UP-Based Islamic Seminary Darul Uloom Deoband Bans Entry Of Women
New Age Islam News Bureau
17 May 2024
UP-Based Islamic Seminary Darul Uloom Deoband
------
·
UP-Based Islamic Seminary Darul Uloom Deoband
Bans Entry Of Women
·
Muslim Professionals Quit ‘Hostile’ France In
Silent Brain Drain Io Cities Like London, New York, Montreal or Dubai
·
Iranian Commander Calls US Student Protests to
‘Islamic Awakening’
·
11 Confirmed Dead, 40 Wounded After Kano Mosque
Attack
·
Parliament Not Needed If Ordinances Are To Be
Issued: Chief Justice of Pakistan
India
·
No ‘Muslims’, ‘Communal Authoritarian Regime’ And
“Draconian Laws”: Opposition Leaders Censored By Doordarshan, AIR
·
Why Delhi-Tehran deal on Chabahar Port is good
news for India’s Shia Muslims
·
Gujarat Waqf Tribunal Orders FIR Against Mosque
Trustees
·
Shahi Idgah: Waqf Board, Mosque Panel Failed To
Provide Property Documents, Hindu Side Tells Allahabad High Court
·
Sharad Pawar slams PM Modi’s ‘foolish
statement’ on Cong’s budget for Muslims
--------
Europe
·
Councillors Elect Mohammed Asaduzzaman As
Brighton And Hove’s First Muslim Mayor
·
Hajj fraud warning given to UK Muslims from MPs
and police ahead of 2024 pilgrimage
·
Police CCTV appeal after window smashed at
mosque in Warrington
·
Viral post about Muslims in England makes a
number of incorrect claims
·
Ealing man faces anti-Muslim offences in West
London
--------
Mideast
·
Jordan Muslim Brotherhood Denies Reports Iran
Is Sending It Weapons
·
Hamas, Jihad Say Supporting Gaza Fronts Draw
New Equation In Conflict With Enemy
·
Hezbollah introduces new weapons and tactics
against Israel as war in Gaza drags on
·
Israel to abolish free trade deal with Turkiye
in retaliation
·
ICRC officials to meet UK Foreign Office over
plan for Palestinian detainees
--------
Africa
·
Unidentified Muslim Group Disrupts Interfaith
Worship Centre In Ilorin
--------
Pakistan
·
Pakistan, Australia Agree To Promote Tolerance,
Religious Freedom
·
Pakistan To Be Among World’s Top 10 Economies
By 2047: Minister
·
Pakistan enjoys longstanding relations with
Russia: Ayaz Sadiq
·
Pakistan, UK resolve to enhance coordination on
arms control
·
PTI founder ‘launched to harm’ Pakistan:
Sharjeel Memon
·
PM Shehbaz calls for permanent solution to AJK
issues
--------
Southeast Asia
·
Police Nab 20 Alleged Jemaah Islamiyah Members
In The Aftermath Of Ulu Tiram Station Attack
·
PM Anwar: Claims That Pro-Israel Company Will
Own MAHB Shares Only To Incite Hatred
·
Wisma Putra: Malaysia Welcomes South Africa’s
Latest Request At ICJ To Stop Israel Genocide In Gaza
·
PM arrives in Kazakhstan with mission to
strengthen long-standing relations
·
IGP orders increased security at police
stations nationwide after JI-linked attack in JB
·
In Johor, two cops dead, one injured after man
attacks police station
-----
North America
·
US Campus Protests Continue Despite Mass
Arrests, Brutality
·
Brothers Arrested For Temple And Mosque
Burglaries In Montgomery County
·
Muslim Advocacy Group Sues Abbott Saying University
Executive Order Violates Free Speech
·
Biden poised to send more arms to Israel as
Rafah situation worsens
·
US Republicans confront Biden over pausing arms
to Israel
·
Canada sanctions four Israelis over ‘extremist’
settler violence in West Bank
-----
Arab World
·
How A Saudi Healthcare Start-up Is Using AI To
Transform The Diagnosis Of Chronic Diseases
·
Mauritania president arrives in Madinah to
visit Prophet’s Mosque
·
Saudi experts on urban heritage give lectures
in Paris
·
Saudi crown prince meets with Arab leaders on
sidelines of Manama summit
·
Makkah scouts train to use digital
quick-response tech to help pilgrims
·
Qatar attends ‘Russia-Islamic World: Kazan
Forum 2024’
·
KSrelief provides 500 mobile homes for Syrian
refugees in Jordan
·
Saudi Red Sea Authority issues marina licenses
--------
South Asia
·
Sumanthiran Calls Out Hypocrisy Of Sri Lanka
Muslim Congress Leader Over ‘Genocide In Gaza’
·
Decades-old Kabul shop: passionate owner faces
customer exodus
