UP CM Yogi Adityanath Compares Inheritance Tax To Jizya
New Age
Islam News Bureau
02 May
2024
Uttar
Pradesh Chief Minister and BJP leader Yogi Adityanath at an election rally in
Solapur on Wednesday. PTI- | Photo Credit: -
-----
·
UP CM
Yogi Adityanath Compares Inheritance Tax To Jizya
·
‘Hindu
Girls Being Forcibly Converted To Islam in Sindh,’ Reveals Hindu Senator In
Pakistan
·
Islam Far
More Important for Russia’s Muslims than Christianity is for Russia’s Orthodox,
Levada Survey Finds
·
French
Creatives Bring Enchanting Art Experience To Jeddah
·
Donald
Trump Says London Is 'Unrecognisable' Because 'Europe Opened Its Doors To
Jihad'
India
·
Future Of
Those Speaking Of ‘Jihad’ And ‘Fasad’ Is In Danger: Union Minister
·
BJP's
Assam Leader Pauses Election Speech During Namaz At Mosque
·
BJP Leader
Who 'Threatened' Pahari Muslims Should Be Jailed, Says Mehbooba Mufti
·
"Will
preserve 4 pc reservation for Muslims in Andhra Pradesh": TDP Chief
Chandrababu Naidu
·
Delhi:
Jamali-Kamali mosque, tomb adjacent to it set to get fresh lease of life
·
Farooq
Abdullah attacks PM Modi: ‘A Muslim cannot snatch…’
·
Delhi
schools bomb scare: Cops suspect ‘joint conspiracy by China, ISI’; FIR
registered
----
Pakistan
·
Terror attack
on police check post repulsed in Dera Ghazi Khan
·
'We
support Pakistan's efforts to combat terrorism': US State Deptspox
·
COAS
discusses ways to boost defence ties with British counterpart
·
Militant
attacks claim 70 lives in April, says report
·
Three
shot dead in Balochistan
·
Deputy PM
Ishaq Dar in Gambia to attend OIC summit
·
President
Zardari orders 'large-scale operation' against street criminals in Karachi
----
Europe
·
Sentencing
Postponed For Minnesota Man Who Regrets Joining Islamic State Group
·
University
raises awareness of apprenticeships with Muslim business community
·
Execution
of Sunni Prisoner AnvarKhezri in GhezelHesar Prison
·
Russian
defence chief inspects new anti-drone weaponry (VIDEO)
----
Arab
World
·
OIC
General Secretariat Condemns Deadly Assault on Mosque in Afghanistan
·
Saudi FM
discusses developments in Sudan with army chief, RSF leader
·
Saudi
crown prince discusses preparations to host Expo 2030 with BIE head
·
Madinah
megaproject aims to make region a hub for wellness tourism
·
Saudi
development program teams up with Selah Foundation for water project in Yemen
·
Saudi
centre launches pavilion for children during Environment Week
----
North
America
·
After
removal of Muslim activist, state agency puts genocide education work group on
hold
·
Chicago
Muslim advocates travel to Illinois capitol to call for cease-fire in Gaza
·
Anti-Muslim
incidents doubled in N.J. amid protests over Israel-Gaza war, report finds
·
The
Houthi Ansar Allah Movement In Its Own Words
·
Muslim
activists plan rally in Springfield to call for cease-fire in Gaza
·
US
sanctions on Iranian hackers highlight growing concern about the Islamic
Republic's cyber warriors
----
South
Asia
·
Their
Hands Are Stained With Workers' Blood: AL General Secretary On BNP
·
Dy PM of
Islamic Emirate Reiterates Commitment to Inclusive Islamic System
·
Pakistan
deports over 800 Afghan migrants
·
Iran
warns of deporting Afghan citizens, unauthorized hiring
·
Daesh
Attack in Herat Not Indicator of Strength: Mujahid
·
Prof
Yunus, 13 others granted bail in graft case
----
Mideast
·
Turkiye To
Join South Africa’s Genocide Case Against Israel At World Court, Minister Says
·
True
Promise op. rarest Islamic Establishment's decision
·
President
Raisi Calls For Election Participation To Fulfil Social, Islamic Responsibilities
·
Eight
arrested in Bibnine for allegedly shooting during funeral of two Islamic Group
leaders
·
How
fierce but undeclared Israel-Hezbollah war is hurting civilians in south
Lebanon
·
Lebanese
Christian leader says Hezbollah’s fighting with Israel has harmed Lebanon
·
More than
40 people arrested in Turkey on suspicion of ties to Islamic State
-----
Southeast
Asia
·
Government
Launches Child Marriage Prevention Guideline
·
Indonesia,
Saudi Arabia Share Commitment To Support Palestine: VP
·
Indonesia
Committed To Intensifying Cooperation With Turkey
·
RI
ambassador in Brunei Darussalam meets 44 Indonesian prisoners
·
Significant
efforts by Unity Government to support Indian community - Fahmi
-----
Australia
·
Sydney
teenager who allegedly wanted to stab non-Muslims denied bail
----
Africa
·
Cleric
Preaches Patience, Says Economic Challenges Global
·
PM DbeibaCondemns
Israeli Attack On Gaza, Calls For Economic Cooperation Among Islamic Countries
·
Alleged
terrorism: Court to rule Miyetti Allah leader’s bail request, May 30
·
Sule,
Oshiomhole to Labour: let your demand be realistic
·
Share
warning of impending terror attack with Nigeria, Matawalle tells U.S
·
May Day:
South African workers march in support of Palestinians
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/up-cm-yogi-jizya-inheritance/d/132249
-----
UP CM Yogi Adityanath Compares Inheritance Tax To
Jizya
Uttar
Pradesh Chief Minister and BJP leader Yogi Adityanath at an election rally in
Solapur on Wednesday. PTI- | Photo Credit: -
-----
May 02, 2024
Shoumojit Banerjee
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath alleged
on Wednesday that the Congress seeks to Islamise the country. He said the
Congress was leading India towards a “second Partition,” and lambasted it for
coining the term ‘Hindu terrorism.’
Mr. Adityanath is holding a series of rallies in
Maharashtra to bolster the Mahayuti-NDA candidates. Prime Minister Modi has
just finished a campaign tour of western Maharashtra.
Yogi Adityanath held public rallies in Solapur in
support of the BJP’s Ram Satpute and later in Sangli and Kolhapur’s
Hatkanangale Lok Sabha constituencies to bat for the BJP’s Sanjaykaka Patil and
Dhairyasheel Mane of the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. All three seats go to the polls on May 7 in
the third phase.
Cow slaughter
He lashed out at the Congress for questioning the
existence of Lord Ram and for allegedly allowing Muslims to slaughter cows
across the country.
“Look at the Congress’ election manifesto. It says
that it will allow minorities to have food of their choice. This amounts to
allowing them to slaughter cows freely. Will India accept this?” said Mr.
Adityanath. “It is a sin to vote for the Congress.”
He said the country’s borders were insecure, and
terrorism and Naxalism were rampant during the Congress regimes. Mr. Adityanath
said that India’s standing in the world, which had taken a knock, had been
enhanced by ten years of BJP rule at the Centre.
“It was the Congress that coined the term ‘Hindu terrorism’
to insult the Hindu community. At that time, the UPA was in power. No one can
violate our borders today,” said Mr. Adityanath, speaking in Solapur.
He criticised the failure of Congress governments in
dealing with cross-border terrorism and national security issues. Presently if
there is an incident in India, Pakistan is quick to offer explanations as it
recognises the resolve of the ‘New India.’
New resolve
“This ‘New India’ respects sovereignty and refrains
from unnecessary interference, but it also responds decisively to provocations.
This is not the India of the Congress era, where a slap was met with requests
for patience and peace… If someone dares slap us today, we will retaliate,” he
said, adding that under the BJP terrorism and Naxalism had been curtailed.
“The Congress questioned the existence of Lord Ram.
They claimed rivers of blood would flow if there was a resolution of the Ram
Janmabhoomi movement… Look at their double standards. First, they questioned
the existence of Lord Ram, and now they say Lord Ram belongs to everyone,” he
said.
He compared inheritance tax to jizya.
“India will never accept this inheritance tax,” said
the UP Chief Minister.
Source:
thehindu.com
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click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.thehindu.com/elections/lok-sabha/congress-leading-nation-towards-a-second-partition-says-adityanath/article68129335.ece
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‘Hindu Girls Being Forcibly Converted To Islam in
Sindh,’ Reveals Hindu Senator In Pakistan
May 01, 2024
A Hindu senator in Pakistan has raised concerns over
the grave human rights crisis in the country’s Sindh province. Danesh Kumar
Palyani revealed that Hindu girls in the province are being forcibly converted
to Islam. Speaking during the ongoing 337th session of the Pakistan Senate,
Palyani cited Pakistan’s constitution and the holy Quran to say that no one
should be forced to convert.
"You see in Sindh, bandits are forcefully
converting our Hindu girls to Islam. Bandits in mud forts areas kidnap people
but Bandits in settled areas are forcing girls to convert their religion.
However, Pakistan gives us the right that no one should force anyone else to
convert," the senator said.
The Pakistani leader also shared his speech on X,
writing, “The daughters of Hindus are not a booty that someone should forcibly
change their religion, Hindu girls are being forcibly converted to the religion
in Sindh. It has been two years since innocent Priya Kumari was abducted."
"The government does not take action against
these influential people. A few dirty eggs and robbers have defamed our beloved
mother land Pakistan. The law/Constitution of Pakistan does not allow forced
religious conversion and neither does the Holy Quran," he added.
Palyani said the oppressors didn’t believe in Pakistan’s
constitution and Quran as both oppose the “forcibly changing religion” of any
individual.
Palyani’s statement comes after a UN expert committee
on April 11 found that the Pakistani government was not doing enough to protect
the rights of young women and girls belonging to minority communities in
Pakistan.
"Christian and Hindu girls remain particularly
vulnerable to forced religious conversion, abduction, trafficking, child, early
and forced marriage, domestic servitude and sexual violence," the experts
panel said. "The exposure of young women and girls belonging to religious
minority communities to such heinous human rights violations and the impunity
of such crimes can no longer be tolerated or justified," it added.
In Pakistan, forced conversions and marriages are
often validated by courts by invoking vague religious laws. This allows the
perpetrators to keep the victims with them against the will of the girl’s
parents. The expert committee made clear that such forced marriages and
conversions can’t be allowed on religious or cultural grounds.
Source:
wionews.com
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click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/video-hindu-girls-being-forcibly-converted-to-islam-reveals-hindu-senator-in-pakistan-717056
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Islam Far More Important for Russia’s Muslims than
Christianity is for Russia’s Orthodox, Levada Survey Finds
Photo: Global Strategy
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May 1, 2024
Staunton, Apr. 28 – Only 21 percent of Russians who
identify as Orthodox Christians say that their religion plays a very important
role in their lives and only 38 percent say that it plays quite an important
one, for a total of 59 percent, much lower figures than among Russians who
identify as Muslims report, according to a new LevadaCenter poll.
Among self-identified Muslims, the sociological
service says, 44 percent say their faith plays a very important role in their
lives and 39 percent more say that it plays quite an important one, for a total
of 83 percent
(levada.ru/2024/04/27/prazdnovanie-pashi-i-religioznye-predpochteniya-rossiyan/).
This is yet another indication that Orthodoxy is less
strong in Russia than the Kremlin and the Patriarchate like to believe and that
Islam is far stronger among its followers in the Russian Federation than many
at the center and elsewhere have often thought, a difference that undoubtedly
worries the Kremlin and is likely to play a key role in Russia’s future.
Source:
windowoneurasia2.blogspot.com
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click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
http://windowoneurasia2.blogspot.com/2024/05/islam-far-more-important-for-russias.html
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French Creatives Bring Enchanting Art Experience To Jeddah
Renowned French chef
Stephane Collet served an exclusive lunch that showcased the artisanship and
elegance of French gastronomy. (AN photos)
------
May 01, 2024
JEDDAH: Artist Paul Marlier and dancer Jeanne Morel
have brought an interactive digital art display dubbed “ETH3R” to Jeddah’s
cultural hub, Hayy Jameel.
The French creatives feature immersive artworks
generated using the biometric data of Morel captured during her movement in
extreme environments — including in zero-gravity.
The unique blend of technology and creativity has
captivated audiences with its perspectives on reality, and contrasts with the
often mundane nature of daily life.
In an interview with Arab News, Marlier spoke about
the creative process behind their digital artwork. He also highlighted the
production of artworks inspired by the human and scientific data he had
gathered.
“It is a real pleasure to be here, particularly in Hayy
Jameel, where we blend art and science to create a sensory experience like no
other,” he said. “It represents the DNA imprint of the world — the dance of our
souls.”
He added: “ETH3R encompasses paintings and dynamic
installations derived from the biometric data of my wife, Jeanne Morel, who
dances in diverse and extreme environments, from beneath the ocean depths to
high-altitude astronaut training.”
Marlier has amalgamated this scientific data regarding
human physiology with other information, including air quality, satellite
imagery, and even facts from the Red Sea. “These artworks serve as emotional
imprints, reminiscent of moments of grace. It’s truly a collaborative effort.”
Explaining the process, he added: “With Jeanne as the
catalyst, adorned with sensors akin to a paintbrush, her dance emotions are
translated through code into the digital art seen in the paintings. We explore
themes of fragility, spirituality, and the inherent unity between humans and
nature — the universal dance.”
“We approach data not as mere codification, but as
sensations, enabling us to specify and share the experience. By capturing a
wealth of information from this singular dancer, we endeavor to materialize the
essence of grace,” Marlier said.
Morel added: “Dance is the way to express your deepest
emotions, sometimes simpler than words.”
“Dance is the allegory of life. It allows me to stay
alive, connected to the movements of the world. Our bodies are constantly
dancing, moving, on this earth which itself dances around the sun and remains
in balance thanks to gravity,” she added.
Of their first visit to the Kingdom, Marlier said:
“The people are absolutely welcoming here. And spirituality and poetry are so
present.”
Morel added: “We admire the spirituality and also the open-mindedness
of this country regarding art and especially digital art.”
Waleed Harthi, an art enthusiast, said: “Witnessing
art that exceeds boundaries was a mesmerizing journey, captivating our senses
and sparking wonder at the fusion of art and technology. The live demonstration
and dance were incredibly relaxing and offered a serene escape to some other
imaginary world.”
The exhibition runs until May 11.
Source:
arabnews.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2502946/saudi-arabia
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Donald Trump Says London Is 'Unrecognisable' Because
'Europe Opened Its Doors To Jihad'
Thu, 2 May 2024
Donald Trump has risked re-igniting his feud with
Sadiq Khan after claiming immigration has left London “unrecognisable” after
“Europe opened its doors to Jihad”.
The former president’s incendiary comments risk
reigniting his long-running feud with Sadiq Khan.
Speaking during a campaign rally as he tries to get
re-elected to the White House, Trump told supporters: “We’ve seen what happened
when Europe opened its doors to jihad. Look at Paris, look at London, they’re
no longer recognisable.
“I’m gonna get myself into a lot of trouble with the
folks in Paris and the folks in London, but you know what, that’s the fact.
They are no longer recognisable and we can’t let that happen to our country.
“We have incredible culture, tradition. Nothing wrong
with their culture, their tradition - we can’t let that happen here and I’ll
never let it happen to the United States of America.”
Trump’s comments echo those he made ahead of a visit
to the UK in 2018, in which he personally attacked London mayor Khan.
The then president said: “I think allowing millions
and millions of people to come into Europe is very, very sad. I look at cities
in Europe, and I can be specific if you’d like. You have a mayor who has done a
terrible job in London. He has done a terrible job.”
In response, Khan told HuffPost UK: “I’m happy to meet
President Trump and to explain to him, in a respectful, courteous manner where
I think he’s wrong on a number of issues, to hear him out, see what his
explanation is for holding me responsible for the attacks we saw in London last
year.”
Trump’s latest outburst comes as voters in the capital
go to the polls to decide whether to give Khan another four-year term in City
Hall.
HuffPost UK has contacted the mayor for comment.
Source:
uk.news.yahoo.com
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click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://uk.news.yahoo.com/donald-trump-says-london-unrecognisable-064634560.html
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India
Future Of Those Speaking Of ‘Jihad’ And ‘Fasad’ Is In
Danger: Union Minister
May 2, 2024
Lucknow: Union minister Anurag Thakur said on
Wednesday that the future of people speaking of ‘jihad’ and ‘fasad’ is in
danger and said that the country would be run in accordance with the
Constitution framed by Dr BR Ambedkar and not through ‘Farmans’. Thakur made
the comment while campaigning in Basti and Domariyaganj in favour of party
candidates Harish Dwivedi and Jagdambika Pal, respectively.
The statement is being seen as a retort to the remark
made by Congress leader Salman Khurshid’s niece and SP leader Maria Alam Khan
who appealed for “vote jihad” in support of INDIA bloc’s candidate from
Farrukhabad, Naval Kishore Shakya. “Delhi is not governed by Ghori, Ghaznavi or
Mughals. It is governed by a govt elected by 140 crore people of the country,”
he said. Thakur said that the country would not be run by any ‘fatwa’ or
‘farman’ but by the Constitution framed by BR Ambedkar. He said that the
Narendra Modi govt’s ‘sushashan’ (good governance) would not be affected by
people who are seeking votes in terms of caste and religion. “The two
‘shehzadas’ of UP (SP chief Akhilesh Yadav and Congress’s Rahul Gandhi) are out
to fool people for communal appeasement. Thakur said the BJP was always in
favour of reservation for SC/ST and OBC and is against quote to any particular
religion just for the sake of communal appeasement.
“Muslim brothers and sisters have received the maximum
benefit of various welfare schemes and development projects initiated by the
BJP,” he said.
Thakur said that during Congress rule, there were bomb
blasts in the country and the govt did not do anything. “When BJP formed govt,
we took strict action against terrorism,” he said. Without taking names, Thakur
lashed out at Rahul Gandhi for “giving ticket to a person who raised slogans of
breaking the country into pieces”.
