission.
RIYADH: Saudi
Arabia made history on Sunday as its first female astronaut, Rayyanah Barnawi,
and her colleague Ali Al-Qarni launched toward the International Space Station
(ISS).
The duo were on
board the Axiom Space 2 mission, which launched at 5:37 p.m. (EDT time).
Astronaut Peggy Whitson and business pioneer and pilot John Shoffner are also
part of the mission.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2307396/saudi-arabia
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Africa
Muslim students
write Nigerian govt over sexual contents in primary school books
May 21, 2023
The Muslim
Students’ Society of Nigeria, MSSN, B-Zone, has expressed concerns over
inclusion of sexual content in some primary and secondary school textbooks
currently in circulation in Nigeria.
The letter,
titled “Inclusion of Sex and Homosexuality in Nigerian Primary and Secondary
School Textbooks: A Threat to Morality and Attack on Cultural/Religious
Values,” was addressed to minister of Education, Adamu Adamu.
The letter,
signed by the group’s coordinator, Qaasim Odedeji, and General Secretary, Abdul
Jalil Abdur Razaq, and dated May 15, expressed displeasure over the sexual
depictions in some Mathematics, English, and Social Science textbooks used in
many Nigerian secondary schools.
“We are
appalled by the content in some Mathematics, English, and Social Science
textbooks used in many Nigerian secondary schools today.
“These
textbooks have been corrupted to include lewd and sexually explicit matters in
order to sexualize young students.
Citing
examples, the group said a typical Mathematics question for primary school
pupils is “20 condoms + 5 condoms – 2 condoms equals”.
They further
said some of the textbooks promote abortion, LGBT, masturbation, and safe sex.
“We believe
that this is a blatant violation of the cultural and religious values of the
Nigerian people, particularly the Muslim community. The MSSN, being a major
stakeholder in the Nigerian education system, cannot but express her grave
concern about the situation,” they said.
They called on
the Ministry of Education to urgently investigate the matter and ensure that
textbooks used in Nigerian schools are free from contents that are harmful to
the morals of young students.
“We demand that
the Ministry of Education takes immediate steps to remove all textbooks
containing lewd and sexually explicit materials from circulation in schools
across the country.
“We believe
that the Nigerian education system should uphold the cultural and religious
values of the Nigerian people, particularly the Muslim community,” he said.
Some of the
books they listed include Basic Science Junior Secondary School Razat
Publishers, 2018 edition, (for JSS3), New Concept English for Senior Secondary
Schools for SSS2, Revised edition (2018 edition), Active Basic Science, 2014
edition, and Basic Science & Technology for Junior Secondary School 1, 2
and 3.
Source: dailynigerian.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://dailynigerian.com/muslim-students-write-nigerian/
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Swear with
Qur’an you didn’t steal govt money – El-Rufai challenges ex-govs
May 22, 2023
The Kaduna
State Governor, Nasir el-Rufa has challenged his predecessors to come out and
swear with the Holy Quran as a proof that they did not embezzle public funds
while in office.
The Governor,
who spoke with the Hausa service of the Kaduna State Media Corporation, KSMC,
claimed that most of the former governors tampered with the government’s
coffers during their tenure.
El-rufai will
be completing his eight years tenure next week.
He gave the
challenge while reacting to the opposition’s criticisms of some of his
policies, insisting that he has never stolen government money.
”I didn’t build
any mansion, I don’t need it. I didn’t steal anybody’s money and I am
challenging everyone that has governed this state to come out and swear with the
Qur’an that, when they were governing the state, they didn’t steal a kobo of
Kaduna resources that is not their entitlement.
“I swear to
God, I will do that swearing. So, I am challenging all of them. Everyone should
come out and face the people of Kaduna State and tell them he didn’t steal
their money,” he said.
Source: dailypost.ng
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://dailypost.ng/2023/05/22/swear-with-quran-you-didnt-steal-govt-money-el-rufai-challenges-ex-govs/
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Blasphemy:
Islamic clerics blocking Sheikh Kabara’s move to appeal death sentence in Kano
MAY 21, 2023
Followers of
Sheikh Abduljabbar Nasiru-Kabara, sentenced to death in Kano for blasphemy,
have decried alleged attempts to block the appeal he filed against the court
judgement.
Ibrahim-Abdullahi
Warure, who spoke on behalf of the followers in a press conference on Sunday in
Kano, accused some clerics of mounting pressure to dismiss the appeal.
According to Mr
Warure, the clerics have allegedly been mounting pressure on the incoming
government and the court to support the death sentence.
He said the
followers would continue pursuing the case before the High Court in Kano until
justice is done to their spiritual leader.
According to
him, the appeal is an inalienable right of the cleric as enshrined in the
Constitution of Nigeria.
He advised the
“antagonistic” clerics to allow the court to do its job without any form of
interference.
“We condemn
their endemic campaign of calumny against our revered Sheikh and their threat
to the court, which we consider a contempt of court and government,” Mr Warure
added.