·
Iran and Pakistan deport nearly 3,000 Afghan
migrants
·
West With No Diplomatic Presence, Unaware Of
Progress In Afghanistan, Ambassador
·
Hanafi urges aid agencies to cooperate in
implementation of development projects in country
·
Minister Azizi Meets Tatarstan President in
Kazan to Boost Bilateral Cooperation
Compiled by
New Age Islam News Bureau
------
UP-Based
Islamic Seminary Darul Uloom Deoband Bans Entry Of Women
UP-Based Islamic Seminary Darul Uloom Deoband
------
May 17,
2024
Saharanpur,
Uttar Pradesh: Uttar Pradesh-based Islamic seminary, Darul Uloom in Deoband,
has prohibited the entry of women on its campus.
Officials
said today that the decision was taken because women used to come and make
videos for social media, due to which the studies of the students were getting
affected.
After
watching the videos on social media, complaints were received from Muslims all
over the country.
Mohtamim
(administrator) Maulana Mufti Abul Qasim Nomani confirmed the ban for all women
and the reasons for the same.
"Darul
Uloom is an Islamic seminary and such acts are not acceptable in any school,
" he said.
"Not
only this, a new session of education has started in Darul Uloom. Due to
overcrowding, students' studies were also getting affected. We received several
complaints in this regard," Mr Nomani said.
Source: ndtv.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/uttar-pradesh-based-islamic-seminary-darul-uloom-deoband-bans-entry-of-women-5682019
--------
Muslim
Professionals Quit ‘Hostile’ France In Silent Brain Drain Io Cities Like
London, New York, Montreal or Dubai
Some French professionals from Muslim backgrounds are seeking a more
promising future abroad in cities like Dubai
Karim SAHIB
------
May 17,
2024
PARIS:
After being knocked back at some 50 interviews for consulting jobs in France
despite his ample qualifications, Muslim business school graduate Adam packed
his bags and moved to a new life in Dubai.
“I feel
much better here than in France,” the 32-year-old of North African descent told
AFP.
“We’re
all equal. You can have a boss who’s Indian, Arab or a French person,” he said.
“My
religion is more accepted.”
Highly-qualified
French citizens from Muslim backgrounds, often the children of immigrants, are
leaving France in a quiet brain drain, seeking a new start abroad in cities
like London, New York, Montreal or Dubai, according to a new study.
The
authors of “France, you love it but you leave it”, published last month, said
it was difficult to estimate exactly how many.
But they
found that 71 percent of more than 1,000 people who responded to their survey
circulated online had left in part because of racism and discrimination.
Adam,
who asked that his surname not be used, told AFP his new job in the United Arab
Emirates has given him fresh perspective.
In
France “you need to work twice as hard when you come from certain minorities”,
he said.
He said
he was “extremely grateful” for his French education and missed his friends,
family and the rich cultural life of the country where he grew up.
But he
said he was glad to have quit its “Islamophobia” and “systemic racism” that
meant he was stopped by police for no reason.
France
has long been a country of immigration, including from its former colonies in
North and West Africa.
But
today the descendants of Muslim immigrants who came to France seeking a better
future say they have been living in an increasingly hostile environment,
especially after the attacks in Paris in 2015 that killed 130 people.
They say
France’s particular form of secularism, which bans all religious symbols in
public schools including headscarves and long robes, seems to
disproportionately focus on the attire of Muslim women.
Another
French Muslim, a 33-year-old tech employee of Moroccan descent, told AFP he and
his pregnant wife were planning to emigrate to “a more peaceful society” in
southeast Asia.
He said
he would miss France’s “sublime” cuisine and the queues outside the bakeries.