We also published the following articles recently
FIR filed against Congress leader Salman Khurshid and
SP leader Maria Alam Khan for alleged 'vote jihad' remarksSalman Khurshid and
Maria Alam Khan face FIR for 'vote jihad' appeal to drive away BJP government
in Farrukhabad. Khurshid justifies the term as metaphorical struggle. Public
outcry and legal action ensue. Khurshid declines Aligarh ticket offer,
emphasizing his Farrukhabad candidature.109732211
Congress party has tendency to impede progress: Anurag
ThakurAnurag Singh Thakur emphasized BJP's development initiatives in Himachal
Pradesh, lauded PM Modi's leadership, praised national security initiatives,
highlighted border infrastructure development, and criticized Congress' foreign
policy stance.109669122
'Name and shame these offenders': Congress hits back
at Anurag Thakur 'property to Muslim' claimsAnurag Thakur's provocative
accusations against Congress escalated the ongoing debate over wealth
redistribution, including 'streedhan' and mangalsutra, prompting fierce
responses and actions from political leaders and organizations.109652649
Source:
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/future-of-those-speaking-of-jihad-is-in-danger-anurag-thakur/articleshow/109766141.cms
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BJP's Assam Leader Pauses Election Speech During Namaz
At Mosque
May 02, 2024
Guwahati, Assam: In a gesture of respect, Assam
minister and BJP leader Pijush Hazarika paused his election rally speech when
Namaz was being read at a mosque nearby. This happened in Assam's Baksa
district on Wednesday.
In the video of the BJP leader shared on social media
platforms, it is seen that he paused for a while when the Namaz was recited at
the mosque located at an arm's length from the podium.
Baksa in lower Assam falls under Kokrajhar Lok Sabha
constituency.
Four Lok Sabha constituencies in Assam - Barpeta,
Dhubri, Guwahati, and Kokrajhar - will go to polls in the third phase set to be
held on May 7, bringing the curtains down for all 14 parliamentary seats in the
State.
Ten seats in Assam had voted in the previous two
phases that was held on April 19 and April 26.
These four seats are crucial for both BJP and
Congress. BJP, as part of its overall 400-seat target at the national level,
will try to max out its seat tally in the state while on the other hand, the
Congress party are targeting as many seats as possible at a time when the party
state's unit is in disarray.
In fact, all four seats headed for polls in the third
phase have sizable population of Muslim voters, and the BJP notably this time
is trying to reach out to them. BJP which is trying to maximize its tally in
the State is faced with an uphill task with minority voters being a significant
factor. However, with the AIUDF and the Congress both vying for the minority
vote the BJP could benefit from the division.
Assam chief minister upped his outreach and reiterated
everyday in his campaign trail that Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government
has treated all sections of the society equally and all its schemes and
programs reached all communities, including Muslims.
On April 19, Himanta addressed a rally in
Nagaon'sDhing, where as per estimates Muslim voters are over 80 per cent in
numbers. The rally saw thousands from the community coming and patiently hearing
the chief minister. Since then, in all election rallies, minority voters have
been turning up in huge numbers.
This Lok Sabha election in Assam, the BJP is
contesting in 11 out of 14 seats, while its ally parties, AsomGana Parishad
(AGP), are contesting in two seats (Barpeta and Dhubri) and UPPL in one seat
(Kokrajhar), respectively.
In the Lok Sabha elections of 2014, the Bharatiya
Janata Party (BJP) secured 7 of the 14 seats in Assam. Both the Congress and
the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) claimed three seats each. During
the 2019 elections, the BJP increased its seat count to 9, while the Congress
maintained its three seats, and the AIUDF won a single seat.
Source:
ndtv.com
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https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/bjp-leader-pijush-hazarika-pauses-election-speech-during-namaz-at-mosque-5564507
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BJP leader who 'threatened' Pahari Muslims should be
jailed, says Mehbooba Mufti
02 May 2024
Rajouri/Jammu: PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday
said the BJP leader who allegedly threatened Pahari Muslims in Anantnag-Rajouri
Lok Sabha seat in Jammu and Kashmir should be booked under the UAPA and sent to
jail.
The BJP on Tuesday expelled Poonch district
spokesperson Satish Bhargav for “hate speech” and “using unparliamentary
language” during an election meeting in Poonch district.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday filed a
complaint against the BJP for “intimidation tactics” to force the people to
vote for the Apni Party candidate.
Talking to reporters here, Mufti said, Bhargav should
be booked under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and sent to
Delhi's Tihar jail.
'This is their real face... If someone else had said
the same thing, he would have already been in Tihar jail,' Mufti, the former
Jammu and Kashmir chief minister said.
Poonch district is part of the Anantnag-Rajouri
parliamentary constituency where the elections were rescheduled for May 25 by
the Election Commission.
PDP president Mufti and National Conference leader
Mian Altaf are in a direct contest from the constituency. Prominent among 19
other candidates in the fray are Mohammad Saleem Parray of the Democratic
Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) and J&K Apni Party...
Source:
deccanherald.com
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https://www.deccanherald.com/india/jammu-and-kashmir/bjp-leader-who-threatened-pahari-muslims-should-be-jailed-says-mehbooba-mufti-3003941
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"Will preserve 4 pc reservation for Muslims in
Andhra Pradesh": TDP Chief Chandrababu Naidu
May 02, 2024
Amaravat: In a resurgence of the 'Muslim Reservation'
debate, the Telugu Desham Party (TDP) has lent its support to the cause,
advocating for reservation for Muslims in Andhra Pradesh.
Speaking at a PrajaGalam meeting in Guntur, TDP chief
N Chandrababu Naidu emphasised that the TDP has actively fought for Muslim
reservations in the state, asserting that it is the party's obligation to
fulfil its promises.
"We will preserve the 4 percent reservations for
Muslims and will provide Rs 5,000 in financial assistance every month for
mosque maintenance in the state," he said.
Naidu has also promised to establish the Noor Basha
Corporation and allocate Rs 100 crore annually for it if elected to power in
the state.
"We will provide pensions for individuals from
minority communities above the age of 50. Additionally, we will allocate spaces
for Eidgahs and graveyards in major towns for minorities," he added.
In Andhra Pradesh, as per the 2011 census, Muslims
constitute about 9.5 per cent of the population.
The former AP CM also announced plans to offer
financial assistance of Rs 1 lakh to Muslims undertaking the Haj yatra and
provide Rs 5 lakh in interest-free loans through a minority finance corporation.
Furthermore, he mentioned that Imams and Maujans will
receive honorariums of Rs 10,000 and Rs 5,000, respectively, while qualified
Imams will be appointed as government Qazis.
The TDP, Janasena and BJP are NDA alliance partners in
the southern state.
In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, YSRCP is contesting
alone in all 25 parliamentary constituencies and the 175 seats of the state
assembly. It is up against the Congress-led INDIA bloc and the National
Democratic Alliance (NDA), comprising the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), former
CM N Chandrababu Naidu-led Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Pawan Kalyan's Jana
Sena Party (JSP).
As part of a seat-sharing deal among NDA partners, the
TDP was allocated 144 Assembly and 17 Lok Sabha constituencies, while the BJP
will contest from six Lok Sabha and 10 Assembly seats.
Janasena will contest two Lok Sabha and 21 Assembly
seats. Elections for the 175-member Assembly and 25 Lok Sabha seats in Andhra
Pradesh are scheduled for May 13 and the counting of votes will be held on June
4.
Earlier on Wednesday, the TDP-BJP-JSP alliance in
Andhra Pradesh released its joint manifesto christened 'Praja Manifesto' for
the upcoming polls in the state, promising to offer Rs 1,500 monthly pension to
eligible women.
Source:
economictimes.indiatimes.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/elections/lok-sabha/india/will-preserve-4-pc-reservation-for-muslims-in-andhra-pradesh-tdp-chief-chandrababu-naidu/articleshow/109767801.cms
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Delhi: Jamali-Kamali mosque, tomb adjacent to it set
to get fresh lease of life
May 2, 2024
NEW DELHI: Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is set
to start conservation of the 16th-century Jamali-Kamali mosque and tomb in the
Mehrauli archaeological village complex.
The site comprises two adjacent monuments that are
among the most outstanding examples of Mughal architecture in Delhi.
The wall that remains of the Balban tomb complex,
which was revealed after removal of vegetation, will also be conserved.
Confirming this, superintending archaeologist (Delhi
Circle) Praveen Singh said that the conservation work is likely to start this
month and a tender has been floated for it.
According to a book "Delhi and Its Neighbourhood,"
Shaikh Fazlu’llah, also known as Jalal Khan (Jamali), was a saint and poet who
lived from the reign of Sikandar Lodhi to that of Humayun. The mosque
associated with his name is about 300 metres south of Balban’s tomb.
Work on the mosque began around 1528-29 during Babur’s
reign and was completed during Humayun’s reign. The tomb, adjacent to the
mosque, was built around 1528-29.
The tomb contains two graves, one is believed to be
that of Jamali, and the other is that of Kamali, an unknown person.
According to officials, punning work on the tomb will
be done along with plastering of the mosque's dome. Some stones are missing,
which will also be replaced. Lime concrete flooring will be done in the mosque.
Additionally, in the Balban tomb complex, the rubble wall
that remains will be conserved in all its aspects, and pathways towards the
monument will also be created for visitors. "No conservation work has been
done here for the past 10 years," an ASI official said.
The original gate to the mosque, which has survived,
lies to the south. Its prayer hall is pierced by five arches, inclining towards
a four-centred form and ornamented with carved bands and medallions in the
spandrels.
The central arch, higher than the others, is more
profusely decorated and flanked by fluted pilasters. The niches in the western
wall are also decorated with the central and northern ones featuring Quranic
inscriptions.
Two staircases at either end of the prayer hall lead
to a narrow gallery running right around the mosque on the second storey, with
three oriel windows at the rear, one on the south, and a small window above the
central arch.
The rear corners are occupied by octagonal towers.
Below the parapet in front are pendant lotus buds. A single dome covers the
central bay.
Architecturally, this mosque marks the transition from
the Moth-Masjid to Sher Shah’s mosque, with which it shares certain features.
This description was quoted in a book written by an ASI official.
The tomb of Jamali-Kamali is situated immediately to
the north of the mosque, enclosed within a boundary. Its chamber, small and
flat-roofed, features ceilings and walls that are highly ornamented. Coloured
tiles and patterns in incised and painted plaster, including verses composed by
Jamali himself, adorn these surfaces.
Though the vegetation growth around Balban's tomb
complex was removed by ASI last year, conservation work will commence this
month.
Balban, one of the most powerful slave sultans after
Iltutmish, was buried within the archaeological park, in a building he had
built himself, called the Dar-ul-Amaan (Haven of Safety). Though in ruins and
devoid of decorations, the tomb of Balban is unique for its architecture, as it
was the first building to be constructed using true arches.
Source:
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
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Farooq Abdullah attacks PM Modi: ‘A Muslim cannot
snatch…’
May 01, 2024
Farooq Abdullah, the president of Jammu and Kashmir's
National Conference, said on Wednesday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was
trying to divide the country on the basis of religion. He also said that those
who will "vote for them" must prepare for hell (after death).
Farooq Abdullah also called Prime Minister Narendra
Modi-led government a threat to the survival of the country.
"Do not divide this country on the basis of
religion, otherwise a storm will unleash making the survival of the country
difficult. It is better to talk about uniting the country, instead of dividing
its people," Omar Abdullah, former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister, said.
He addressing an election rally in Thanamandi area of
the Rajouri district.
Reacting to PM Modi's remark that the Congress would
redistribute people's money and property to Muslims if voted to power, Abdullah
said Muslims respect all religions.
"We are Muslims and our Allah has told us to
respect other religions… A Muslim cannot snatch anyone’s right," he said.
He claimed former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi once
stopped his vehicle in Pulwama and assured a poor Hindu woman that he would
give her a ‘mangalsutra’ as she couldn't afford it.
Farooq Abdullah said those who were against the INDIA
bloc were against the country.
"Those voting for them should remember to prepare
for hell (after death)," he added.
PM Modi had courted controversy last month with his
remarks that the Congress would take away the hard-earned money of the masses
and distribute them among "infiltrators" and "those with many
children".
At a rally today, PM Modi took a jibe at the Congress,
saying governments in the past were unable to implement the Indian Constitution
in Jammu and Kashmir. He was referring to the revocation of Article 370.
Source:
hindustantimes.com
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Delhi schools bomb scare: Cops suspect ‘joint
conspiracy by China, ISI’; FIR registered
01 May 2024
Delhi Schools Bomb Scare: The Special Cell of Delhi
Police has registered a case against an unknown person after over a hundred
schools in the national capital received bomb threats via email on
Wednesday. According to an ANI report,
Delhi Police is also probing an angle of joint conspiracy between China and
Pakistan's intelligence agency ISI.
The probe has revealed a connection to Russia, as the
email ID from which the schools received the threat emails was traced back to
the Vladimir Putin-led country.
Earlier, the Delhi Police had revealed that the email
used tov threaten over 100 schools in the Delhi-NCR in the early hours of
Wednesday, had contained the word ‘Swaraiim’.
‘Swaraiim’ is an Arabic word used by the Islamic
State, a transnational Salafi jihadist group, since 2014, said Delhi Police,
adding that they used this term to spread Islamist propaganda.
According to the reports, the email ID from which
Delhi NCR schools were sent the threat letter is 'sawariim@mail.ru.'
"The investigation will be done by the Counter
Intelligence Team Special Cell. IFSO unit is also trying to find out the origin
from where the mail was sent, till now the connection to Russia (IP address)
has been revealed", Delhi Police officials told ANI.
"As per the investigation till now, it seems to
be part of a larger conspiracy." the officials added.
One hundred thirty-one schools in Delhi received
threatening emails on Wednesday, according to Delhi police.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) labelled the emails
as 'hoaxes' in an official statement, urging against panic. The MHA reassured
that Delhi Police and security agencies are following protocol to address the
situation.
The Delhi government issued an advisory urging schools
to monitor their official emails regularly and promptly report any potential
threats to authorities.
"School Administrators/Managers/Heads of
Government/Government Aided and Unaided Recognised Schools under the
Directorate of Education, GNCT Delhi, should ensure that emails/messages
received on the official email ID of the school at any time of the day (before,
during, or after school hours) are checked timely," the advisory read.
Source:
livemint.com
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--------
Pakistan
Terror attack on police check post repulsed in Dera
Ghazi Khan
May 01, 2024
A terror attack on the Jhangi check post in Dera Ghazi
Khan was thwarted by the police when at least 15 to 20 terrorists struck it
during the late hours at night.
According to Regional Police Officer Sajjad Hassan
Khan, at least seven police personnel were injured in the terror incident.
The RPO told Geo News that the Jhangi check post is
located on the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa-Punjab border in the Taunsa area.
He added that the attackers wanted to capture the
check post, but they fled in the darkness of the night after the attack was
repulsed by policemen.
According to Punjab Police, 15 to 20 terrorists were
involved in the attack.
'Second attack on check post after 2 months'
This was a second attack on the check post in the span
of two months, said Punjab Police.
In a statement issued on X, formerly Twitter, the
Punjab Police wrote: "The terrorists of the banned organisation failed to
attack the Jhangi (Hazrat Umar Farooq) police check post again after two
months."
Taking advantage of the darkness of the night, 15 to
20 terrorists attacked with modern weapons including rocket launchers, hand
grenades, laser light guns which Sub-Inspector Mohiuddin — the check post
in-charge — and his personnel repulsed, the post read.
DG Khan RPO and district police officers reached the
spot with more reinforcements as soon as they received the information about
the attack.
"In the attack, seven personnel got injured while
fighting bravely and were shifted to the hospital for treatment."
The post further read that only two days ago, the RPO
and DPO had visited the outpost to inform the deployed personnel about the
threat of attack and rehearsed the defense measures.
Inspector General Punjab Dr Usman Anwar praised the
personnel, posted at the Jhangi check post, for successfully defending the
post.
"Punjab Police is on alert, will never let
terrorists succeed in their nefarious intentions," the post stated, citing
IG Punjab.
'Ending terrorism is our commitment'
Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz condemned the
terror attack on the check post, paying tribute to the brave police team for
fighting the terrorists.
The chief minister directed relevant authorities to
provide the best treatment facilities to the injured officials.
"Ending terrorism is our commitment," she
said, sharing her resolve towards peace in the province.
Source:
thenews.com.pk
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--------
'We support Pakistan's efforts to combat terrorism':
US State Deptspox
May 01, 2024
WASHINGTON: The United States has reiterated its
support for Pakistan's counter-terrorism efforts saying that it backs
Islamabad's measures for protection of its citizens.
Speaking at a press briefing in Washington on Tuesday
US State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel said: "We
support Pakistan's efforts to combat terrorism and ensure the safety and
security of its citizens in a manner that promotes the rule of law and
protection of human rights."
Furthermore, the spokesperson, in response to a
question concerning the need to strengthen Pakistan's defence capabilities,
underscored "shared interests" between Islamabad and Washington.
"Our partnership with Pakistan on security issues
includes, of course, a high-level counter-terrorism dialogue, funding robust
counter-terrorism capacity, and building programs and supporting a series of US
and Pakistan military-to-military engagements," he noted.
Patel's remarks come as both countries, during a
meeting between US Acting Under Secretary for Political Affairs John Bass and
Acting Foreign Secretary Ambassador Rahim Hayat in Islamabad, reaffirmed their
commitment to enhance cooperation in the areas of trade, investment and
regional security.
Last week, the US State Department, in its "2023
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices" had underscored the lack of
necessary measures by Pakistan with regard to addressing human rights abuses in
the country.
The report, lamenting sufficient and credible steps to
identify and punish officials who may have committed human rights abuses,
underscored extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearance, torture and cases
of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment by the government or its
agents along with harsh and life-threatening prison conditions, arbitrary
detention and political prisoners.
The Foreign Office, however, had termed the State
Department's report "unfair, based on inaccurate information and
completely divorced from the ground reality".
Complaining that these use a domestic social lens to
judge human rights in other countries in a politically biased manner, FO
spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said: "The US State Department"
annual exercises of preparing such unsolicited reports lack objectivity and
remain inherently flawed in their methodology."
Washington expects accountability from India
Separately, the US State Department spokesperson,
while responding to a query referring to The Washington Post’s report regarding
Indian government's involvement in planning the assassination of against Sikh
activist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, said that Washington will continue to expect
accountability and will raise its concerns with New Delhi.