He urged
security agencies to call those opposed to the appeal to order, to prevent them
from using it as a ploy to disrupt the peace in the event “Sheikh Abduljabbar
eventually triumph in court.”
The cleric was,
on July 17, 2021, imprisoned for blasphemy and subsequently sentenced to death
by hanging on December 15, 2022, by an Upper Shari’a Court in Kano.
He filed an
appeal against the death sentence before the High Court in Kano.
Source: gazettengr.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://gazettengr.com/blasphemy-islamic-clerics-blocking-sheikh-kabaras-move-to-appeal-death-sentence-in-kano/
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Tinubu’s
Cabinet: Muslims lobby president-elect for more ministers than Christians
May 21, 2023
•Cite Muslim
majority in Taraba, Adamawa, Nasarawa, Bauchi, Kogi, Oyo, Osun, Ogun, Niger,
Kaduna, Kebbi, Lagos
•Reverse
selves, want ‘top’, not ‘juicy’, job for El-Rufai
By Dickson
Omobola
Indications
emerged last week that the jostle for inclusion in the cabinet of the next
federal administration had intensified as some Muslims pleaded with
President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu to give more ministerial appointments to
members of their own faith than their Christian counterparts.
They begged
Tinubu to give Muslims in Muslim-majority states at least four ministerial
appointments per geo-political zone after his inauguration.
There are six
states in each of the six geo-political zones viz South-South, South-West,
North-Central, North-East and North-West.
Only the
South-East has five states.
The 1999
Constitution (as amended) provides that each of the 36 states of the federation
must have one native in the federal cabinet.
Section 6, Part
1, Section 147 of the Constitution, titled, ‘Ministers of Federal Government’,
says specifically: “3 – Any appointment under Subsection 2 by the President
shall be in conformity with the provisions of Section 14 (3) of this Constitution:
provided that in giving effect to the provisions aforesaid the President shall
appoint at least one Minister from each state who shall be an indigene of such
state”.
The implication
of the Muslims’ lobby is that any geo-political zone where people of their own
faith are in the majority, Muslims should have four Ministers in the Tinubu
cabinet while Christians should be contented with two.
They listed
affected states to include Taraba, Adamawa, Nasarawa, Bauchi, Kogi, Oyo, Osun,
Ogun, Niger, Kaduna, Kebbi and Lagos.
The lobby is
coming on the heels of the controversy generated by the Muslim-Muslim
presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) which won the
February 25, 2023 election.
Those in favour
of the ticket had said what was important was the competence of the
presidential candidate and his running mate while those in opposition said the
development would embolden Muslim hardliners to try to Islamize the country.
Separately, the
lobbyists made a case for a top job for the outgoing governor of Kaduna State,
Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, in the Tinubu administration.
They
initiatially wanted a ‘juicy job’ for the governor before changing their words
to ‘top job’.
The Muslims,
who spoke under the aegis of Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), made their case in
a statement titled ‘MURIC to Tinubu: Give Muslims in Muslim-Majority States
Four Ministers Each’
“As Nigeria
warms up for the inauguration of a new administration under the able, tested
and trusted leadership of President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu, we remind the
incoming President and other Nigerians of past political marginalization of
Muslims in Muslim-majority states since independence”, the statement signed by
Professor Ishaq Akintola, MURIC Executive
Director, said.
Marginalisation
Citing the marginalisation
of Muslims in some parts of the country under successive administrations
despite being in the majority and the opportunity the Tinubu presidency
presents to redress the development, the statement said: “We are deeply
disturbed that it is only in the core-North where we have states like Sokoto,
Borno, Katsina, etc that the right of Muslims to be included in governance is
respected.
“Former
Christian military Heads of State and civilian Presidents have deliberately
marooned Muslims from the political architecture of Muslim-majority states.
“Christians,
who were appointed governors over Muslim-majority regions and states, were
secretly given instructions to either turn or shake the demographic table in
favour of Christianity. “Unfortunately this happened at a time when Muslims
were still suffering from paucity of political consciousness in those regions
and states.
“Examples of
past denial of Muslims in participatory democracy can be found in the
appointments of Col David Bamigboye as military governor of Kwara State, a
predominantly Muslim-majority state (May 1967 – July 1975) by General Jack
Gowon (rtd). Lt. Col. Francis Adekunle Fajuyi was also appointed military
governor of the Western Region by General Johnson Thomas Umunnakwe Aguiyi
Ironsi.
“The South-West
had earlier been led mainly by Christian political leaders featuring Chief
Jeremiah Obafemi Awolowo, Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola and Chief Victor
Babaremilekun Adetokunbo Fani-Kayode. The Christianisation agenda of the
South-West had also been championed by Christian military administrators and
governors like Lt. Col. Robert Adeyinka Adebayo, Mobolaji Johnson, Christopher
Oluwole Rotimi, Navy Cap Akintunde Aduwo, Col. David Jemibewon, etc.