But
“we’re suffocating in France”, said the business school graduate with a
five-figure monthly salary.
He
described wanting to leave “this ambient gloom”, in which television news
channels seem to target all Muslims as scapegoats.
The tech
employee, who moved to Paris after growing up in its lower-income suburbs, said
he has been living in the same block of flats for two years.
“But
still they ask me what I’m doing inside my building,” he said.
“It’s so
humiliating.”
“This
constant humiliation is even more frustrating as I contribute very honestly to
this society as someone with a high income who pays a lot of taxes,” he added.
A 1978
French law bans collecting data on a person’s race, ethnicity or religion,
which makes it difficult to have broad statistics on discrimination.
But a
young person “perceived as black or Arab” is 20 times more likely to face an
identity check than the rest of the population, France’s rights ombudsman found
in 2017.
The
Observatory for Inequalities says that racism is on the decline in France, with
60 percent of French people declaring they are “not at all racist”.
But
still, it adds, a job candidate with a French name has a 50 percent better
chance of being called by an employer than one with a North African one.
A third
professional, a 30-year-old Franco-Algerian with two masters degrees from top
schools, told AFP he was leaving in June for a job in Dubai because France had
become “complicated”.
The
investment banker, the son of an Algerian cleaner who grew up within Paris,
said he enjoyed his job, but he was starting to feel he had hit a “glass
ceiling”
He also
said he had felt French politics shift to the right in recent years.
“The
atmosphere in France has really deteriorated,” he said, alluding to some
pundits equating all people of his background to extremists or troublemakers
from housing estates.
“Muslims
are clearly second-class citizens,” he said.
Adam,
the consultant, said more privileged French Muslims emigrating was just the
“tiny visible part of the iceberg”.
“When we
see France today, we’re broken,” he said.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2511921/world
--------
Iranian
Commander Calls US Student Protests to ‘Islamic Awakening’
Commander of Iran's Basij militias, Gholamreza Soleimani
------
05/16/2024
The
commander of Iran's Basij militias linked the wave of pro-Palestinian student
protests across US universities to what he describes as an "Islamic
awakening."
Addressing
the media, Gholamreza Soleimani claimed that "the awakenings we are
witnessing today in America, Canada, and Japan all originate from Islamic
awakenings and are derived from the culture of Islamic resistance."
Soleimani's
remarks followed comments from Ahmad Alamolhoda, a senior Iranian cleric and
father-in-law to Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi, who attributed the mobilization
of the student protests to the influence of letters from Iran's Supreme Leader,
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
This
contrasts sharply with the Iranian regime's harsh treatment of domestic
dissent, particularly among its own student activists, who face severe
penalties for similar protest activities. The discrepancy has drawn criticism
from within Iran, with many pointing out the regime’s apparent hypocrisy.
The
Iranian leadership, including Khamenei, has portrayed the student protests as a
victory for pro-Palestinian sentiments among Western youth, interpreting it as
a sign of growing global sensitivity towards the Palestinian issue. The more
the world aligns with Palestine, the greater the victory Tehran feels against
its archenemy Israel.
Throughout
his leadership, Khamenei has maintained a strong anti-Israel and anti-West
stance, supporting groups like terror group Hamas. His policy has contributed
to Iran's isolation from the global economy, exacerbating existing economic
challenges such as a shrinking GDP and soaring inflation rates.
The
leveraging of anti-Israeli and anti-Western sentiments on international stages
is seen as part of Iran's strategy to assert the legitimacy and righteousness
of its political stance in the face of domestic and international pressures.
Source: iranintl.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.iranintl.com/en/202405166420
----
11
Confirmed Dead, 40 Wounded After Kano Mosque Attack
Burnt
Mosque; Sultan Of Sokoto
------
MAY 16,
2024
A total
of 11 worshippers have been confirmed dead in an attack on a local mosque in
Kano state by a suspected arsonist identified as Shafiu Abubakar.
Mr
Abubakar, 38, had allegedly sprayed the mosque with petrol after he locked the
entrance door and set it on fire.
No less
than 40 Muslim worshippers were, who were attending morning prayers were
trapped in the process, the BBC reported.