His remarks refer to the publication's report wherein
it had claimed that an "officer in India’s intelligence service was
relaying final instructions to a hired hit team to kill" one of Indian
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s "most vocal critics".
The Research & Analysis Wing (RAW) officer,
identified as Vikram Yadav, was spearheading the assassination bid following
approval of the agency's then-chief SamantGoel.
Pannun, the general counsel of Sikhs For Justice (SFJ)
and a pro-Khalistan Sikh leader, is one of the high-profile leaders in the
community and has remained at risk of being eliminated, particularly in the
wake of Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar's killing June 18, 2023.
As per current and former Western security officials,
senior RAW officials have also been "implicated", following a
stretched out probe into the matter by the Central Intelligence Agency, Federal
Bureau of Investigation and other agencies, which has charted links of the plot
to the Indian premier's "inner circle".
Source:
thenews.com.pk
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--------
COAS discusses ways to boost defence ties with British
counterpart
By Web Desk
Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir on
Tuesday discussed matters of professional interest and measures to further
elevate bilateral defence relations with United Kingdom's Chief of the General
Staff (CGS) General Patrick Sanders.
In a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public
Relations (ISPR), the two dignitaries held a meeting during which COAS Munir
thanked General Sanders for his services in enhancing bilateral military ties.
During the meeting, the army chief also felicitated
General Roland Walker on his nomination as the next CGS of the UK Army.
COAS Munir and CGS Sanders also addressed the opening
session of the sixth Pakistan-UK Regional Stabilisation Conference at National
Defence University in Islamabad on Tuesday.
Pakistan-UK Stabilisation Conference is the flagship
defence and security dialogue between the two countries, held alternately in
Pakistan and UK, bringing together a formidable corpus of subject matter
experts in diverse domains including diplomats, defence officials,
intellectuals and civil society representatives.
In connection with this conference, a 30-member UK
delegation, is visiting Pakistan from April 29 to May 3, led by Standing Joint
Force Commander Major General Tom Bateman.
During the conference, delegations from both sides
will exchange perspectives on global and regional environment and its impact on
national security, and, regional peace and stability.
This year, the scope of discussion has been expanded
from bilateral to regional issues and defence officials of both countries from
the region are also participating in the conference.
Source:
thenews.com.pk
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--------
Militant attacks claim 70 lives in April, says report
May 2, 2024
ISLAMABAD: Following a brief lull in March, militant
attacks in the country surged once again in April, with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,
particularly its southern districts, bearing the brunt.
These findings were released by an Islamabad-based
think-tank, Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), in
its monthly security assessment report.
According to statistics, the country experienced at
least 77 verifiable militant attacks during April, resulting in 70 fatalities,
including 35 civilians and 31 members of security forces. Four militants were
killed.
The number of injured individuals was 67 — 32
civilians and 35 security personnel.
In comparison, March saw 56 militant attacks,
resulting in 77 fatalities and 67 injuries. This indicates a 38 per cent
increase in the number of militant attacks, although there was a nine per cent
decline in deaths, with no change in the number of injuries.
The security report also underscored the efforts of
the country’s security forces in thwarting numerous potential attacks during
the month. At least 55 suspected militants were killed and 12 others arrested,
including individuals involved in the Basham suicide attack, marking a 55 per
cent increase in militant deaths compared to March.
The report further said that 73pc of the total number
of militant attacks reported in April took place in KP, including its tribal
districts. Fifty-six attacks were reported in the province during the previous
month. The attacks killed 43 people — 26 members of security forces and 17
civilians.
The number of the injured stood at 32 — 19 members of
security forces and 13 civilians.
Within KP, mainland districts saw more attacks and
fatalities than tribal districts (formerly Fata). Mainland KP witnessed 31
attacks, resulting in 25 fatalities and 10 injuries. The southern districts of
D.I. Khan, LakkiMarwat, Bannu, and Tank were the most affected, with D.I. Khan
and LakkiMarwat facing seven militant attacks each, Bannu facing six, and Tank
experiencing two attacks. Together, these districts accounted for 71pc of the
attacks in mainland KP.
Additionally, Peshawar faced four attacks, while Swat,
Swabi, Charsadda, Shangla, and Battagram experienced one attack each.
In the tribal districts of KP (formerly Fata), PICSS
recorded at least 25 attacks, resulting in 18 fatalities and 22 injuries. North
Waziristan, Bajaur, and South Waziristan were the most affected districts, with
nine, five, and four attacks reported, respectively.
According to the report, Balochistan faced 16 attacks,
resulting in 21 fatalities, including 17 civilians and four security personnel,
with 31 individuals injured. Most of these attacks took place in the Baloch
belt of the province, particularly in the south and southwest. Specifically,
three attacks were reported in Khuzdar, two in Kech, Kohlu, and Quetta each,
and one each in Chaman, Dera Bugti, Duki, Kalat, Kharan, Mastung, and Nushki.
Punjab also witnessed a surge in militant activities,
with four attacks reported in April compared to one in March, resulting in
three fatalities. One attack was reported in Sindh, resulting in three
fatalities.
In the first four months of the year, the country
experienced 323 militant attacks, resulting in 324 fatalities and 387 injuries.
Source:
dawn.com
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--------
Three shot dead in Balochistan
May 2, 2024
QUETTA / GWADAR: Three people were shot dead in
different firing incidents in Quetta and Tump area of Kech district on
Wednesday.
According to police, some armed men shot dead a young
man in Sariab area of the provincial capital on Wednesday. The victim could not
be identified till late in the night.
In another incident, a man shot dead his sister in
western bypass area in an honour killing incident. According to police, the
incident took place at Magsi stop where the woman was shot dead.
Police shifted the body of the victim to civil
hospital. Later it was handed over to the family.
In another incident, some unidentified armed
motorcyclists shot dead a man in Tump area of Kech district, near Pak-Iran
border.
Murad Ali was going home when the armed men opened
fire, killing him on the spot.
Officials of the Levies Force, who shifted the body of
the victim to a nearby health care facility, said the murder appeared to be an
incident of target killing.
“The deceased suffered multiple bullet wounds, causing
his immediate death,” doctors told Levies Force officials.
Source:
dawn.com
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https://www.dawn.com/news/1830845/three-shot-dead-in-balochistan
--------
Deputy PM Ishaq Dar in Gambia to attend OIC summit
May 01, 2024
Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar has reached Banjul,
the Gambia to attend the 15th OIC summit.
At the airport, he was received by Gambian Minister of
Petroleum and Energy Nani Juwara.
Ishaq Dar, who also holds the portfolio of Foreign
Minister, will also participate in the Council of Foreign Ministers and meet
with leaders participating in the Summit.
Source:
radio.gov.pk
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https://www.radio.gov.pk/01-05-2024/deputy-pm-ishaq-dar-in-gambia-to-attend-oic-summit
--------
President Zardari orders 'large-scale operation'
against street criminals in Karachi
May 01, 2024
After deliberations on improving the law and order
situation in Sindh, President Asif Ali Zardari issued a set of directives to
the higher authorities, including a large-scale operation against street
criminals in Karachi, katcha bandits and drug mafia across the province.
The directives came during a special meeting chaired
by the president at the Chief Minister (CM) House on Wednesday.
Sindh CM Murad Ali Shah, Interior Minister Mohsin
Naqvi, Federal Minister for Science and Technology Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui,
provincial ministers Sharjeel Memon, Nasir Hussain Shah, Ziaul Hassan Lanjar,
chief secretary, inspector general police (IGP), Director General (DG) Rangers
Sindh and other senior officials attended the meeting.
The meeting reviewed overall law and order situation
in the province, specifically the longstanding issues of Karachi street crimes,
katcha bandits, menace of narcotics, land grabbing, security of foreign
nationals, as well as acquirement of facilities and resources.
CM Shah gave a detailed briefing on prevailing
situation of the province to the president and said that the situation was
improved after an operation in katcha (riverine) areas.
He added that the Iranian president’s visit to the
metropolis, Pakistan Super League (PSL) and international cricket matches, and
peaceful organisation of religious events were manifestations of the improved
law and order situation.
In 2014, Karachi was standing on the sixth number in
the global crime index which is now dropped to 82nd, the president was told.
During the briefing, Sindh Rangers DG Major General
Azhar Waqas apprised President Zardari that overall 5,357 crimes were reported
in the first four months of 2024.
He told the meeting that street crime cases fell in
March and April. Overall 49 people lost their lives in 48 street crime cases,
whereas 43 accused were arrested after probes into 27 cases while 13 suspects
were killed in encounters.
Similarly, out of 136 cases in which 174 persons were
injured 49 have been detected by arresting 114 accused and nine were killed in
encounters.
To curb street crimes, the provincial police took key
measures by making Shaheen Force functional and restructuring Madadgar 15,
e-tagging of repeat offenders, Sindh Smart Surveillance System (S4) project for
40 toll plazas of Sindh having ANPR and facial recognition cameras.
Additionally, 168 cars and 120 vehicles have been
handed over to the police, CM Sindh said.
President Zardari said that the police force must know
the spots where stolen vehicles and mobile phones were being sold. He ordered
the police to take strict actions against the trade centres where stolen assets
were being sold.
Katcha operation
Sindh IGP Ghulam Nabi Memon briefed President Zardari
that 107 police check posts have been established on the left bank of the Indus
River. Moreover, 609 persons have been recovered who were abducted by criminals
via honey traps, he added.
He detailed that 103 citizens were abducted from
January to April 2024 from which 76 incidents were registered while 47 cases
were not lodged by the victims. Police continued an operation to recover 20
abductees, he added.
The provincial police chief said that 63 dacoits were
killed in the first four month of this year and 120 suspects arrested in
wounded condition while 418 other suspects were also taken into custody.
During separate operations, 17 cops were martyred and
27 got injured.
The president directed establishment of police check
posts on the right bank of Indus River to improve security situation in
Shikarpur and Kashmore.
Karachi Safe City, Northern Bypass fencing
President Zardari ordered authorities concerned to
complete Karachi Safe City project “on a war footing” to eliminate street
crimes and other illegal activities affecting the law and order situation in
the port city.
He also directed the commencement of fencing work on
the Northern Bypass to curb katcha bandits’ activities. The president also
ordered completing the construction of Ghotki-Kandhkot bridge at the earliest.
He also directed initiating development projects on
both banks of the Indus River in Jamrud, Guddu and GarhiTego. Moreover, it was
ordered to include local dignitaries to resolve tribal disputes in riverine
areas in the committees.
It has been directed that a tri-party mechanism should
be formulated for effective coordination between Sindh, Punjab and Balochistan
provinces.
President Zardari also ordered the police to take
strict action against the drug mafia besides directing the Sindh government to
spread awareness against narcotics among parents.
The president issued directives to adopt special
security measures for Chinese citizens. The provincial authorities have been
told that there would be a “zero tolerance” policy over land grabbing.
He also ordered the Sindh government to approach the
Centre for the acquirement of facilities such as ammunition required to
maintain the law and order situation. He also directed transferring police
officials who failed to maintain peace situation.
Source:
thenews.com.pk
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--------
Europe
Sentencing
postponed for Minnesota man who regrets joining Islamic State group
May
1, 2024
MINNEAPOLIS
(AP) — A Minnesota man who once fought for the Islamic State group in Syria but
now expresses remorse for joining a “death cult” and has been cooperating with
federal authorities will have to wait to learn how much prison time he faces
after his sentencing hearing set for Wednesday was canceled.
Federal
prosecutors have recommended 12 years for Abelhamid Al-Madioum in recognition
both of the seriousness of his crime and the help has he given the U.S. and other
governments. His attorney says that seven years is enough and that Al-Madioum,
27, stopped believing in the group’s extremist ideology years ago.
A
court notice posted online just over two hours before the hearing was to begin
said it would be rescheduled for a date to be determined. The notice did not
give a reason for the cancellation.
Al-Madioum
was 18 in 2014 when IS recruited him. The college student slipped away from his
family on a visit to their native Morocco in 2015. Making his way to Syria, he
became a soldier for IS, also known as ISIS, until he was maimed in an
explosion in Iraq. Unable to fight, he used his computer skills to serve the
group. He surrendered to U.S.-backed rebels in 2019 and was imprisoned under
harsh conditions.
Al-Madioum
returned to the U.S. in 2020 and pleaded guilty in 2021 to providing material
support to a designated terrorist organization. According to court filings, he
has been cooperating with U.S. authorities and allied governments. The defense
says he hopes to work in future counterterrorism and deradicalization efforts.
“The
person who left was young, ignorant, and misguided,” Al-Madioum said in a
letter to U.S. District Judge Ann Montgomery, who will sentence him.
“I’ve
been changed by life experience: by the treachery I endured as a member of
ISIS, by becoming a father of four, a husband, an amputee, a prisoner of war, a
malnourished supplicant, by seeing the pain and anguish and gnashing of teeth
that terrorism causes, the humiliation, the tears, the shame,” he added. “I
joined a death cult, and it was the biggest mistake of my life.”
Prosecutors
acknowledge that Al-Madioum has provided useful assistance to U..S. authorities
in several national security investigations and prosecutions, and that he
accepted responsibility for his crime and pleaded guilty promptly on his return
to the U.S. But they say they factored his cooperation into their recommended
sentence of 12 years instead of the statutory maximum of 20 years.
“The
defendant did much more than harbor extremist beliefs,” prosecutors wrote in a
sentencing memo. “He chose violent action by taking up arms for ISIS.”
Al-Madioum,
a naturalized U.S. citizen, was among several Minnesotans suspected of leaving
the U.S. to join the Islamic State group, along with thousands of fighters from
other countries worldwide. Roughly three dozen people are known to have left
Minnesota to join militant groups in Somalia or Syria. In 2016, nine Minnesota
men were sentenced on federal charges of conspiring to join IS.
But
Al-Madioum is one of the relatively few Americans who have been brought back to
the U.S. who actually fought for the group. According to a defense sentencing
memo, he’s one of 11 adults as of 2023 to be formally repatriated to the U.S.
from the conflict in Syria and Iraq to face charges for terrorist-related
crimes and alleged affiliations with IS. Others received sentences ranging from
four years to life plus 70 years.
Al-Madioum
grew up in the Minneapolis suburb of St. Louis Park in a loving and
nonreligious family, the defense memo said. He joined IS because he wanted to
help Muslims he believed were being slaughtered by Syrian President Bashar
Assad’s regime in that country’s civil war. IS recruiters persuaded him “to
test his faith and become a real Muslim.”
But
he was a fighter for less than two months before he lost his right arm below
the elbow in the explosion that also left him with two badly broken legs and
other severe injuries. He may still require amputation of one leg, the defense
says.
While
recuperating in 2016, he met his first wife, Fatima, an IS widow who already
had a son and bore him another in 2017. They lived in poverty and under
constant airstrikes. He was unable to work, and his stipend from IS stopped in
2018. They lived in a makeshift tent, the defense says.
He
married his second wife, Fozia, in 2018. She also was an IS widow and already
had a 4-year-old daughter. They had separated by early 2019. He heard later she
and their daughter together had died. The first wife also is dead, having been
shot in front of Al-Madioum by either rebel forces or an IS fighter in 2019,
the defense says.
The
day after that shooting, he walked with his sons and surrendered to the
Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, which held him under conditions the defense
described as “heinous” for 18 months until the FBI returned him to the U.S.
As
for Al-Madioum’s children, the defense memo said that they were eventually
found in a Syrian orphanage and that his parents will be their foster parents
when they arrive in the U.S.
Source:
thestar.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.thestar.com/news/world/united-states/sentencing-postponed-for-minnesota-man-who-regrets-joining-islamic-state-group/article_d6f34317-80f7-525c-af51-c8dd1d597e98.html
--------
University
raises awareness of apprenticeships with Muslim business community
01
May, 2024
The
Luton Muslim business community was recently invited to an apprenticeships
event at the University of Bedfordshire, as part of the University’s commitment
to developing a culture of learning and fostering skill development in the
local area.
The
‘Recruit, Retain & Develop: Widening Access to Degree Education’ evening
offered insight and guidance on recruiting and retaining staff by enhancing
their skills to higher and degree education levels – while also reflecting the
University’s dedication to equality, diversity and inclusion.
Understanding
the challenge faced by members of the Muslim community in accessing loan-free
financing to fund a degree education, the University’s Higher and Degree
Apprenticeship programmes were spotlighted as a Government-funded solution for
employers and learners alike – requiring a minimal 5% employer contribution
which can be as little as £300 per year.
Keynote
speakers included Dr Rhidian Lewis, Apprenticeships Lead at the University of
Bedfordshire, academics from the Faculty of Health & Social Sciences and
Business School, and UsamahHimdy, Visiting Lecturer in Law and Consultant at
Greystone Solicitors. External speakers also included regional organisations
and apprentices such as the East London NHS Foundation Trust, United Kingdom
Atomic Energy Authority, ISC2, and Positive Transformation Group.
Speaking
about the apprenticeship evening, Dr Lewis said: “Apprenticeships broaden not
only the opportunities to access new knowledge and skills but also add genuine
value to the employer environment. At the University of Bedfordshire, we are
excited to work with our local community to develop skills and support the
growth of businesses to make a positive and meaningful impact”.
Attendees
also benefited from an overview of the available support from the University,
highlights from the University’s apprenticeship portfolio, including Digital
Marketing and Project Manager Degree Apprenticeships, as well as the
opportunity to discuss challenges faced by Muslim employers and learners when
considering development pathways.
UsamahHimdy
added: “Apprenticeships provide a unique opportunity to gain practical skills
on the job while acquiring theoretical understanding and qualifications - a
valuable alternative pathway in my view.”
Source:
beds.ac.uk
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.beds.ac.uk/news/2024/may/university-raises-awareness-of-apprenticeships-with-muslim-business-community/
--------
Execution
of Sunni Prisoner AnvarKhezri in GhezelHesar Prison
May
1, 2024
A
source close to his family confirmed the execution and noted that Khezri’s
family is traveling to Mahabad for the funeral.
In
the same legal case, four other Sunni prisoners—GhasemAbasteh, Ayoub Karimi,
DavoudAbdollahi, and Farhad Salimi—had been previously executed in the same
prison.