“Obasanjo and
Jonathan out-Heroded Herod. All the six Ministers appointed by them from the
South-West were Christians and Muslims were totally excluded from federal
appointments under them. Worse still, they appointed Christians as Ministers
from core Muslim states like Bauchi, Kwara and Kaduna.
“This policy of
total political blackout for Muslims in Muslim-majority states is contrary to
the principles of participatory democracy. It is heartless political exclusion
and the height of religious apartheid. We condemn it in the strongest terms.
“Therefore, as
the new dawn of political inclusiveness promised by President-elect Bola Ahmed
Tinubu approaches, we demand total departure from the past tortuous political
marginalization of Muslims to complete political integration of Muslim citizens
in all geo-political zones.
Demand
“In particular,
MURIC demands at least four ministerial appointments each for competent Muslims
out of the six ministers earmarked for every geopolitical zone where Muslims
command majority after Tinubu’s inauguration. “We urge governors in Muslim-majority
states to avoid marginalizing Muslims in nominations for ministerial posts.
“We refer
specifically to states like Taraba, Adamawa, Nasarawa, Bauchi, Kogi, Oyo, Osun,
Ogun, Niger, Kaduna, Kebbi, Lagos, etc.
“Nigerian
Muslims demand fair representation. We demand inclusiveness and full
integration into the Nigerian political space. This is without prejudice to the
preference for competence.
“The records
set by Professor Ishaq Oloyede (JAMB Registrar) and Professor Isa Ali Pantami
(Minister of Communications and Digital Economy) in office remain indubitable
proof of hidden administrative icons among Nigerian Muslims although only
unbiased Presidents and governors will find them.
“We are not
asking Tinubu to sacrifice excellence on the altar of mediocrity. We have no
scintilla of doubt that there are eminently qualified Muslims in all fields of
human endeavour.
“We assert
clearly, emphatically and categorically that failure to find suitable Muslims
in any state of the federation for a ministerial appointment is like failure to
find coal in Newcastle.
“Of course it
is only logical that Ministers from states like Sokoto, Borno, Kano and Jigawa
will all be Muslims while those from Enugu, Anambra, Rivers and Cross Rivers
will be an all-Christian affair. The governors in those states may give one or
two minorities appointments as commissioners and board members.”
‘Juicy’ post
In another
statement titled, ‘El-Rufai Deserves Juicy Post’, the group hinged its position
for a ‘juicy’ post for El-Rufai under the Tinubu administration on the role
played by the Kaduna governor and eleven fellow governors from the North in
ensuring that the South got the mandate during the APC presidential primary.
“As the days
inch closer to the inauguration of the new administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu
as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Commander-in-Chief of the
Nigerian Armed Forces, the Nigerian political spectrum has been inundated with
power struggle intrigues and post allocation schemes. This is not new to us
since we know that failure is an orphan but winners are always surrounded by
all and sundry”, the statement said.
“However, we
deem it germane to remind the president-elect of the need to pay debts owed and
appreciate those who made his current status a fait accompli. This is important
in order to start sowing the seed of success for the incoming administration as
well as to secure a strong foothold for 2027.
“Gratitude is a
major characteristic of a good Muslim. Allah says in the Glorious Qur’an, ‘If
you are grateful, I will increase my favours on you…’ (Qur’an 14:7). If the
president-elect shows appreciation to the ‘Noble Dozen’ from the North, he will
enjoy more of their solidarity.
”It is
noteworthy that the ‘Noble Dozen’ (i.e. the twelve governors who insisted that
power must shift to the South) was led by Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna
State.
“There is no
Nigerian who is unaware of the unique support and unequalled solidarity given
by this northern group to the president-elect. El-Rufai in particular left his
palatial office in Kaduna to spend days in Abuja.
“His
contribution to our victory, the victory of the Muslim-Muslim ticket is
unquantifiable. He became the mouthpiece of the Muslim-Muslim ticket camp,
moving from one media house to another. We must not allow all these to go in
vain”.
Apology
But in another
statement about 24 hours later, entitled, MURIC Withdraws The Word ‘Juicy’,
Replaces It With ‘Top’, Apologises, the group said: “Our attention has been
drawn to the word ‘juicy’ used in yesterday’s statement as not being decent
enough.
“In the
statement, we canvassed for a top post to be given to Governor El-Rufai of
Kaduna State in the incoming administration. We inadvertently used the word
‘juicy post’ instead of ‘top post’ It is not in our character to be insolent,
loose or to use vulgar language.
“We hereby
withdraw the word ‘juicy’ and replace it with the word ‘top’. We apologise to
all those who might have taken note of the offensive word.”
Source: vanguardngr.com
Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.vanguardngr.com/2023/05/tinubus-cabinet-muslims-lobby-president-elect-for-more-ministers-than-christians/
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URL:
https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/twitter-biryani-jihad/d/129828