A family
dispute over the sharing of inheritance at a local settlement in the Gadan
village, the outskirts of Gezwa in Kano, allegedly triggered the attack.
The
arson occurred in the early hours of Wednesday.
Locals
confirmed that flames engulfed the mosque after the attack, with the
worshippers wailing as they struggled to open the locked doors.
Some of
the locals initially thought it was a bomb, but rescue teams, including bomb
experts deployed to the scene, proved otherwise.
The
police confirmed the attack on the mosque, saying Mr Abubakar had been arrested
while the injured victims are currently at the intensive care unit of the
Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital.
Umar
Mamman Sanda, the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 1 Kano,
confirmed the tragic incident during his visit to the hospital.
Mr
Sanda, who was joined by a team of security personnel, including the police
commissioner in Kano and the director of State Security Services (SSS),
described the attack as “very unfortunate.”
“What
happened is not associated with any act of terrorism, rather it was a skirmish
that arose as a result of inheritance distribution. The suspect is presently
with us and is giving out useful information,” he said.
Source: gazettengr.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://gazettengr.com/11-confirmed-dead-40-wounded-after-kano-mosque-attack/
-----
Parliament
Not Needed If Ordinances Are To Be Issued: Chief Justice of Pakistan
May 17,
2024
ISLAMABAD -
Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa has remarked that if
ordinances are to be introduced to run government affairs, then the parliament
should be dissolved.
“Through
ordinances, the will of one person is imposed on the entire nation. Isn’t this
against democracy? Shouldn’t the president of the country provide detailed
justifications along with the ordinances,” the CJP said this during hearing of
arguments in the National Accountability (NAB) Ordinance 1999 amendment case.
Pakistan
Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan made his maiden appearance before the
Supreme Court via video link in the case. However, he did not utter a single
word during the hearing which remained continued for more than two and half
hours. The former prime minister, who appeared via video link, was seen wearing
a light blue shirt.
A
five-member larger bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice Qazi Faez
Isa and comprising Justice Amin-ud-Din Khan, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail,
Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Hasan Azhar Rizvi conducted hearing of the
case on the intra-court appeals filed by the federal and provincial governments
against the NAB amendments struck down by the apex court. But the case was
adjourned, without allowing former prime minister Imran Khan to speak, who
attended the hearing via video link from the central jail in Rawalpindi.
This
time, the court proceeding of the case was also not live-streamed. Some
pictures of the former prime minister, however, were leaked on social media.
Khan who
was currently residing in Adiala Jail, wanted to appear in the top court in
person to present his arguments after which the court had allowed him to defend
himself via video link.
In this
connection, Chief Justice Qazi Faez said on Wednesday last that the PTI founder
could present his arguments in the upcoming hearing via video link if he wishes
to do so [...] arrangements should be made for the presentation of arguments
via video link.
At the
onset of the hearing, the CJP asked Attorney General for Pakistan Mansoor Usman
Awan if the video link with Khan had been established. The AGP replied that the
video link is up.
Then,
the government’s counsel Makhdoom Ali Khan started his argument and the bench
sought the verdict on the NAB amendments case hearing at the Islamabad High
Court. The government’s counsel said that the matter of NAB amendments has been
pending in the IHC.
“Imran
Khan should appear on the next hearing through the video link,” the court
ordered while adjourning the hearing indefinitely.
Earlier,
Justice Athar addressing to Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) asked that have
you (government) started threatening the judges with proxies, who are saying
they would make turbans football.” He made it clear, “This does not and will
not deter and intimidate any judge. They are exposing themselves.”
The
court order said that the Respondent No.1 Imran Khan Niazi connected with
video-link from Adiala Jail and will continue on the next date. Khawaja Haris
is in attendance and stated that he is not charging bill to the federal
government, and appearing in the matter.
Makhdoom
Ali Khan, representing the federation, argued the case. The chief justice told
him to speak up little louder so that Respondent No.1 (Imran Khan) could also
hear him. Makhdoom submitted that though the proceeding started before the
Islamabad High Court regarding the matter (NAB amendments), but the majority
judgment of the Supreme Court did not mention it.