The
case dates back to September 2008 when Abdolrahim Tina, the Imam of a mosque in
Mahabad, was assassinated by unidentified individuals. In January and February
2010, Khezri and six other Sunni suspects were arrested in connection to the
assassination.
Khezri
faced multiple charges during his detention, including enmity against God
(Moharebeh), allegedly for sympathizing with Salafism—a charge he consistently
denied. After spending fourteen months without resolution, Khezri was moved to
RajaiShahr Prison in Karaj, where he stayed until his transfer to GhezelHesar
Prison in August of the same year.
Initially
sentenced to death by Branch 28 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided
over by Mohammad Moghiseh, the verdict was overturned by the Supreme Court. The
case was then assigned to Branch 15 of the same court, presided over by Judge
Salavati, who reinstated the death sentences for Khezri and six other
defendants. This time, the Supreme Court confirmed the death sentences for
Khezri and his co-defendants.
Source:
en-hrana.org
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.en-hrana.org/execution-of-sunni-prisoner-anvar-khezri-in-ghezel-hesar-prison/
--------
Russian
defense chief inspects new anti-drone weaponry (VIDEO)
1
May, 2024
Russian
Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu has met with top military officials to discuss
the battlefield situation in the Ukraine conflict, placing special emphasis on
weapons production.
The
Defense Ministry said on Wednesday that Shoigu heard military reports at the headquarters
of the United Group of Forces in an undisclosed location. The meeting
reportedly focused in-part on Ukrainian tactics.
Shoigu
also inspected modernized anti-drone weaponry, with the video released by the
ministry showing him standing near a twin-barreled heavy machine gun equipped
with a collimator sight.
According
to the ministry, Shoigu said that Russian forces “continue to carry out tasks
in operational directions in accordance with the plan for [the] special
military operation.” He also emphasized the need to further increase deliveries
of equipment.
“To
support the required pace of the offensive… it is necessary to increase the
volume and quality of weapons and military equipment supplied to the troops,”
the minister said.
To
achieve this goal, Shoigu continued, the military has state contracts with
defense contractors which prioritize decreasing the production time as much as
possible.
He
noted that the armed forces sometimes have to deal with “urgent” issues in this
area, especially when it comes to the production of the weapons most frequently
used on the battlefield.
The
minister also stressed the particular need to increase the efficiency of repair
facilities and units, ordering them to reduce the time needed for restoring
inoperable engines and other equipment, as well as for replenishing the stock
of spare parts.
The
top level meeting comes after Shoigu said in April that Russian troops had
seized the initiative on the battlefield and announced the capture of several
more settlements in Donbass. On Monday, Ukraine’s top general, AleksandrSyrsky,
acknowledged retreating from a number of strongpoints in the area, and that the
“most difficult situation” was being faced on several operational fronts.
Meanwhile,
both Ukrainian officials and Western media have expressed deep concern about
the country’s ability to withstand a possible Russian summer offensive, despite
the US recently approving a long-awaited $61 billion aid package. Moscow says
that the military assistance will not help Kiev turn the tide in the conflict.
Source:
rt.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.rt.com/russia/596833-defense-minister-meeteing-drone-weapons/
--------
Arab
World
OIC
General Secretariat Condemns Deadly Assault on Mosque in Afghanistan
1
May 2024
The
Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) strongly condemned on Wednesday the
heinous attack perpetrated by armed assailants in a mosque in Herat, western
Afghanistan.
On
Monday night, gunmen attacked a mosque in western Afghanistan during prayer
time, killing at least five people, a spokesperson for the provincial governor
said.
The
OIC called on the authorities in Kabul to do more to put an end to the
bloodshed of Afghan civilians across the country, identify the perpetrators of
this attack and bring them to justice, the Saudi Press Agency said.
It
also condoled the families of the victims, wishing the wounded complete and
speedy recovery.
Source:
english.aawsat.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://english.aawsat.com/gulf/4995586-saudi-crown-prince-bie-secretary-general-discuss-riyadh-expo-2030-preparations
--------
Saudi
FM discusses developments in Sudan with army chief, RSF leader
May
01, 2024
RIYADH:
Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan spoke with Sudan’s
Sovereign Council Chief General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan and the leader of
Sudanese paramilitary Rapid Support Forces Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo on Wednesday.
During
the separate calls, the latest developments in the situation in Sudan and their
repercussions on the Sudanese people were discussed, Saudi Press Agency
reported.
Prince
Faisal stressed the importance of working to protect Sudan and its people from
further destruction and preventing the worsening of the humanitarian conditions
there.
The
minister also said it was important to prioritise the interests of the Sudanese
people and stop the fighting to protect state institutions and bring about
safety in Sudan.
Source:
arabnews.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2502931/saudi-arabia
--------
Saudi
crown prince discusses preparations to host Expo 2030 with BIE head
May
01, 2024
RIYADH:
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman discussed the Kingdom’s preparations to
host Expo 2030 in Riyadh with the secretary-general of the Bureau International
des Expositions on Wednesday.
Writing
about the meeting on social media platform X, Dimitri Kerkentzes said he was
“honored” to discuss the preparations with the crown prince.
“The
BIE and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will work hand in hand to make Expo 2030 a
tremendous success for the Kingdom, the region, and the world,” he added.
Riyadh
defeated challenges from South Korea and Italy to host the prestigious event in
November 2023, and was selected by a majority of 119 out of 165 votes by BIE
member states.
Source:
arabnews.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2502846/saudi-arabia
-------
Madinah
megaproject aims to make region a hub for wellness tourism
May
01, 2024
RIYADH:
Almqr Development Co., the investment arm of Madinah Regional Municipality, has
signed an agreement with a national construction company to build a wellness
resort and rehabilitation center, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Forming
part of the “Heart of Uhud” project north of the Prophet’s Mosque, the facility
will cover 240,000 square meters and aims to establish Madinah as a global
destination for health and wellness.
Once
built, with the support of local and international investors, the center hopes
to accommodate up to 30 million visitors a year by 2030.
Source:
arabnews.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2502821/saudi-arabia
-------
Saudi
development program teams up with Selah Foundation for water project in Yemen
May
01, 2024
RIYADH:
The Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen and the Selah
Foundation for Development agreed on Wednesday to cooperate on a
renewable-energy water-security project in Yemen’s Hadhramaut region, which
they said will benefit about 1.7 million people.
The
deal was signed by Hassan Al-Attas, the assistant general supervisor of the
development program, and Ali Hassan Bashmakh, the foundation’s executive
director.
The
governor of Hadhramout, Mabkhoot bin Mubarak bin Madhi, attended the signing
ceremony and thanked Saudi authorities for the assistance provided to Yemen
through the development program. He also expressed gratitude to King Salman,
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the employees of the program for their
contributions.
Al-Attas
said his organization has more than 229 active development projects in Yemen,
helping to improve the lives and livelihoods of people across the country. They
span eight sectors, including education, health, water, transportation and
agriculture.
As
part of the project in Hadhramaut, solar power stations will be established in
nine areas to provide the energy required to improve the availability and
supply of water. Training and capacity building will also be provided to ensure
local technicians can operate and maintain the solar equipment.
The
development program and the foundation previously partnered with the Arab Gulf
Program for Development on other renewable-energy projects to help improve the
quality of life of an estimated 62,000 people in five of Yemen’s governorates.
And in January, the two organizations launched a water-security project that
aims to benefit about 800,000 people in Aden. On the Yemeni island of Socotra,
the development program’s projects help meet about 50 percent of water needs,
100 percent in Al-Ghaydah, and 10 percent in Aden.
The
Selah Foundation for Development received the Prince Talal International Prize
for Human Development in 2020 for its continual efforts to enhance water
security.
Other
officials who attended the signing ceremony on Wednesday included Yemen’s
planning and international cooperation minister, WaedBadheeb; the minister of
water and environment, Tawfiq Abdulwahed Al-Sharjabi; and Mohammed Al-Jaber,
supervisor general of the Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for
Yemen.
Source:
arabnews.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2502801/saudi-arabia
--------
Saudi
center launches pavilion for children during Environment Week
May
01, 2024
RIYADH:
The National Center for Environmental Compliance (NCEC) is hosting an
interactive pavilion for children to mark Environment Week 2024, which began
last Sunday, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The
center’s pavilion, in Riyadh’s Granada Square, carries the slogan “Know Your
Environment.” It features activities for children promoting environmental
preservation and protecting air, water and soil from pollution.
Young
visitors are first met with a moving knowledge wall containing several tips
placed on hanging cubes, each decorated with a color and information, or a
picture.
Children
can then move to the memory board to register as honorary members charged with
protecting the environment. A part of the pavilion is dedicated to rest and
entertainment, including cube puzzles and other games.
The
center offers specialized scientific workshops for adults during Environment
Week, addressing topics including land degradation.
The
Kingdom is set to host COP16 in December this year, enhancing cooperation
between the 197 signatory countries of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification,
and searching for ways rehabilitate millions of hectares of degraded land.
The
center’s presence in Riyadh, Jeddah, Alkhobar and Taif aims to boost community
awareness of environmental issues through a range of activities and events.
Source:
arabnews.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2502746/saudi-arabia
--------
North
America
After
removal of Muslim activist, state agency puts genocide education work group on
hold
by
Becky Z. Dernbach
The
Minnesota Department of Education says it is “pausing next steps” on a genocide
education working group after pushback over the removal of a Muslim activist.
In
a statement to Sahan Journal, the agency said it had received feedback on the
process to develop the Education on the Holocaust, Genocide of Indigenous
Peoples, and Other Genocides Working Group, including the processes to select
and notify members. The agency said it is “working with the co-chairs to
determine a course of action that will set this group up for success and ensure
it can fulfill the important work entrusted to it by the legislature.”
Asma
Mohammed, the activist who was appointed to and subsequently removed from the
working group, expressed cautious optimism about the pause.
“I’m
hoping this is a good-faith effort,” she said. “I’m hoping it’s not just to
postpone it until people forget about it.”
The
working group, a bureaucratic behind-the-scenes process mandated by a 2023
state law to define “genocide” and create education resources, went viral on
social media on April 17. Mohammed, the advocacy director for Reviving the
Islamic Sisterhood for Empowerment, who led Minnesota’s effort to vote
“uncommitted” in the presidential primary, tweeted that she had been accepted
into, and then removed from, the working group. She provided documentation of
her communication with the Minnesota Department of Education and two different
lists of working group members — one that included her name and one did not.
“I
was the ONLY Muslim woman,” she wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
Joe
Eggers, co-chair of the working group and interim director for the University
of Minnesota’s Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies, said he was unsure
what had happened with Mohammed’s removal from the working group and found the
communication about it “troubling.” Many Minnesotans from different backgrounds
have come to the state because of genocide and violence, he noted.
“I
understand and respect the concern for representation on this committee,” he said.
“I wish this had been done in a better way, that we wouldn’t have this sort of
fallout. I’m appreciative of the time to make sure that we can make this
right.”
The
working group’s other co-chair is Laura Zelle, director of Holocaust education
for the Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas. Ethan
Roberts, JCRC’s deputy executive director, told Sahan Journal that Zelle and
JCRC supported the pause.
“There’s
plenty of time to do this work,” Roberts said. The committee’s final report to
the Legislature is due in November 2025. “I think they will be able to get
those resources out on time for our schools.”
The
working group’s pause illustrates a quandary at the heart of the protests
rocking U.S. college campuses and Democratic primary votes: Who gets to decide
what counts as genocide? Whose tragedies are recognized? And what is the
appropriate response?
Genocide
definition controversial
n
May 2023, the Minnesota Legislature passed a law mandating education on the
Holocaust, genocide against Indigenous peoples, and other genocides. But the
definition of “genocide” became politically supercharged after October 7, when
the militant group Hamas staged a brutal attack on Israel, killing more than
1,100 Israelis and capturing 240 hostages. Israel responded by declaring war
and launching airstrikes on Gaza. Since then, more than 32,000 Palestinians
have been killed, including 24,000 women and children, according to the United
Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
The
war, lopsided casualty counts, and the United States’ support for Israel have
outraged many supporters of Palestine, who have described Israel’s actions as
“genocide.” Genocide scholars have said that the word, as defined by a 1948
United Nations treaty, requires intent, which is difficult to prove. In
January, the International Court of Justice found it “plausible” that Israel
may have committed genocide and ordered the country to prevent genocide, but
did not demand an end to its military offensive.
But
many Jewish leaders have found the accusations of genocide to be abhorrent and
antisemitic. Roberts said that to use the word “genocide” to describe the war
in Gaza was to “weaponize” against Jewish people a word originally coined to
describe the Holocaust.
“Hamas
has genocidal intent,” Roberts said. “I don’t agree that Israel is committing
genocide in a war it doesn’t want and didn’t start.”
‘Everybody
should have a knowledge of the dangers of mass murder’
Representative
Frank Hornstein (DFL-Minneapolis), the son of Holocaust survivors, introduced a
bill mandating genocide education to the House Education Policy Committee in
March 2023. The bill came at the urging of JCRC.
Roberts
told Sahan Journal that a Holocaust education mandate had been a priority in
his community for a long time. It was “very painful for the community” when the
first draft of Minnesota’s revised social studies standards omitted any mention
of the Holocaust, he said. “We don’t want to ever be in that position.” He said
it was also important to honor genocides against Indigenous peoples, given
Minnesota’s history.
The
bill was personal for Hornstein. He told the committee that when his mother was
in hospice, he asked what cause he could support in her name. She asked him to
create a Holocaust memorial lecture at their synagogue. Carrying the bill was a
way of honoring his mother’s wish, he said.
The
committee hearing featured moving testimony from Dora Zaidenweber, a
99-year-old Holocaust survivor.
“Not
only all students, but everybody — everybody in Minnesota educated — should
have a knowledge of the dangers of mass murder, that mass murder can happen,”
she said.
The
bill, as Hornstein originally proposed it, focused on the Holocaust and
genocide against Indigenous peoples. But it also said students should learn
about how people around the world have been affected by genocide, including
genocide of enslaved Black people in the Americas, as well as genocides in
Namibia, Armenia, Ukraine, Cambodia, Guatemala, Rwanda, Darfur, Myanmar, and
Yugoslavia, “and other historical and contemporary cases of genocide and mass
violence, especially those experienced by communities expelled from, resettled
in, migrated to, or living in Minnesota.”
“We
want to focus on best practices, and some of those best practices include going
beyond the Holocaust to include the study of other genocides,” Hornstein told
the education policy committee.
Committee
members cited a rise in antisemitism as a reason for the bill’s importance, and
praised its inclusion of many Minnesota communities. The committee voted to
advance the bill to the education finance committee on a unanimous bipartisan
vote.
The
language naming specific other genocides was later removed without consulting
with JCRC, Roberts said, which he called “regrettable.”
But
Eggers, who testified for the bill that day, told Sahan Journal that the broad
language had been intentional.
“It
was our suggestion to leave the language vague in terms of what genocides are,”
he said. “It gets very contentious amongst communities: what is a genocide,
what is not a genocide. These sorts of things tend to derail conversations.”
The legislation also provided language about “mass violence” to capture
experiences that might not meet the legal threshold of genocide. “It was our way
of maybe hopefully avoiding some of that contentious conversation.”
The
final version of the law requires education for middle and high school students
on the Holocaust and genocide of Indigenous peoples, as well as unspecified
other genocides and incidents of mass violence, by the 2026-2027 school year.
It
also called for a working group of 12 to 21 members that would include
representatives from the Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies, the Tribal
Nations Education Committtee, and community groups, as well as teachers and a
representative from teacher preparation programs. The working group’s role
would be to identify resources, materials, and professional development
opportunities for teachers, as well as to develop model lesson plans.
According
to the law, the working group must hold its first meeting no later than
September 1, 2024.
‘Where
are the people whose voices should be here?’
Mohammed
applied to be on the working group. She thought she was well-qualified for the
role: Through her work at RISE, she had partnered with the National Council of
Jewish Women and Jewish Community Action to create trainings on Islamophobia
and antisemitism. She’d also worked as an educator, and had served on a
previous state working group.
And
she thought it was important to represent Muslims, and people of color more
generally. Too often, mass acts of violence against people of color are not
considered to be genocide, she said.
“My
school didn’t even cover slavery as a genocide,” Mohammed said. She also wanted
to represent a Muslim perspective on the current war in Gaza. “I think that
including a pro-Palestinian voice on the group is incredibly important.”
On
March 28, she received an email and a call from the Minnesota Department of
Education, congratulating her and welcoming her into the working group. When
she saw the list, she did not recognize names of any other Muslim women. But
she also perceived other problems with the group’s representation.
“Where
are the Palestinians?” she asked. “Where are the Black folks? Where are the
African descendants of slaves? Where are the people whose voices should be
here?”
Then,
on April 15, Mohammed received another email from the Minnesota Department of
Education.
“An
email was inadvertently sent to you on March 28, 2024 indicating acceptance on
the working group,” the email read. “This email was sent in error. MDE had high
demand for the working group, and we have selected all members at this time. We
will let you know if future opportunities arise.” The email was signed “Minnesota
Department of Education.” In response to queries from Sahan Journal, MDE
declined to identify who had decided to remove Mohammed from the working group.
Mohammed
wrote back, asking if the email was sent in error.
“We
sincerely apologize for this clerical error,” the Minnesota Department of
Education replied, and provided a link to an updated list that omitted
Mohammed’s name.
“This
is ridiculously disappointing,” Mohammed wrote back. “I was the only Muslim
woman on the working group. And to be sidelined like this is disturbing.”
Mohammed
told Sahan Journal she thought it was critical to include Muslim voices in the
working group, to represent not only Palestine but Bosnia, the Uyghurs in
China, and forcible displacement of Muslims in India.
“Islamophobia
is a real cause of genocide,” she said. “I want that to be reflected in the
working group.”
She
had hoped the working group would provide educators with tools to help students
whose families are experiencing acts of mass violence now.
“I
think that kids do need to know about Holocaust, and I think that we need to
know that it can never happen again. And it’s happening now,” she said. “I
think that when we teach our kids about the Holocaust, we teach them about what
happens before the Holocaust: how we create a culture in which people are
dehumanized.”
But
she had lost the opportunity to help facilitate that, she said.