CJP Isa
asked from the government’s lawyer that why the case proceeded for so long and
if he was trying to prolong it. Makhdom said that apart from him, many lawyers
had given arguments and they wanted the case to be over soon. He also said that
the facts were not properly evaluated while declaring the NAB amendments null
and void.
He
submitted that the respondent No.1, who had challenged the amendments,
initially attended the court proceeding along with former Foreign Minister Shah
Mehmood Qureshi. He told that 53 hearings were held of the case, out of them
the petitioner counsel consumed 27 sessions, while the defence side argued in
19 proceedings.
CJP Isa
said that it was surprising that 53 hearings of the NAB amendments case were
conducted. Then, he also asked that how the case was admissible in the SC
despite being heard by the IHC and did the court respond to this question in
the verdict of the main case.
Makhdoom
said that the court had indeed mentioned this issue in the judgment. The lawyer
then went on to read the relevant paragraph of the SC decision in the court.
He
argued that it is entirely political case because the rational of the legislature
has been accepted by the respondent no.1, adding that the political differences
instead of settling in the Parliament are being brought to the courts. He
submitted that the petitioner’s party had 182 lawyers in the Parliament, and
they could have easily defeated the NAB amendments bill in the Parliament.
The
Chief Justice remarked that why the politicians avoid the democratic process to
impose the will of one person. Why the ordinances were issued instead of making
legislation in the Parliament.
Makhdoom
further argued that the matter became political question because first the
respondent was in favour of changes in the NAO, 1999, but when he was not in
power he challenged the law. He said according to the Supreme Court judgment in
Tahirul Qadri case the antecedents are important and need to be look at in
deciding the petition.
The
Chief Justice said that if the political cases stop coming to the courts then
it would have more time to decide cases of ordinary citizens.
Justice
Jamal questioned that how much time was taken to prepare and enact the original
NAB Ordinance, 1999? Makhdoom replied one month as Pervez Musharraf assumed
power on 12-10-1999 and the Ordinance was promulgated on 17-11-1999.
At the
end of proceeding, the chief justice said next week he is not available and
there is issue of this larger bench, therefore the date for hearing of the case
will be communicated later on. The case was adjourned for indefinite period.
Source: nation.com.pk
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.nation.com.pk/17-May-2024/parliament-not-needed-if-ordinances-are-to-be-issued-cjp
--------
India
No
‘Muslims’, ‘Communal Authoritarian Regime’ And “Draconian Laws”: Opposition
Leaders Censored By Doordarshan, AIR
By Liz
Mathew
New
Delhi: May 17, 2024
Two
leaders from the Opposition were asked to drop the terms “communal
authoritarian regime” and “draconian laws” and the word “Muslims” from their
speeches made on All India Radio and Doordarshan during the broadcast time
allocated to them in the run up to the Lok Sabha elections.
While
CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury had to delete the two terms and
replace the word “bankruptcy” of the governance with “failure” during his
televised address in the Doordarshan studio in the national capital, All India
Forward Bloc (AIFB) leader G Devarajan was asked to avoid the word “Muslims” in
his address recorded in Kolkata.
When
asked about it, an official in Prasar Bharati said both Doordarshan and All
India Radio follow the “conduct rules” given by the Election Commission of
India (ECI). “But it happens with most leaders. There were instances in which
even the chief ministers’ texts were corrected,” the official said.
The
guidelines require speakers to refrain from criticism of other countries,
attack on religions or communities, incitement of violence or anything
amounting to contempt of court, aspersions on the integrity of the President
and judiciary, criticism by name of any person, anything affecting the unity,
sovereignty and integrity of the nation, and anything obscene or defamatory.
Under
the ECI’s orders issued in April, representatives of national parties and state
parties are allotted telecast and broadcast time on Doordarshan and AIR in the
run up to the election. The directive said “six national parties and 59 state
parties” were eligible for the telecast and broadcast facility under the
provisions of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968.
When
contacted, Yechury told The Indian Express, “Strangely, they did not find
anything wrong in the Hindi version of my address which was just a translation
of the original English one. But the English version was modified according to
their suggestion under protest.”
Devarajan,
on his part, said, “I had a line referring to the discriminatory clauses in the
controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in my address. They told me the
word Muslim has to be removed. I argued I need to use the word to emphasize the
point that it is discriminatory to Muslims as the law mentions every other
minority community eligible for citizenship. But I was not allowed.”