“I
don’t get to do that anymore, because someone made a decision that my voice is
no longer valued at the table,” she said.
Backlash
to removal
Many
of Mohammed’s supporters on social media, including the Minnesota chapter of
the Council of American-Islamic Relations, called on the Minnesota Department
of Education to reverse the decision.
At
the same time, Senator Julia Coleman, R-Waconia, the ranking minority member on
the Senate Education Policy Committee, issued a statement calling for the
Minnesota Department of Education to keep Mohammed off the working group. She
pointed to October 9 tweets from Mohammed, days after Hamas’ attack on Israel,
which she described as “antisemitic.”
In
one tweet, Mohammed wrote: “I can’t have anyone in my life who supports Israel,
the IDF, or the occupation. Please let the door smack you in the head on the
way out.”
Mohammed
called the accusations of antisemitism a “ridiculous assumption,” noting that
she has a history of interfaith organizing with “anti-Zionist Jews.”
Roberts
declined to comment specifically on Mohammed’s removal, but said it was
important for the Minnesota Department of Education to make sure that members
of the group could work well together.
“We
want to make sure that everyone who’s on the committee is there to be
collaborative, and keeping the kids front and center,” he said. “That’s what
the work is about.”
Eggers
said it was unfortunate that someone who had wanted to share her voice in the
process “was included and then excluded for seemingly no reason.”
“My
hope is that this can be rectified in some way,” he said.
Next
steps?
The
first working group meeting, scheduled for April 30, was canceled. Eggers and
Roberts said they were not sure what next steps would be or whether the roster
of working group members might change.
Roberts
said he hoped the Minnesota Department of Education was taking time to figure
out how to structure the meetings thoughtfully and engage a facilitator.
Ultimately, he said, he hoped the working group could provide teachers with the
confidence and resources they would need to teach thoughtfully about the
Holocaust and other genocides.
Genocide
education was not just about reciting names of concentration camps, he said.
“It’s, are you a better human being and a better citizen who’s able to think
critically and make decisions that are moral and with empathy and humanity?
That’s the goal. And the working group is so important in preparing the
teachers to do that — I would argue — sacred work.”
For
Eggers, pausing the work provided an opportunity to create a better working
group.
“A
body that doesn’t represent Minnesota, that’s trying to tell a Minnesota story,
is inherently going to fail,” he said. “To me, figuring this out and how to
restructure this is paramount to the actual mission of the committee.”
For
Mohammed’s part, she’d like to see the process start from scratch.
“I
don’t think I need to be the person on it,” she said. “I think that there need
to be Palestinians. I think there should be Black folks on it. But I think the
process needs to be started over.”
Source:
sahanjournal.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://sahanjournal.com/education/muslim-activist-minnesota-education-department-holocaust-genocide-working-group/
--------
Chicago
Muslim advocates travel to Illinois capitol to call for cease-fire in Gaza
May
1, 2024
SPRINGFIELD,
Ill. (CBS) – Muslim American advocates from Chicago traveled down to the
Illinois State Capitol in Springfield on Wednesday to urge lawmakers to also
call for a cease-fire in Gaza.
Usually,
action days in Springfield focus on legislative issues related to Illinois'
Muslim community, but this year, the organizers said, is different. On
Wednesday, they tried to widen the calls for a cease-fire in Gaza and to bring
home the realities of what life for those directly affected by the war is
really like.
"We
thought we are going there to help our medical colleagues to do some management
with the mass casuaity events, but what we witnessed was massacre," said
Dr. Chandra Hassan of the University of Illinois Chicago.
Hassan
was among those who traveled to Springfield. He talked about spending
two-and-a-half weeks in Gaza last January. He shared what he saw with the
gathered crowd and legislators.
"You
can't describe those kinds of wounds we witnessed," Hassan said.
"Those kinds of wounds are not even in the trauma textbooks, surgical
books."
Calls
for a cease-fire were among the messages shared by the Council of Islamic
Organizations of Greater Chicago, whose leaders also reacted to the growing
pro-Palestinian protests on campuses that include DePaul and the University of
Chicago.
"I
saw some pictures, some student had a hammer in his hand, at a window,"
said CIOGC Executive Director Gregory Abdullah Mitchell. "We do not
endorse lawlessness. We do not endorse the breaking of the laws. But what we do
endorse and what we do advocate is that the leaders of the universities must
open the door and have meaningful conversations."
At
Northwestern University, that conversation led to protests ramping down and
tents coming down after an agreement was reached between the school and some
protest leaders.
Abdullah
Mitchell didn't comment on whether that was the right way forward, saying he
was "not familiar with the parameters of the agreement."
As
other schools grapple with how to manage campus encampments, the message in
Springfield from hundreds of protesters was both pointed, against U.S. leaders
helping fund Israel's attack, and hopeful.
"We
must stand in solidarity with all faiths, Muslim, Jewish, Christian, uniting
for the humanity to the people of Gaza," said ShafeekAbubaker, of the
CIOGC.
Demonstrators
also called on legislators to take action like making it easier for Muslim
Americans to attain auto insurance and lower prescription drug prices. But
their top issue was calling for a cease-fire in Gaza.
CBS
2 reached out to multiple state lawmakers about the calls from the group, but
none returned those requests for comment.
Source:
cbsnews.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/muslim-day-of-action-springfield-cease-fire/
--------
Anti-Muslim
incidents doubled in N.J. amid protests over Israel-Gaza war, report finds
May.
01, 2024
By
S.P. Sullivan
From
a Cherry Hill restaurant where a burnt Quran was tossed through a window, to a
prominent Muslim mayor turned away from a White House gathering, an
organization advocating for the civil rights of Muslims in New Jersey says it
fielded a record number of complaints last year.
The
Garden State chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations documented
309 complaints of anti-Muslim bigotry in 2023, double the number it fielded the
previous year, according to a new report released by group Tuesday.
If
you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site,
we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User
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third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
Source:
nj.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.nj.com/news/2024/05/anti-muslim-incidents-doubled-in-nj-amid-protests-over-israel-gaza-war-report-finds.html
--------
The
Houthi Ansar Allah Movement In Its Own Words
May
1, 2024
Since
the start of the war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, which broke
out following the deadly attack perpetrated in Israel by Hamas on October 7,
2023, the Houthi Ansar Allah movement has carried out dozens of attacks
targeting Israel and Israeli interests as well as American and other Western
marine vessels in the Red Sea, the Bab El-Mandeb Strait, the Indian Ocean and
the Arabian Sea. Severely disrupting global trade, these attacks have drawn the
world's attention to the Houthi movement, which is a proxy of Iran. The
Houthis, for their part, are using this attention in a bid to shed their image
as an Iranian proxy. They seek to elevate their international stature and
position themselves as an influential regional power in their own right, part
of the anti-American global axis that comprises Russia, China and the BRICS[1]
countries.
Virulent
hatred for the U.S., Israel, and the Jews, to the extent of blatant
antisemitism, is an integral part of the Houthi identity and is used by the
Houthi leadership to gain sympathy and support among the Yemeni population. The
most obvious expression of this hatred is the movement's motto:
"Allahuakbar, death to America, death to Israel, cursed be the Jews,
victory to Islam." The U.S., Israel and the Jews are presented as the
enemies of Islam and of mankind in speeches and sermons by Houthis leaders and
clerics, at mass rallies and in activities for children. Over the years MEMRI
has translated dozens of these speeches, sermons and statements from Houthi
officials and reported on military parades and rallies in areas under Houthi
control.
The
Houthis Seek To Position Themselves As A Regional Power Opposing The U.S. And
The West
On
March 16, 2024, Ali Al-Qahoum, a member of Ansar Allah's political bureau,
published a post on X praising the Houthi role in the struggle against the
"hegemony" of the U.S., Britain and the West. The post reads:
"There is a continuous development in the international relations between
Yemen, Russia, China, and the BRICS countries, and an exchange of experience
and expertise in various fields. This is due to a common interest in drowning
America, Britain, and the West in the swamp of the Red Sea and the high seas.
[Our] goal is to make it [the U.S.] sink and disappear, and weaken its unipolarity.
"This
is not only an analysis, but rather a clear and present reality. Yemen… entered
the equation of supporting Palestine and ably strengthened the equation of the
Red Sea, which constitutes a major and strategic equation with major effects
and implications on the balance of the military, security, political and
economic results. Yemen achieved this with unparalleled vigour and pride thanks
to Allah, our brave, wise, and beloved leader, and proud nation, to such an
extent that the superpowers began knocking on its [Yemen's] doors, coordinating
and building mutual relations with it, making arrangements for the foreseeable
future, and preparing for the historic defeat of America, Britain, and the
West, and the collapse of the colonial project and Western hegemony in the
region and the world."
Houthi
Shura Council Member: Everyone Hostile To America Is Our Friend, We Will
Welcome Exchange Of Military Expertise
On
March 17, 2024, AbdulsalamJahhaf, a member of the Houthi Shura Council, shared
a post on X defending the group's "right" to establish international
relations with countries hostile to the U.S. The post reads: "We have the
right to establish relations with Russia, China, Iran, the BRICS countries,
Cuba, and [North] Korea. Everyone hostile to America is our friend. We will
widely accept alliances and exchange of military expertise and information.
This is a natural result of the West's aggression against us and against our
people in Gaza, under the leadership of America."
Houthis
Hold Military Exercise Simulating Confrontation With U.S., British Forces
On
March 15, the group released a photoset documenting a military exercise
simulating confrontation with American and British forces.
Strengthening
Relations With Palestinian Factions; Coordination With Hamas Regarding Crew Of
Highjacked "Galaxy Leader" Ship
On
March 15 and 16, 2024, it was reported that representatives of the Houthi Ansar
Allah movement and senior officials from three Palestinian factions – Hamas,
Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), and the Democratic Front for the Liberation of
Palestinian (DFLP) – had held a meeting in Lebanon to discuss coordination
between them in the context of the war against Israel in the Gaza Strip. The
Houthis stressed their willingness to continue with "assistance
operations" in the Red Sea, the Bab El-Mandeb Strait, and the Indian Ocean
for the next two years.
See
MEMRI JTTM report, Palestinian And Lebanese Media Outlets: Representatives Of
Houthi Ansar Allah Movement Meet Secretly With Officials From Three Palestinian
Factions; Willing To Assist Militarily Against Israel For Coming Two Years,
March 18, 2024.
On
March 7, 2024, the Qatar-based Al-Jazeera website published an article about
the collaboration between the Houthis and Hamas, against the backdrop of the war
in the Gaza Strip. The article quoted senior Houthi and Hamas officials who
claimed that the two movements had also coordinated the decisions regarding the
crew members from the Galaxy Leader commercial vessel that was hijacked by the
Houthis on November 19, 2023.
See
MEMRI JTTM report, Al-Jazeera: Hamas' Al-Qassam Brigades Coordinating With
Groups In Lebanon, Yemen, Iraq, Since October 7; Ansar Allah (Houthis) Put
Decision Regarding Crew Of Seized Ship 'At Al-Qassam's Disposal', March 10,
2024.
Video
Compilations
The
following are seven compilations of videos which present the Houthi threats to
the U.S., the Gulf States and Israel, and include displays of Houthi military
capabilities. They also reveal the antisemitic aspects of the Houthi ideology,
as expressed in statements by Houthi political and military leaders, in sermons
delivered by preachers and in speeches at military parades.
Senior
Houthi Officials: U.S. Responsible For War In Ukraine, Militarization In Red
Sea
The
following video compilation includes statements by officials such as Houthi
leader 'Abd Al-Malik Badr Al-Din; Ansar Allah Political Bureau members Mohammed
Al-Bukhaiti, Abdullah Al-Na'ami and Abd Al-Wahhab Al-Mahbashi; Supreme
Political Council members Mohammed Ali Al-Houthi and sheikh Sultan Al-Samie;
Information Minister Dayfallah Al-Shami and his deputy Nasr Al-Din Amer, Health
Minister Dr. Taha Al-Mutawakkil; Tourism Minister Ahmad Al-Aly; Supreme
Revolutionary Council member Khaled Al-Madani; TV host and undersecretary for
girls' education at the Houthi education ministry Boshra Al-Mahtouri, and Ali
Al-Halili, spokesman for the Future of Justice organization. These Houthi
officials incite against the U.S. and threaten to attack its vessels at sea,
while some of the videos were filmed onboard the hijacked Galaxy Leader. Others
include antisemitic statements and threats against the UAE.
The
videos presented below present statements by Houthi military personnel
detailing Houthi military capabilities; Houthi claims of responsibility for
attacks against Israeli targets since October 7, 2023, claims of responsibility
for attacks on the UAE. and threats to attack American forces in the Red Sea.
The
following senior Houthi officials appear in this compilation: Brigadier General
Abdul Ghani Al-Zubaidi; military expert Muhammad Hussein Al-Mansour; Naval
Staff Brigadier General Yahya Saree'; spokesman for the military forces Colonel
Mujib Shamsan; military expert and strategic analyst, Brigadier General
Abdallah Al-Jafari; and military expert Sharaf Luqman, spokesman for the Houthi
forces.
This
compilation also includes a report about corporal punishment and executions
carried out by the Houthis; a student rally in Hajjah where threats were made
to attack Israel and New York; and footage of a rally of Houthi women in
Al-Jawf at which they demonstrated against Israel and the West.
The
following clips present sermons and interviews with Houthi clerics, such as
Muhammad Miftah; Shams Al-Din Sharaf Al-Din, the mufti of Yemen; HamdiZiad;
Ibrahim Al-Ubeidi; Ahmad Al-Shami; and Abdallah Al-Lahji. They threaten and
incite against the U.S., the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Israel and UN agencies, make
antisemitic statements, express support for the Houthi military industry and
repeat conspiracy theories regarding the September 11, 2001 attacks and the
COVID pandemic.
The clips in the compilation below document
military parades organized by the Houthis, displays of Zilzal missiles,
simulated attacks against Israeli and American targets, and demonstrations of
armed women who support the Houthis.
This
compilation includes articles that appeared in the Houthi media which claim
that the American government planned the September 11 attacks, and an animated
film screened in the Houthi media which contends that the U.S. and the Jews
deceive and harm Arabs.
Indoctrination
Of Children
The
videos below present the values and concepts taught to the younger generation
in areas controlled by the Houthis, and includes footage of a show of support
for the residents of Gaza in which children are seen bearing arms and shouting
slogans against the U.S. and Israel. Also presented are conspiracy theories
regarding the September 11 attacks and material glorifying martyrdom.
Expressions
Of Support From Houthi Allies
The
following videos present expressions of affinity and support from members of
the resistance axis led by Iran and Hizbullah: from Iran, Iraq and Gaza, as
well as Houthi support for the Lebanese Hizbullah. The videos include footage
of Iraqi Hizbullah Brigades launching a campaign to fund Houthi drones; a rally
in Gaza in support of the Houthis; statements from Iranian General Gholmani
Rashid, commander of Khatam Al-Anbiya central headquarters; a Houthi donation
drive for Hizbullah, and statements from Iranian cleric Mehdi Taeb, advisor to
Supreme Leader of Iran Ali Khamenei.
Source:
memri.org
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.memri.org/reports/houthi-ansar-allah-movement-its-own-words
--------
Muslim
activists plan rally in Springfield to call for cease-fire in Gaza
CHICAGO
(CBS) -- A group of more than 200 people headed to Springfield on Wednesday to
rally for a cease-fire in Gaza during the annual Muslim Action Day at the
Illinois State Capitol.
The
annual lobbying day is meant to strengthen relationships between lawmakers and
Muslim civic groups.
Belinda
Tibayan, a middle school and high school coordinator at Muslim Community Center
Academy College Prep in Morton Grove, is bringing students along.
"Our
students will take a tour of the capitol. They'll meet with the senators and
legislators," she said. "I do want them to be engaged. I want them to
be enthusiastic as they head on to college and then make sure that they do
vote."
In
addition to health care and insurance coverage, the group hopes to talk to
lawmakers about how the government is supporting Palestinians and other
civilians in Gaza amid the war between Israel and Hamas.
A
guest speaker will also give firsthand accounts of the situation there as
activists urge state lawmakers to support the call for a cease-fire in Gaza.
Source:
cbsnews.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/springfield-rally-gaza-ceasefire-muslim-action-day-illinois-state-capitol/
--------
US
sanctions on Iranian hackers highlight growing concern about the Islamic
Republic's cyber warriors
MAY
1, 2024
A
feature of the simmering tensions between the US, Israel and Iran has been not
just the tit-for-tat missile and drone strikes and assassinations, but
accusations of cyberwarfare waged by Iran.
On
April 23, the US Treasury announced it was sanctioning two Iranian companies
and four Iranian individuals for conducting malicious cyberattacks against more
than a dozen US companies and government organizations. The Treasury alleged
that these organizations and individuals had conducted spear phishing, malware
and ransomware attacks, which it said aimed to destabilize important national
infrastructure in the US.
This
followed an announcement in February that it was sanctioning a group of Iranian
hackers linked to the country's military for what it described as
"unconscionable and dangerous" attacks on water and wastewater
systems in the US.
Identifying
the people behind these attacks can often be challenging. But the US is
claiming the hacks are perpetrated by "front companies" and hackers
operating for Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Cyber Electronic Command
(IRG-CEC).
The
main sanctioned company, MehrsamAndishehSaz Nik (MASN) is identified as
regularly launching what is known in the cyber world as advanced persistent
threat (APT) attacks.
APTs
are long-term attacks on high-value targets such as large companies and
government organizations.
MASN
was linked in 2019 by cybersecurity giant Symantec (now Gen Digital Inc) with a
group it called Tortoiseshell. Symantec said Tortoiseshell had been active in
the Middle East since at least July 2018. It was linked with cyberattacks
against Saudi Arabian IT providers and Israeli shipping, logistics and
financial services companies.
Much
less is known about the actions of the second sanctioned company, DadehAfzar
Arman. But from information available online, it claims to be a software and
web development company based in Tehran.
Alongside
the sanctions, the US government is offering a reward of US$10 million (£8
million) and a "plane ticket to somewhere new" for anyone having more
information about the hackers in question.
The
recent announcement follows a wider pattern of the US naming and shaming
cybercrime groups it has identified and linked to rogue activity.
By
publicly naming these groups, in this instance, the US says it wants to inform
the Iranian public that the IRG-CEC is using these companies for launching
illegal cyber-attacks against international targets. But efforts by the US
government to deter state-backed hackers working for governments including
Iran, China and Russia have yet to bear fruit.
To
date, no such suspects have ever been apprehended to stand trial in the US.
War
in all but name
Washington
and Tehran have been at loggerheads since the 1979 revolution. The US imposed
sanctions against the Islamic Republic when militant students overran the US
embassy in the Iranian capital in November 1979 sparking the 400-day hostage
crisis.
They
have endured since with various levels of intensity. This, despite efforts by
the Obama administration to move towards normalization, with the signing in
2015 of an agreement under which Iran agreed to limit its nuclear program in
return for an easing of sanctions.
Donald
Trump pulled the US out of the agreement in 2018.
The
first major act of cyberwar between the two countries was, in fact, the Stuxnet
"worm", a joint venture between the US and Israel. Stuxnet drove a
wrecking ball through Iran's nuclear facilities in 2010. The virus manipulated
control systems and caused centrifuges to overheat. This caused serious damage
and set Iran's nuclear program back by years.
This
incident marked the beginning of an on-again, off-again conflict between the two
countries. In 2016, the US Justice Department indicted seven Iranian computer
specialists. It accused the group of hacking into dozens of American banks as
well as trying to take over the controls of a small dam in a suburb of New
York.
This
was the first time the US had publicly accused the Iranian Revolutionary Guard
Corps (IRGC) of involvement in cyber-attacks. But it is thought Iran had been
targeting the US financial systems with what the FBI called a "systematic
campaign of distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks" since 2011.
After
the US assassinated top Iranian general, Qasem Soleimani, in 2020, the US
Department of Homeland Security's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security
Agency published an official guidance, warning US companies to prepare for a
possible wave of cyber-attacks from Iran.
At
the time the threat was talked down. One expert wrote in the New York Times
that: "Tehran is a capable and prolific actor in the realm of
cyberwarfare, but it has no proven ability to create large-scale physical
damage through cyberoperations."
Growing
threat
However,
in recent years Iran seems to have further developed its cyber capabilities. In
2023, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence's annual threat
assessment declared that: "Iran's growing expertise and willingness to
conduct aggressive cyber operations make it a major threat to the security of
US and allied networks and data."
Meanwhile,
the National Cyber Power Index ranked Iran as tenth among the 30 countries it
investigated in 2022 (up from 23rd in 2020). Additionally, in a peer-reviewed
article published recently that offers a new global metric for
cybercriminality, Iran is ranked 11th in relation to the impact,
professionalism and technical skills of cybercriminals operating in the
country.
In
the increasingly murky margins of a world where cybercriminals and governments
can overlap, Iran's increasing sophistication in this field cannot be ignored.
Source:
techxplore.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://techxplore.com/news/2024-05-sanctions-iranian-hackers-highlight-islamic.html#google_vignette
--------
South
Asia
Their
Hands Are Stained With Workers' Blood: AL General Secretary On BNP
May
1, 2024
Awami
League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister ObaidulQuader
today said BNP's hands are stained with workers' blood.
"They
(BNP leaders) do not have the strength of waging movement. Movement requires
people. People are not with them. The blood stain of August 15 and August 21 on
their hands. The stain of labours' blood is on their hands...," he said.
He
was addressing a discussion organised by Jatiya Sramik League in front of
party's central office at Bangabandhu Avenue marking May Day.
Quader
said the people of this country will not forgive those who had closed the
Adamjee Jute Mills. Sheikh Hasina is a worker-friendly prime minister as she
raised minimum wages of labourers to Tk 12,500, he added.
He
also called upon the workers to be united.
An
evil force, he said, is hatching conspiracy to destroy the garment industry by
instigating its workers. "Everyone should be united to face the conspiracy
in the greater interest of the nation," he said.
Awami
League does not want to break BNP, he said, adding that BNP itself is
responsible for breaking the party.
Source:
thedailystar.net
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/politics/news/their-hands-are-stained-workers-blood-quader-bnp-3599991
--------
Dy
PM of Islamic Emirate Reiterates Commitment to Inclusive Islamic System
2024-05-01
KABUL
(BNA) In a meeting held at the Sapedar Palace, Mawlavi Abdul Kabir, the Deputy
Prime Minister for Political Affairs of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan,
engaged in discussion with elders, scholars, and the youth of Nangarhar.
The
meeting aimed to address the concerns and aspirations of the local population
while emphasizing the inclusive nature of the Islamic system.
During
the meeting, the elders of Nangarhar expressed their support for the Islamic
Emirate and highlighted their desire for an Islamic system that caters to the
needs of all Afghans.
They
lauded the developments made under the Islamic system, which has granted rights
to the people that were previously unheard. Additionally, they voiced their
enthusiasm for the reconstruction of schools, mosques, health centers, and the
completion of incomplete projects in their region.
In
response, Deputy Prime Minister Mawlavi Abdul Kabir expressed his gratitude for
their support and acknowledged that the Islamic system had come into existence
due to the sacrifices made by all Afghans.
He
reiterated the Emirate’s commitment to ensuring equal treatment for all
citizens, regardless of their tribe, language, or faction.
The
Deputy Prime Minister stressed that the Islamic Emirate firmly supports the
rights of every Afghan.
Source:
bakhtarnews.af
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click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.bakhtarnews.af/en/deputy-prime-minister-of-islamic-emirate-reiterates-commitment-to-inclusive-islamic-system/
--------
Pakistan
deports over 800 Afghan migrants
May
2, 2024
The
Ministry of Refugees and Repatriates Affairs states that Pakistan expelled over
800 Afghan migrants from the country in a single day.
According
to a press release by the ministry today, Thursday, May 2nd, 838 Afghan
migrants returned to the country after being expelled from Pakistan.
Based
on the press release, mentioned migrants re-entered the country through the
borders of Torghundi in Nangarhar province and Spin Boldak in Kandahar
province.
The
Ministry of Migrants Affairs added that the returning migrants include families
and single individuals.
The
Ministry of Migrants Affairs also reports on the return of migrants from Iran,
indicating a recent surge in the expulsion of Afghan migrants from Iran,
particularly Pakistan, in recent months.
Moreover,
the dire situation for Afghan returnees back in Afghanistan is exacerbating.
Many face challenges such as lack of shelter, food, and access to basic
services. The influx of returnees strains resources in fragile regions,
increasing poverty and instability.
The
returnees often encounter difficulties reintegrating into Afghan society due to
limited job opportunities, education, and healthcare services. This situation
is further compounded by ongoing conflict and insecurity in various parts of
the country, making it harder for returnees to rebuild their lives and
livelihoods.
Source:
khaama.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.khaama.com/pakistan-deports-over-800-afghan-migrants/
--------
Iran
warns of deporting Afghan citizens, unauthorized hiring
May
1, 2024
Ahmad
Vahidi, the Minister of Interior Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran,
stated that Afghan migrants are beloved people who have come here to escape the
oppression of tyrants and oppressors.
In
an interview with the Iranian media IRNA on Wednesday, May 1st, this
high-ranking official of the Islamic Republic of Iran mentioned that Afghan
migrants, from a humane perspective, have abandoned their homes and lives under
the pressure of tyrants and oppressors and have come here.
Mr
Vahidi added that, based on humaneness and ethical principles, they had
accepted them, but now our capacity is full, and they should not come beyond
this. Those who are undocumented migrants here should be provided with the
means to return.
He
further stated, “Currently, we do not accept unauthorized citizens, and any
institution that employs unauthorized citizens is committing an offence.”
Since
the Taliban assumed control of Afghanistan, a significant number of Afghans
have chosen to migrate to neighbouring countries like Iran and Pakistan. Faced
with political instability, economic uncertainty, and restricted freedoms, many
have sought refuge across the borders for safety and opportunities.
However,
the forced deportation of Afghan migrants has led to a dire humanitarian
crisis. These individuals often face security threats and the risk of violence
upon their return to Afghanistan. The abrupt displacement exacerbates their
vulnerability, leaving them without adequate protection and support in their
home country.
Upon
returning to Afghanistan, migrants encounter a lack of essential amenities and
face numerous challenges. Infrastructure deficiencies, limited access to
education and healthcare, and economic hardships await them. Meanwhile, their
reintegration process is hindered by the ongoing instability and precarious
conditions in both Afghanistan and the neighbouring countries they once sought
refuge.
Source:
khaama.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.khaama.com/iran-warns-of-deporting-afghan-citizens-unauthorized-hiring/
--------
Daesh
Attack in Herat Not Indicator of Strength: Mujahid
01-05-24
Zabihullah
Mujahid, the spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate, told TOLOnews that Monday's
attack on a Shia mosque in the Guzara district of Herat does not signify the
strengthening of Daesh in Afghanistan.
The
spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate described the attack as a crime and said
that efforts to find the perpetrators of this event are ongoing.
Daesh
claimed responsibility for the attack on Monday on a Shia mosque in the Guzara
district of Herat.
Mujahid
said: "The recent crime by Daesh in Herat province is not an achievement
for them and does not show their strength. It is a pure crime that has been
committed and could occur in most countries. The security forces are aware of
clues to this crime and, God willing, will bring the perpetrators to
justice."
At
the same time, Thomas West, the US special representative for Afghanistan, and
Naseer Ahmad Faiq, Chargé d'Affaires of the permanent mission of Afghanistan to
the United Nations, condemned the attack.
West
called the attack a terrorist event and expressed sympathy with the families of
the victims.
Thomas
West on X said: "The United States strongly condemns the terrorist attack
that killed innocent worshippers at a mosque in Herat last night. Perpetrators
must be held accountable, and our thoughts are with those who lost loved ones.”
Naseer
Ahmad Faiq on X said: "The targeted attacks against the Shiite communities
of Afghanistan and the shedding of the blood of children and innocent people
inside mosques are highly condemnable."
"Experience
has proven that in 45 years, foreigners have provided these weapons and
equipment, meaning these so-called Muslims have become soldiers for foreigners,
including Britain, America, and regional countries," said Yousuf Amin
Zazai, a military analyst.
In
the attack on Monday evening on worshippers at a Shia mosque in Guzara district
of Herat, five people including a woman and a child were killed and three
others were injured.
Source:
tolonews.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-188587
--------
Prof
Yunus, 13 others granted bail in graft case
May
2, 2024
A
Dhaka court today granted bail to Nobel laureate Prof Muhammad Yunus and 13
others in a case filed over misappropriation of about Tk 25.22 crore of Grameen
Telecom Workers' profit participation fund.
Judge
Syed Arafat Hossain of the Special Judge's Court-4 of Dhaka passed the order
after they filed petitions with the court, seeking bail in the case, said Belal
Hossain, bench assistant of the court.
The
court also set June 2 for holding hearing on the charge framing.
On
April 2, the Metropolitan Senior Special Judge's Court of Dhaka accepted the
charges pressed against the 14 accused, including Yunus.
On
that day, the court also set today for hearing on charge framing and
transferred the case to the Special Judge's Court-4 of Dhaka for the next
course of action.
On
February 1, Investigation Officer Gulshan Anwar Prodhan, a deputy director of
the ACC, placed the charge sheet before the Metropolitan Senior Special Judge's
Court of Dhaka.
The
13 other accused are Grameen Telecom Managing Director Nazmul Islam, Directors
Ashraful Hassan, Naznin Sultana, Parvin Mahmud, M Shahjahan, Nurjahan Begum,
and SM Huzzatul Islam Latifee, Sramik-Karmachari Union President Kamruzzaman,
General Secretary Firoz Mahmud Hasan and representative Mainul Islam, Jatiya
Workers Federation Office Secretary Kamrul Hasan, and lawyers Zafrul Hasan
Sharif and Yusuf Ali.
On
May 30 last year, Gulshan Anwar filed the case with the ACC's integrated
district office in Dhaka. The ACC approved the charge sheet
Source:
thedailystar.net
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/crime-justice/news/prof-yunus-13-others-granted-bail-graft-case-3600121
--------
Mideast
Turkiye
to join South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at World Court, minister
says
ISTANBUL:
Turkish Foreign Minister HakanFidan said on Wednesday that Turkiye would join
in South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of
Justice (ICJ).
“Upon
completion of the legal text of our work, we will submit the declaration of
official intervention before the ICJ with the objective of implementing this
political decision,” Fidan said in a joint press conference with Indonesia’s
Foreign Minister RetnoMarsudi in Ankara.
“Turkiye
will continue to support the Palestinian people in all circumstances,” he said.
The
ICJ ordered Israel in January to refrain from any acts that could fall under
the Genocide Convention and to ensure its troops commit no genocidal acts
against Palestinians, after South Africa accused Israel of state-led genocide
in Gaza.
In
January, President Tayyip Erdogan said that Turkiye was providing documents for
the case at the ICJ, also known as the World Court.
Israel
and its Western allies described the allegation as baseless. A final ruling in
South Africa’s ICJ case in The Hague could take years.
Source:
arabnews.com
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--------
True
Promise op. rarest Islamic Establishment's decision
TEHRAN,
May 01 (MNA) – The Commander-in-Chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps
(IRGC) emphasized that Iranian Operation True Promise was the most exceptional
decision made by the Islamic Establishment in Iran.
Speaking
in a ceremony to commemorate national Teacher's Day in Iran at the IRGC Command
Headquarters in Tehran, the Commander-in-Chief of the IRGC emphasized that the
operation carried out by Iran in the middle of last month dubbed True Promise
was the emergence of the willpower of the Iranian people.
Iranian
military conducted a successful punitive attack on the Zionist regime of Israel
on April 13 in response to its earlier terrorist attack on Iran's consulate in
Damascus, Syria on April 1.
Salami
considered the "Al Aqsa Storm" operation launched by Palestinian
Resistance groups on October 7 last year to be the factor behind revealing of
the Zionist regime's intelligence failure, adding that the True promise also
revealed the failure of the regime's deterrence.
He
praised Iran for coming out victorious and powerful after four and half decades
of pressures and sanctions. "One cannot find in history a country like
Iran that has been dealing with traditional and modern wars for four and a half
decades with an enemy that possess half of the economic, cultural, military and
political power of the world, but after all this period it is in its most
powerful, commanding and strongest position."
He
further described the True Promise as "the most exceptional decision"
by the Islamic Establishment.
The
True Promise was the most exceptional decision of the Establishment. "It
is not possible for any leader or military to make such a decision in any part
of the world."
The
IRGC commander further said that Iran's operation was based on "great
courage" and "a deep wisdom."
Source:
en.mehrnews.com
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--------
President
Raisi calls for election participation to fulfill social, Islamic
responsibilities
May
1, 2024
TEHRAN-
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has underscored the significance of elections
as a cornerstone of "religious democracy," urging the Iranian people
to actively engage in the upcoming parliamentary run-off election scheduled for
May 10.
In
his address on Wednesday, President Raisi stressed the dual importance of
participating in the electoral process: fulfilling both societal and Islamic
obligations.
He
emphasized the critical need to foster conditions conducive to a robust voter
turnout, likening election participation to a civic and religious
responsibility wherein individuals select representatives tasked with
legislative duties and advancing procedural enhancements.
Additionally,
he highlighted the alignment of electoral participation with this year's
overarching national objective, as designated by the Leader of the Islamic
Revolution Ayatollah Khamenei: "surge in production through people's
participation."
On
April 26, Iranian Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi declared the readiness to
proceed with the second phase of parliamentary elections.
Vahidi
disclosed that all necessary arrangements have been completed for the upcoming
electoral process. He highlighted the extensive preparations undertaken across
all 22 constituencies for the second round of the 12th parliamentary elections.
Notably,
Vahidi emphasized that eight constituencies will conduct the election entirely
through electronic means.
The
scheduled date for this phase of the parliamentary election is set for May 10.
Earlier
on March 1, the country held parliamentary an Assembly of Experts elections.
The polls opened across Iran at 8 a.m. local time (0430) on Friday for
parliamentary and Assembly of Experts elections.
More
than 61 million people were eligible to vote.
About
15,000 parliamentary candidates were vying for 290 seats for a four-year term.
Simultaneously,
people voted for 88 members of the Assembly of Experts, a body in charge of
overseeing the performance of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution. Candidates
for the assembly are elected for an eight-year term.
Ayatollah
Ali Khamenei, Leader of the Islamic Revolution, cast his ballot at a polling
station in Tehran in the first minutes of voting.
Ayatollah
Khamenei called on the voters to turn in big numbers to please friends and
disappoint enemies.
“We
ask the Almighty God to make today a happy day for the Iranian nation and that
the results of the efforts of our dear people and those involved in the various
issues of the elections may reach the desired results and benefit the Iranian
nation,” the Leader said after voting.
“Our
dear nation should know that today the eyes of many people in the world, both
individuals and politicians and those who hold prestigious national and
political positions, are on Iran and you.”
“They
want to see what you are doing in this election and what will be the result of
your election. Both our friends and people who are interested in the Iranian
nation, as well as ill-wishers from all sides, observe the issues of our
country and our beloved nation. Pay attention to this; make friends happy and
disappoint the ill-wishers.”
The
Leader repeated his recommendation to the voters in the previous elections to
head to the polls and vote as early as possible.
“The
second recommendation is to vote for as many people as you need, not fewer, in
any constituency. For example, in Tehran, vote for 30 people in the Islamic
Consultative Assembly and for 16 people in the Assembly of Experts of the
Leadership,” he added.
Later
in March 5, Mohsen Eslami, the spokesperson for the election headquarters,
provided details on the parliamentary and Assembly of Experts elections.
Eslami
announced that as results show, 45 seats in the 290-seat parliament will be
decided in the run-off elections. He said candidates who have failed to win
less than 20 percent of the votes will be competing again in the spring to
determine who will win the vacant seats.
According
to the election law, two candidates will compete for each remaining seat.
However,
all 88 seats for the Assembly of Experts were filled in March 1 elections.
In
terms of voter participation, 48% were women and 52% were men, with 85% using
their national ID cards to vote. This year for the first time since the 1979
Islamic Revolution, Iran allowed voters to use various identification documents
to vote. Before the latest round of elections, people were only allowed to cast
votes by identification booklets (Shenasnameh).