In his
original speech, Devarajan said, “Policies such as the Citizenship Amendment
Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) have been criticised for
their discriminatory impact on Muslims, thereby undermining the secular fabric
of the nation.” But he had to later replace Muslims with the phrase “particular
community”.
The
addresses of the two leaders in English, from which the terms and words were
deleted, were telecast on April 16 on Doordarshan.
Yechury
was also asked to delete the references to electoral bonds. “The censorship
applied to the text of my address on Doordarshan (same text given to All India
Radio) is a patent denial of the right to dissent in a democracy. Terms like
‘communal authoritarian regime’ and ‘draconian laws’ have been directed to be
deleted from the text,” Yechury said in a letter to Director General,
Doordarshan.
“In a
parliamentary democracy every party has the right to express its opinion on the
character and nature of governance. The deletion of the word ‘bankruptcy’ of
governance and the suggestion to replace it with ‘failure’ only endorses the
authoritarian character of the government,” he wrote.
In his
letter, he argued that the deletions concerning the electoral bonds were “to
whitewash the entire operation.” “The deletions concerning the electoral bonds
are to whitewash the entire operation like what is now deleted, ‘large-scale
money laundering with many firms donating multiple times the profits shown in
their balance sheet’. All these details have already appeared in the mainstream
media and are part of the public discourse. These deletions are an attempt to
project the incumbent government in a favourable manner,” he said.
Yechury’s
request to the DG, Doordarshan, to reconsider the suggested deletions was not
accepted.
The ECI
order of April first week was issued under section 39 (A) of the Representation
of People’s Act, inserted through an amendment in 2003. It says:
“Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in
force, the Election Commission shall, on the basis of the past performance of a
recognised political party, during elections, allocate equitable sharing of
time on the cable television network and other electronic media in such manner
as may be prescribed to display or propagate any election matter or to address
public in connection with an election.” Under the same section, the Central
government had notified all such broadcasting media that are owned or
controlled or financed wholly or substantially by funds provided to them by the
centre to provide equitable time for all the national and state parties.
According
to the poll panel, national parties get a minimum of 10 hours of telecasting
time on the National channel of Doordarshan, along with a minimum of 15 hours
on Regional Doordarshan Kendras and AIR Stations. State-based parties will be
allotted a total of 30 hours of telecast time on Regional DD Kendras and AIR Stations.
For All India Radio (AIR), “a total of not less than 10 hours of broadcasting
time on the National hookup of the All India Radio for broadcasts by the
National Parties” along with 15 hours of broadcasting time on the regional Air
Stations, for broadcasts by the National Parties. For National Parties, 45
minutes will be allocated to each party on the national channel of DD and AIR.
The remaining time will be divided among the National Parties based on the
percentage of votes polled in the 2019 elections.
The
speakers are expected to submit the written text 3-4 days before recording, and
the speeches have to be approved by the concerned authorities in the respective
AIR stations.
Source: indianexpress.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://indianexpress.com/article/political-pulse/no-muslims-communal-authoritarian-regime-opp-leaders-sitaram-yechury-g-devarajan-censored-by-doordarshan-air-9334043/
------
Why
Delhi-Tehran deal on Chabahar Port is good news for India’s Shia Muslims
17 May,
2024
After
extensive negotiations, India and Iran have finally sealed a historic 10-year
bilateral agreement for the operation of the strategically located Chabahar
Port on the Gulf country’s eastern coast. While India initially engaged in
short-term agreements with Iran starting in 2016, the newly inked deal marks a
significant milestone. With its presence in Chabahar, India aims to circumvent
reliance on Pakistan’s ports in Karachi and Gwadar, facilitating smoother
access to landlocked Afghanistan and other Central Asian nations via Iran.
This
deal has a lot of economic significance for India. Despite the nation’s
preoccupation with the ongoing Lok Sabha election, the Narendra Modi
government‘s decisive action, including the special permission reportedly
obtained from the Election Commission of India (ECI) to dispatch a central
minister to Iran, underscores the paramount importance of this deal for the
nation’s strategic interests and economic future.