Source:
tehrantimes.com
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--------
Eight
arrested in Bibnine for allegedly shooting during funeral of two Islamic Group
leaders
01
May 2024
BEIRUT
– Eight individuals suspected of involvement in the shooting during the funeral
of Islamic Group leaders Musab and Bilal Khalaf were arrested during a series
of raids conducted Tuesday evening and continued until Wednesday at dawn,
L'Orient Today's correspondent in the north and the Lebanese army reported.
The
Fajr Forces, the armed wing of Lebanon's Islamic Group, announced on Friday
that two of its commanders were assassinated by the Israeli army.
A
statement was issued by the mayors of the town of Bibnine thanking all the
"political, party, security, judicial, tribal, and public delegations who
came to offer condolences for the nation's martyrs, Musab and Bilal
Khalaf."
The
mayors emphasized "the noble message carried by the two martyrs" and
called on the Lebanese army "to handle the issue of gunfire with the
wisdom they are known for."
"It
should not be forgotten that Bibnine is a reservoir for the Lebanese army and
has always provided martyrs from the sons of the military institution and will
continue to do so in defense of the nation," the statement concluded.
Since
Oct. 8, Hezbollah and Israel have been involved in almost daily cross-border
fire. Palestinian and Islamist factions are also involved in the retaliatory
strikes against Israel.
Gun
violence is a significant security issue in Lebanon, especially in its northern
areas, where there is a wide proliferation of firearms. Easy access to firearms
in times of tension and anger greatly increases the likelihood of
confrontations becoming deadly.
Source:
today.lorientlejour.com
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--------
How
fierce but undeclared Israel-Hezbollah war is hurting civilians in south
Lebanon
May
01, 2024
BEIRUT:
For more than six months, an undeclared war has been raging along Lebanon’s
southern border with Israel, leading to the displacement of some 92,000
Lebanese citizens and the destruction of homes, businesses and agriculture.
The
front line of this conflict between Hezbollah and the Israeli armed forces
stretches some 850 km, incorporating parts of the UN-monitored Blue Line, with
missiles fired by both sides reaching up to 15 km into their respective
territories.
Although
the exchanges have remained relatively contained, Israeli attacks have caused
civilian deaths, damaged and destroyed homes, infrastructure and farmland, and
ignited forest fires. Civilians on both sides of the border have been
displaced.
“Our
town is right on the border, and there are now only 100 out of 1,000 residents,
and the rest are those who are unable to secure an alternative livelihood,”
Jean Ghafri, mayor of Alma Al-Shaab, a predominantly Christian village in the
Tyre District, told Arab News.
“So
far, the shelling has destroyed 94 houses, and 60 percent of the olive groves,
mango, and avocado orchards, vineyards, olive and carob trees have been burned,
and some of the olive trees that were burned are 300 years old.”
Most
of the people in the border region are Shiite. The rest are Sunni, Druze and
Christians, along with dozens of Syrian refugee families, some 10,000 troops of
UNIFIL, or UN Interim Force in Lebanon, and a few thousand Lebanese soldiers.
Members
of Lebanon’s Iran-backed Hezbollah militia began launching rocket attacks
against Israel on Oct. 8, a day after the Hamas-led assault on southern Israel
triggered the war in Gaza.
Since
then, Hezbollah and the Israeli military have traded fire along the shared
border, raising fears that the Gaza conflict could spill over and engulf
Lebanon in a devastating war reminiscent of the 2006 Israeli invasion.
“The
town, although it is in a conflict zone, did not witness this level of direct
destruction in the 2006 war,” said Ghafri. “It is impossible to know the exact
damage because the area is considered a war zone. Those who are still there are
receiving food rations from religious or international organizations.”
Al-Dahira
is another town that has come under heavy shelling on an almost daily basis
since the conflict began. It was from its nearby border that Hezbollah began
its military assault on Oct. 8.
Its
mayor, Abdullah Ghuraib, counts “17 houses that have been completely destroyed
and dozens of houses that are no longer habitable due to the force of the
shelling.”
He
said: “There is only one woman, Radhya Atta Sweid, 75 years old, who insisted
on staying in her house and not leaving. She had stayed in her house during the
2006 war and her brother’s wife, who was with her in the house, was killed and
she remained there.”
Hassan
Sheit, the mayor of Kfarkela, a village that is only a stone’s throw from the
Israeli border, painted a similar picture of destruction and displacement.
“The
material losses are great. This is a town where people live in summer and
winter, of which only 7 percent of the 6,000 inhabitants remain,” Sheit told
Arab News.
“The
displacement from the town caused people to be homeless, living with relatives
and in rented apartments, and living on aid from civil society and Hezbollah,
which varies between financial and in-kind assistance.
“The
town lost 15 martyrs as a result of the Israeli bombardment. What is happening
today in the town was not done in the 2006 war.”
Thousands
of families from towns and villages across southern Lebanon fled as soon as the
first exchanges began. Many of these communities are now ghost towns, having
lost some 90 percent of their residents.
The
displaced, most of them women and children, have moved to towns further away
from the border, including areas around Tyre, Nabatieh, Zahrani, Sidon, Jezzine
and even the southern suburbs of Beirut, where they rent or stay with
relatives.
Those
without the means to support themselves have been forced to reside in shelters
established by local authorities. These shelters, most of them in school buildings,
are concentrated in the city of Tyre, within easy reach of their towns and
villages.
This
protracted displacement has been accompanied by economic hardship brought on by
the financial crisis that struck Lebanon in late 2019. To make matters worse, many
south Lebanese have lost their livelihoods as a result of their displacement.
Ghafri,
the mayor of Alma Al-Shaab, said several displaced residents had said expenses
in Beirut were different from those in the villages. One person had told him
residents “do not work and therefore no income reaches them, except for in-kind
assistance from civil and international organizations and from wealthy
expatriates.
“There
are no political parties in Alma Al-Shaab, no militants, and all its people are
in favor of the Lebanese state and refuse to allow their town to be used as a
battlefield. People are worried about their future, and I am trying to convey
this position to Hezbollah.”
Those
who initially benefited from reduced or rent-free arrangements are now being asked
to pay more or move on. The rent for some apartments has reportedly jumped from
$100 to $1,000 per month, placing a significant strain on household savings and
incomes.
According
to media reports, Hezbollah has intervened in support of displaced households,
calling on apartment owners in the south and in Beirut’s southern suburbs to
cap their rents, and providing families with financial aid.
Families
who spoke to local media said Hezbollah provided a quarterly payment of $1,000
for three months, then reduced the amount to an average of $300 per month,
covering about 15,000 displaced families.
Like
other displaced households, the people of Al-Dahira have complained of “running
out of money and relatives’ discomfort with their presence,” said the town’s
mayor Ghuraib.
“Two
days ago, we came to the town to pay our respects to someone who died. We
entered the town in a hurry and quickly inspected our homes, and I saw men
crying about the loss of their livelihoods and possessions.
“The
people of Al-Dahira make a living from growing tobacco, olives and grains, but
the (crops of the) previous season burned down and now the land is on fire.
“The
problem is that the situation is getting worse day by day. People’s lives have
been turned upside down. If the war drags on, the land will die. The Israelis
are deliberately turning it into a scorched earth.”
What
is undeniable is that the displacement of entire farming communities has
brought the once bountiful agricultural economy in many areas to the brink of
collapse.
“The
people of Aitaroun make their living from agriculture, especially tobacco
farming, and the losses today are great,” Salim Murad, the mayor of the
southeastern border town, told Arab News.
“There
are 40 dairy cattle farmers with about 500 cows and two factories for making
cheese and dairy products. With the displacement, production stopped and the
displaced people most likely sold their cows or slaughtered them, which means
that another link of agricultural production has been destroyed.
“There
were 2,200 beehives distributed along the border, as the area is rich and
varied in pasture, but these hives were completely lost, and farmers lost the
olive season, and these orchards lost their future suitability for
cultivation.”
It
is unclear whether any kind of compensation will be paid to these farming
households once the violence ends. Although the situation appears bleak,
Kfarkela mayor Sheit is confident the region’s resilient communities will
bounce back.
“Once
the war stops, people will return to their homes and rebuild them,” he said.
“Because we are the owners of the land.”
Source:
arabnews.com
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--------
Lebanese
Christian leader says Hezbollah’s fighting with Israel has harmed Lebanon
May
01, 2024
`MAARAB,
Lebanon: The leader of a main Christian political party in Lebanon blasted the
Shiite militant group Hezbollah for opening a front with Israel to back up its
ally Hamas, saying it has harmed Lebanon without making a dent in Israel’s
crushing offensive in the Gaza Strip.
In
an interview with AP on Tuesday night, Samir Geagea of the Lebanese Forces
Party said Hezbollah should withdraw from areas along the border with Israel
and the Lebanese army should deploy in all points where militants of the
Iran-backed group have taken positions.
His
comments came as Western diplomats try to broker a de-escalation in the border
conflict amid fears of a wider war.
Hezbollah
began launching rockets toward Israeli military posts on Oct. 8, the day after
Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel in a surprise attack that
sparked the crushing war in Gaza.
The
near-daily violence has mostly been confined to the area along the border, and
international mediators have been scrambling to prevent an all-out war. The
fighting has killed 12 soldiers and 10 civilians in Israel. More than 350
people have been killed in Lebanon including 273 Hezbollah fighters and more
than 50 civilians.
“No
one has the right to control the fate of a country and people on its own,”
Geagea said in his heavily guarded headquarters in the mountain village of
Maarab. “Hezbollah is not the government in Lebanon. There is a government in
Lebanon in which Hezbollah is represented.” In addition to its military arm,
Hezbollah is a political party.
Geagea,
whose party has the largest bloc in Lebanon’s 128-member parliament, has angled
to position himself as the leader of the opposition against Hezbollah.
Hezbollah
officials have said that by opening the front along Israel’s northern border,
the militant group has reduced the pressure on Gaza by keeping several Israeli
army divisions on alert in the north rather than taking part in the monthslong
offensive in the enclave.
“All
the damage that could have happened in Gaza ... happened. What was the benefit
of military operations that were launched from south Lebanon? Nothing,” Geagea
said, pointing the death toll and massive destruction in Lebanon’s border
villages.
Israel’s
war against Hamas in Gaza has killed more than 34,000 Palestinians, caused wide
destruction and displaced hundreds of thousands to the city of Rafah along
Egypt’s border. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed Tuesday to
launch an offensive into the southern Gaza city of Rafah despite international
calls for restraint.
Geagea
said Hezbollah aims through the ongoing fighting to benefit its main backer,
Iran, by giving it a presence along Israel’s border and called for the group to
withdraw from border areas and Lebanese army deploy in accordance with a UN
Security Council resolution that ended the 34-day Israel-Hezbollah war in 2006.
Geagea
also discussed the campaign by his party to repatriate Syrian refugees who fled
war into Lebanon.
Those
calls intensified after a Syrian gang was blamed for last month’s killing of
Lebanese Forces official Pascal Suleiman, allegedly in a carjacking gone wrong,
although many initially suspected political motives.
Lebanon,
with a total population of around 6 million, hosts what the UN refugee agency
says are nearly 785,000 UN-registered Syrian refugees, of which 90 percent rely
on aid to survive. Lebanese officials estimate there may be 1.5 million or 2
million, of whom only around 300,000 have legal residency.
Human
rights groups say that Syria is not safe for mass returns and that many Syrians
who have gone back — voluntarily or not — have been detained and tortured.
Geagea,
whose party is adamantly opposed to the government of President Bashar Assad in
Syria, insisted that only a small percentage of Syrians in Lebanon are true
political refugees and that those who are could go to opposition-controlled
areas of Syria.
The
Lebanese politician suggested his country should follow in the steps of Western
countries like Britain, which passed controversial legislation last week to
deport some asylum seekers to Rwanda.
“In
Lebanon we should tell them, guys, go back to your country. Syria exists,” said
Geagea, who headed the largest Christian militia during Lebanon’s 1975-90 civil
war.
Source:
arabnews.com
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--------
More
than 40 people arrested in Turkey on suspicion of ties to Islamic State
01.05.2024
More
than 40 people have been detained in Turkey on suspicion of having ties with
the Islamic State (IS), Turkish Minister of Internal Affairs Ali Yerlikaya
informed.
"41
people were arrested as part of operations against the IS terrorist group,
which were carried out in 12 provinces of the country," the interior
minister wrote on X—formerly Twitter.
The
largest number of these arrests—ten—were made in Istanbul. Also, a firearm was
confiscated.
According
to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, more than 3,000 people, who are suspected
of having ties with IS, were arrested in Turkey in one year.
Source:
news.am
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https://news.am/eng/news/820870.html#google_vignette
--------
Southeast
Asia
Government
launches child marriage prevention guideline
May
1, 2024
Jakarta
(ANTARA) - The Indonesian government, on Tuesday, launched the Practical
Guideline for National Prevention Strategy of Child Marriage in Regions as a
commitment of various ministries and institutions to lower child marriage
prevalence.
"This
practical guideline is a follow-up to the commitment of the joint regulation of
ministries and institutions regarding child marriage reduction strategy,"
Deputy for Child Rights' Fulfilment at the Ministry of Women's Empowerment and
Child Protection Pribudiarta Nur Sitepu stated here on Tuesday.
He
noted that the guideline book will be distributed to all ministries,
institutions, Women's Empowerment and Child Protection Offices, Health Offices,
and city and district governments to guide them in preventing and reducing
child marriage rates.
Deputy
for Coordination of Children, Women, and Youth Quality Improvement at the
Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture,
WoroSrihastutiSulistyaningrum, remarked that the book is a follow-up to the
National Strategy for Child Marriage Prevention released in 2020.
"The
national strategy is general in nature, so then we thought that a practical
guideline is needed for regions because regional governments are often confused
about how the strategy at the national level must be implemented in
regions," she explained.
The
guideline book will help regional governments identify the issue of child
marriage in their respective regions, steps to prepare an action plan, and
stages to putting it into development planning documents, including at the
level of villages.
"It
makes it easier for regions to resolve the issues of child marriage at the
regional level," she remarked.
According
to the Ministry of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection, nationally, the
child marriage rate has declined in the last three years.
In
2021, the rate of child marriage was recorded to decrease, from 10.35 percent
to 9.23 percent. Thereafter, in 2022, it fell to 8.06 percent and then plunged
again to 6.92 percent in 2023.
This
achievement surpassed the target set in the 2020-2024 National Medium Term
Development Plan (RPJMN), namely 8.74 percent in 2024.
Source:
en.antaranews.com
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Indonesia,
Saudi Arabia share commitment to support Palestine: VP
May
1, 2024
Jakarta
(ANTARA) - Vice President Ma'ruf Amin stated that Indonesia and Saudi Arabia
shared the commitment to supporting Palestine and addressing the
Israel-Palestine conflict during his meeting with Saudi Hajj and Umrah Minister
Tawfiq bin Fauzan Al-Rabiah.
Apart
from the 2024 Hajj preparation, Amin and Tawfiq also discussed the
Israel-Palestine conflict in their meeting at the Vice Presidential Palace here
on Tuesday (April 30).
"Indonesia
commended the joint effort with Saudi Arabia on the framework of the
Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to rally support for the resolution
of the Israel-Palestine conflict," Amin noted as per the statement
received here on Wednesday.
Indonesia
is steadfast in its utmost rejection of Israeli action against Palestine, which
exacerbated security instability in the Middle East, he remarked.
"Indonesia
also calls all parties to immediately cease hostilities and ensure humanitarian
aid distribution for the Palestinian people," the vice president stated.
Responding
to Amin's statements, Tawfiq emphasized that Saudi Arabia's stance on the Israel-Palestine
conflict resolution is the same as that of Indonesia. He also commended
Indonesia's persistence to defend the rights of Palestinians at the
international level.
"Regarding
the Palestinian issue, we also agree with Your Excellency that what happens
there is a blatant violation committed by the colonial entity, Israel,"
Tawfiq told Amin.
The
Saudi minister told the vice president that to respond to Israeli aggression in
Gaza, Saudi Arabia had hosted an extraordinary OIC Summit in Riyadh last October.
President Joko Widodo was among the national leaders in attendance, he added.
The
OIC summit has mandated the establishment of a committee comprising of foreign
ministers tasked with devising diplomatic strategies to support the struggle of
the Palestinian people, he stated, adding that Foreign Minister RetnoMarsudi is
part of the committee.
Tawfiq
also affirmed that bilateral coordination between Saudi Arabia and Indonesia to
support Palestine, including through the OIC platform, will continue.
Source:
en.antaranews.com
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--------
Indonesia
committed to intensifying cooperation with Turkey
May
2, 2024
Jakarta
(ANTARA) - Foreign Affairs Minister RetnoMarsudi echoed Indonesia's commitment
to building stronger cooperation with Turkey and to contributing to global
peace and prosperity.
On
Wednesday, Marsudi held a bilateral meeting with her Turkish counterpart,
HakanFidan, in Ankara on Wednesday.
"On
top of the exchange of visits, both of us also have very intensive
communications. That shows the strong relations between our two
countries," the minister noted in a press statement conveyed by the
Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday.
The
strong relations between the two countries is marked by Fidan's visit to
Jakarta in July last year, which Marsudi responded to with a return visit to
Ankara.
Despite
expressing satisfaction with the current state of relations between Indonesia
and Turkey, Marsudi believes several areas of cooperation could still be
strengthened.
She
stated that both nations are committed to expediting the finalization of the
Indonesia-Turkey Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and
welcome the plan to convene the 5th round of negotiations of CEPA this year.
"We
do believe that the finalization of CEPA will be a game changer and increase
our bilateral trade and investment," she stated.
Regarding
defense cooperation, the two ministers agreed to hold a 2+2 meeting and welcome
the ongoing military and defense dialog.
Marsudi
and Fidan also welcomed strategic cooperation on the development of the defense
industry, among others, for joint production of medium weight tanks (MWT), and
are committed to working together for the marketing aspect.
The
two countries are committed to continuing cooperation in the eradication of
transnational crime through the signing of the Security Cooperation Agreement
as a basis for cooperation and hope the memorandum of understanding (MOU) on
terrorism and transitional crime eradication would be completed soon.
"Both
countries are also fostering strategic collaboration on development
cooperation. Both of us are emerging economies. Together, we can offer capacity
building and joint projects for countries of the global south," she
stated.
For
Turkey, Indonesia is one of its first partners in the Asia-Pacific region to
establish the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSC) mechanism.
The
HLSC was announced by Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) and Turkish
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Bali in
2022.
At
Wednesday's meeting, the two ministers also discussed preparations for the first
meeting of the HLSC to be held in early 2025, especially on the potential
concrete deliverables.
"We
tasked our officials with further identifying and accelerating the conclusion
of potential agreements and deliverables for a successful convening of the
first Indonesia-Turkey HLSC," Marsudi remarked.
Source:
en.antaranews.com
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--------
RI
ambassador in Brunei Darussalam meets 44 Indonesian prisoners
May
2, 2024
Jakarta
(ANTARA) - Indonesian Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam AchmadUbaedillah visited
three penitentiaries in the villages of Maraburong and Jerudong on Tuesday
(April 30) to observe the condition of Indonesian inmates.
The
embassy recorded 44 Indonesians currently serving prison term in Brunei's
penitentiaries for their involvement in criminal offences, such as immigration
violations, theft, and crimes relating to contraband cigarettes.
After
observing the real condition of the Indonesian prisoners, Ambassador Achmad
extended gratitude to the prison wardens for their good treatment and
empowerment program given to them, according to the embassy's press statement
on Wednesday.
He
also thanked the penitentiary authorities for their quick and updated
information on Indonesians newly sentenced, applying for an appeal to a
higher-level court, or demanding medical treatment.
During
the meeting with prisoners, Ambassador Achmad delivered packages of Indonesian
food, toiletries, and reading materials to them, the embassy noted in the press
statement.
Related
news: Nearly 1,000 Indonesians repatriated from Brunei Darussalam
The
visit is part of the embassy's duties to protect Indonesian citizens in Brunei,
including those being sentenced in the country's correctional centers.
As
part of the precautionary measures, the Indonesian Embassy in Brunei continues
to disseminate information on legal procedures in Brunei to Indonesians,
particularly migrant workers, to prevent them from violating the law.
Regarding
endeavors to protect Indonesian citizens abroad, Foreign Ministry's Director
for the Protection of Citizens and Legal Entities, JudhaNugraha, stated earlier
that the efforts should encompass comprehensive and holistic cooperation among
stakeholders within and outside the country.
Nugraha
stated on April 26 that solid collaboration among stakeholders is needed, as
protection efforts not only entail the handling of reported cases but are also
related to the preventive aspect.
Source:
en.antaranews.com
Please
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https://en.antaranews.com/news/312312/ri-ambassador-in-brunei-darussalam-meets-44-indonesian-prisoners
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Significant
efforts by Unity Government to support Indian community - Fahmi
02-05-
2024
PUTRAJAYA:
Minister of Communications Fahmi Fadzil stated that the Unity government has
made significant efforts to support the Indian community, including upgrading
Tamil schools, ensuring the welfare of students, as well as providing
assistance through the Indian Community Transformation Unit (MITRA).
Fahmi,
who is also the Unity government spokesman, added that some government-linked
companies have agreed to employ 1,000 workers from the Indian community through
the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programme.
He
concurred with former Klang MP Charles Santiago’s call for Indian political
leaders to set aside disagreements and focus on resolving community issues
during the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election.
“Let’s
set aside political differences and work together to address issues effectively
for all races and religions. However, if there are marginalised groups, we must
work diligently (to support them),“ he told reporters after the inauguration of
the PakatanHarapan (PH) Office last night.
Fahmi
also highlighted that the Prime Minister’s appointment of P. Prabakaran as
chairman of the MITRA Special Task Force Committee aims to rejuvenate efforts
in addressing issues within the Indian community and safeguarding their
welfare.
He
then said that the opening of the PH office is a step towards capturing the
Putrajaya Parliamentary seat.
He
stressed the importance for PH to intensify efforts, not only in supporting the
local community but also in comprehending the intricacies of their lives and
amplifying their voices.
Source:
thesun.my
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://thesun.my/local_news/significant-efforts-by-unity-government-to-support-indian-community-fahmi-MH12408602
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Australia
Sydney
teenager who allegedly wanted to stab non-Muslims denied bail
2
May 2024
The
youngest member of a group of teenagers accused of conspiring to plan a terror
attack has been denied bail on the grounds that he posed an “unacceptable risk”
to society.
The
15-year-old had his head in his hands as he heard magistrate James Viney’s
decision, which means he could remain in custody for more than 12 months,
awaiting trial.
He,
alongside five other teenagers, has been charged with conspiracy to engage in
preparation for, or planning, a terrorist act. After search warrants were
executed last week, two other teenagers have been charged with possessing or
controlling violent extremist material.
Viney
said his decision to refuse bail was based on some of the encrypted messages
revealed to the court yesterday, including some where the teenager allegedly
explicitly told a group chat with his alleged co-conspirators that he “wanted
to stab” Jews and Assyrians.
Related:
‘Quiet and respectful’ Sydney teenager part of group wanting to stab
non-Muslims, court told
In
another message, he allegedly said he was “actually thinking of doing an
attack,” and in another instance, said he “wanted to do it to a bunch of Jews”.
“I
am so cut, I want to do it so bad,” he allegedly said in another message
revealed to court on Wednesday.
Viney
said these revealed an “unacceptable risk to the protection of the community”.
“The
messages clearly set up the young person wanting to do something catastrophic,”
Viney said.
The
magistrate said this was of “paramount consideration” and found the boy’s
alleged explicit threats to stab Jewish or Assyrian people and a previous
alleged assault to be “gravely concerning”.
Viney
said it was “obvious” the teenager’s parents loved and cared for him.
They
had confiscated his phone in the days after a 16-year-old allegedly stabbed
bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel at a church in western Sydney, when they noticed the
teen’s “heightened activity”.
Viney
said the parents had “tried very hard to deal with their son’s problems as he
has grown older” and that they were “genuinely shocked” at the charges he is
facing.
The
magistrate said if the only consideration was the young man’s wellbeing, the
decision might have been different.
Outside
court, the boy’s solicitor, Ahmed Dib, said he would be appealing against the
decision in the supreme court, and that the teenager’s family was
“disappointed.”
“They’re
a loving family, so you can imagine their disappointment,” he said. “They’re
loving parents who also have younger children to worry about,” he said.
The
teenager is due back in court on 21 June.
Source:
uk.news.yahoo.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://uk.news.yahoo.com/sydney-teenager-allegedly-wanted-stab-025011494.html
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Africa
Cleric
preaches patience, says economic challenges global
2nd
May 2024
The
Senior Pastor, Spirit Revelation Ecclesia, John Anosike, has urged Nigerians
not to lose hope but to pray for the leaders in the country to find solutions
to the current economic challenges.
According
to the cleric, the challenges confronting the country would not last forever
and things would soon turn around.
The
pastor spoke during his birthday celebration on Tuesday where he expressed
faith that things would be better in all areas for the country.
Hardship
faced by Nigerians has recently been aggravated by the scarcity of the Premium
Motor Spirit also known as petrol. The attendant effect of this, seen in the
rising cost of transportation, has worsened the challenges already faced by
Nigerians since last year following the removal of fuel subsidy and naira
depreciation.
But
the pastor said, “It is part of life to face challenges, but it won’t last
forever. I am optimistic about a better Nigeria. Let me also say that we need
to pray for our leaders to get things right the first time. They will not make
costly errors, rather divine wisdom will illuminate their paths. As we pray to
God to better our personal situation respectively, we should pray for our
country and those who are ruling us.
“I
know God will turn things around for Nigeria in a spectacular way, but we have
to be patient. Our good God will bring Nigeria into a state of restored glory.”
The
cleric said economic challenges were not peculiar to Nigeria, saying, “I led South Africa a few days ago in prayers
for farmers, police force, politicians and many industry leaders. We prayed for
the country in all areas of endeavour. The situation we are facing is not just
peculiar to Nigeria, every country faces its respective issues in government,
judiciary, economy, and security, etc. We have to stand up to fight the battle
spiritually so that changes can be effected in the realms.
“It’s
time for the church to play its role by sending out messages consistently to
guide the nation on the path of peace, progress and prosperity.”
Source:
punchng.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://punchng.com/cleric-preaches-patience-says-economic-challenges-global/
--------
PM
Dbeiba condemns Israeli attack on Gaza, calls for economic cooperation among
Islamic countries
01/05/2024
Libya’s
Prime Minister Abdel Hamid Dbeiba has called for cooperation among Islamic countries
in several important areas of the economy.
This
came during his participation, in the capacity of Foreign Minister-designate,
in the third session of the Arab Economic and Cooperation Forum with the
countries of Central Asia and Azerbaijan, held in the Qatari capital, Doha, on
April 29-30.
According
to the media office of the Government pf National Unity, Dbeiba hailed the role
of the forum in bringing viewpoints closer together and identifying aspects of
cooperation between Arab countries and their Asian neighbours.
On
the other hand, Dbeiba renewed his condemnation of the Israeli aggression on
the Gaza Strip, stressing the need to immediately stop the war and bring in
humanitarian aid.
The
first session of the forum was held about 10 years ago, in the Saudi capital,
Riyadh, to deepen relations between Arab countries, Central Asian countries,
and Azerbaijan, while the second session was held in 2017.
Source:
libyaobserver.ly
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://libyaobserver.ly/news/pm-dbeiba-condemns-israeli-attack-gaza-calls-economic-cooperation-among-islamic-countries
--------
Alleged
terrorism: Court to rule Miyetti Allah leader’s bail request, May 30
May
1, 2024
AFederal
High Court in Abuja has scheduled ruling for May 30 in the application for bail
filed by detained leader of the Miyetti Allah KautalHore, Bello Bodejo.
Justice
InyangEkwo chose the date yesterday after lawyers to parties made their final
submissions.
Bodejo,
now being held in the custody of the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) was on
March 22 arraigned before a Federal High Court in Abuja for allegedly
establishing an unlawful ethnic militia group – Kungiya Zaman Lafiya.
He
was arraigned on a three-count charge filed by the Office of the Attorney
General of the Federation (OAGF) for allegedly violating the Terrorism
(Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Arguing
Bodejo’s bail application, his lawyer, Ahmed Raji (SAN), urged the court to
admit his client to bail on health grounds.
Raji
said Bodejo was suffering from “grave ill-health”, stressing that the offences
he was charged with are bailable.
The
lawyer cited Section 36 of the Constitution, arguing that a defendant in a
criminal case is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
He
also argued that the charge against the defendant did not disclose any crime
against him.
Contending
that his client did not establish a terrorist organiaation as claimed by the
prosecution, Raji said what Bodejo set up “is an organisation meant to promote
peaceful coexistence”.
He
added: “The name of the group means peaceful coexistence. It is not a
terrorism-related group.”
The
lawyer said the group was launched in public, with the police, the Department
of State Services (DSS) and the Nasarawa State government represented at the
event.
Lawyer
to the prosecution, Mrs. AderonkeImana, faulted Raji’s arguments and urged the
court to reject the bail application.
In
its counter-affidavit, the prosecution urged the court to decline the
defendant’s bail request in view of the nature of the offence he is facing
trial.
It
stressed that Bodejo was charged with terrorism-related offences, for
establishing an ethnic militia in Nasarawa State, managing and participating in
activities connected with acts prejudicial to national security and public
safety.
The
prosecution added that Bodejo also provided material support, assistance and
transportation for activities connected with such acts contrary to Sections 29,
2(3)(g}(xii) and 12(a) and Section 2(3)(g)(xii), and 13 (2)(b) of the Terrorism
(Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
It
faulted Bodejo’s claim of suffering from a life-threatening health condition
that could not be managed at the DIA Medical Centre in Abuja.
The
prosecution explained that the DIA is a next door neighbour to the State House
Medical Centre in Abuja “which boasts the best of doctors and specialists and
consultants”.
Source:
thenationonlineng.net
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://thenationonlineng.net/alleged-terrorism-court-to-rule-miyetti-allah-leaders-bail-request-may-30/
--------
Sule,
Oshiomhole to Labour: let your demand be realistic
May
2, 2024
Rather
than keep asking for wage increase for its members, organised Labour should
engage governments on deliberate policies that will stimulate
industrialisation, Nasarawa State Governor AbdullahiSule and Senator Adams
Oshiomhole counselled yesterday.
The
duo also urged the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) to make its New Minimum Wage
demand realistic and affordable.
They
gave the advice yesterday while featuring on television programme.
Their
counsel followed NLC President Joe Ajaero’s demand for N615, 000 as the
acceptable living wage for workers.
President
Bola Tinubu, who was represented at May Day anniversary by his deputy
KashimShettima at the Eagle Square in Abuja, said the Federal Government will
soon unveil a new “living wage”.
Hailing
workers for their fidelity to peace, progress and development of the country,
the President said the tripartite committee on a new minimum wage was unable to
reach a consensus at its last meeting before the May Day celebration.
Commending
the president for enhancing workers’ welfare, Sule and Oshiomhole described the
NLC demand for pay rise as a just cause.
Sule,
who said many of the states should be able to pay whatever the federal
government comes up with, said he has implemented some welfare policies in his
state.
He
said: “Let me commend Mr. President for some of the policies he has been
unveiling. There’s no state in the
nation today, including Nasarawa that can say it has not seen improved revenue.
“Though
Nasarawa is number 33 out of 36 states of the federation on revenue allocation,
what has happened is that last month we had paid all our medical workers hazard
allowance.
“We
didn’t have to wait for the federal government.
We could do this because of the increased federal allocation.
“In
view of inflation, the Nigerian workers deserve more and every state can afford
to pay a little more than what we are paying now.
“If
we are going to pay more, we are more than willing to implement that.
“If
the number I’m seeing on social media on what the federal government is
offering is correct, I don’t think there should be any state that should have a
serious problem in doing that, to be honest with you.
“I
don’t think it is a debatable matter at all. Every state has to look into how
it can generate more income. But whatever we can pay has to be something
realistic and affordable.
“Let
other employers make their offers and justification for such offers.”
Oshiomhole,
a one-time NLC president and former Edo governor, agreed with Labour on need
for pay rise.
The
senator said: “There’s a need to increase the purchasing power of workers. With
the inflation rate, the workers’ purchasing power has drastically
decreased. Everybody needs the pay rise.
“There’s
a shared commitment that wages should go up when prices of things and
commodities have gone up.
“All
in production sector have marked up to protect themselves from the rising
inflation.
“Two,
the government is making more money and it is just reasonable that pay should
rise.
“The
step the government has taken is commendable and it should be paid
retroactively. But the speech of the president did not address the announced 35
per cent salary increment.
“The
NLC has done the right thing to explain the rationale for its demand for
workers and I believe the employers will respond
“Organised
private, local, state and federal governments should sit down to work out the
details of the agreement.
“What
the federal government has done is to relieve the workers while negotiation is
still ongoing. This is neither to prejudice the position of the workers nor an
alternative.
“But
NLC should make realistic and affordable demand. organised Labour should not
just centre on minimum wage, it must engage the government on appropriate
industrial policies that will enhance the manufacturing industry.
“We
need a level of protection of Nigerian industries,” Oshiomhole said.
Source:
thenationonlineng.net
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://thenationonlineng.net/sule-oshiomhole-to-labour-let-your-demand-be-realistic/
--------
Share
warning of impending terror attack with Nigeria, Matawalle tells U.S
May
2, 2024
The
Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Matawalle, has urged the United State
(U.S.) Government to always share with Nigeria information on impending terror
attacks on the country.
He
said such information and intelligence the U.S.A sends to its citizens in
countries with crisis could be shared with Nigeria to fight banditry and
terrorism.
Matawalle
said thie when he hosted the Assistant Secretary for Defence for African
Affairs at the U.S Department of Defence, Jennifer Zakriski, yesterday in
Abuja.
The
minister sought more intelligence sharing between Nigeria and the U.S to fight
banditry and terrorism.
He
listed other areas of possible collaborations to include intelligence sharing
to boost the fight against insecurity.
Matawalle
said: “Our discussion today underscores the importance of collaboration and
intelligence sharing in tackling common security challenges.
“Nigeria
values its partnership with the United States, and we are committed to
enhancing our cooperation in defence matters for the mutual benefits of our
nations.”
Zakriski
reaffirmed the commitment of the United States in supporting Nigeria’s efforts
at addressing security concerns.
She
said: “Nigeria is a key partner for the United States in Africa, and our
collaboration is vital in addressing shared security threats.
“Today’s
meeting marks another milestone in our efforts to strengthen defence ties and
enhance regional security.”
Source:
thenationonlineng.net
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://thenationonlineng.net/share-warning-of-impending-terror-attack-with-nigeria-matawalle-tells-u-s/
---------
May
Day: South African workers march in support of Palestinians
02-05-24
Large
crowds of ANC supporters took part in a solidarity march in support of
Palestine Wednesday (May.1 st) in Cape Town.
They
later gathered at the Athlone Stadium for a May Day rally hosted by the
Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu).
President
Cyril Ramaphosa doubled down on his country's long-standing support for the
Palestinians.
"You
as workers, need to join this fight to fight for those who are oppressed around
the world. And today as South Africa, we have stood up for the rights of those
in other parts of the world (who) are currently being subjected to torture, to
violence and genocide," the head of state said.
"And that is why as a country and yes, as
an alliance, we have stood firm in our support for the people of Palestine. And
that is why we say 'we want Palestine to be free'."
Ramaphosa’s
ruling African National Congress is in a tripartite alliance with the South
African Communist Party and COSATU.
Cosatu
is the largest trade union federation in the country.
"We
are here standing in support of our government, of our movement, in support of
the Palestinian cause. Our freedom, comrades, is not complete until the people
of Palestine are free and they are liberated," ZingiswaLosi, president of Congress of South
African Trade Unions told cheering crowds.
The
ANC and many South Africans have for years compared Israel’s policies against
Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank with the treatment of non-whites in
South Africa during Apartheid.
South
Africa will hold general elections on May 29th.
Source:
africanews.com
Please
click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.africanews.com/2024/05/02/may-day-south-african-workers-march-in-support-of-palestinians/
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URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/up-cm-yogi-jizya-inheritance/d/132249