A
milestone for India
In geopolitical
dynamics, this deal is a major achievement for India and a testament to Modi’s
personal diplomacy. It marks our first step into managing overseas ports and
serves as a strategic move against the emerging China–Pakistan Economic
Corridor (CPEC). Its timing, amid the chaos in West Asia disrupting important
trade routes, makes it even more significant. Furthermore, beyond these
tangible benefits, India’s diplomatic success shines through the forging of
successful ties with conflicted powers. Its diplomatic success is evident in
its ability to foster friendly relations with Israel while extending support to
Palestine. Simultaneously, New Delhi adeptly navigates deepening ties with the
United States and successfully negotiates with Iran, showcasing its diplomatic
prowess. Meanwhile, our longstanding partnerships with countries such as Saudi
Arabia, Russia, and Japan continue to flourish.
India’s
leadership roles in the G20 forum and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation
(SCO highlight that its diplomacy is actually working. These platforms not only
allow us to highlight our progress but also assert our presence on the world
stage. What is noticeable is that while the G20 provides a global platform, the
SCO involves non-Western nations, some of which have strained relations with
the US such as China, Russia, and Iran. This adept handling of relationships
with diverse and sometimes competing powers showcases a remarkable milestone in
our diplomatic journey.
Why
India’s approach is better
Delhi‘s
diplomatic policy is distinctly people-centric, guided by the demands and
aspirations of society while prioritising the nation’s interests and
maintaining a commitment to peace. It’s understandable that every country
considers its own interests and those of its people in bilateral and
multilateral relationships. However, I can’t help but compare this approach
with Pakistan’s, whose foundation is rooted in religion. Examining the role of
religion in their diplomatic relationships is intriguing. Interestingly, Pakistan
doesn’t explicitly incorporate religion into its foreign policy, yet, since the
nation’s inception, it has actively pursued bilateral relations with other
Muslim-majority countries. This observation comes through clearly in a
statement made by Pakistan’s first Prime Minister, Liaquat Ali Khan: “Pakistan
came into being as a result of the urge felt by the Muslims of the
sub-continent to secure a territory, however limited, where Islamic ideology
and the way of life could be practised and demonstrated to the world. A
cardinal feature of this ideology is to make Muslim brotherhood a living
reality. It is, therefore, part of the mission that Pakistan has set before
itself to do everything in its power to promote closer fellowship and
cooperation between Muslim countries.”
India’s
choice to develop a deep sea port in Iran due to the ongoing saga of
cross-border terrorism and hostile relationship with Pakistan would be mutually
beneficial. It reflects Delhi‘s ability to forge stronger ties with
Muslim-majority nations in the Middle East and with Shia-majority Iran.
Conversely, Pakistan, despite emphasising its religious identity and leveraging
it in geopolitics, struggles to maintain positive relationships with Iran. In
2015, it found itself in a pickle with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), whose
then-foreign minister Anwar Gargash warned that Pakistan would “pay a heavy
price” for taking an ambiguous stand in its support for the Gulf countries.
Additionally, Pakistan’s inclusion of religion in its foreign diplomacy has put
its relations with France in jeopardy, particularly due to its stance on
blasphemy.
This
highlights not only the pitfalls of intertwining religion with foreign affairs
but also its impracticality. Despite projecting its Islamic identity and aspirations
to lead the Muslim world, Pakistan has found itself forging strong ties with
China, a nation known for destroying mosques and carrying out human rights
violations against Uyghur Muslims.
Helpful
for Shias in India
For both
Indians and the world, there’s a straightforward lesson to glean from Delhi‘s
approach: Managing internal affairs based on pluralistic values to serve
citizen interests and extending these principles to foreign policies is the way
forward. While religious and caste identities hold significance, they should
not supersede national identity. Indian Muslims, for instance, enjoy better
opportunities than Pakistani Muslims primarily because of their Indian
nationality. So it’s crucial to prioritise national interests above all else.
India
already maintains cordial relations with the Middle East, which serves the
interests of all Indian Muslims. Increasing the hajj quota and strengthening
bilateral ties with Iran could be particularly beneficial for Shia Muslims.
Iran holds significant influence over Shia Muslims, including those in India.
In Lucknow, Shia clerics closely follow the rules and regulations of Shiism in
Iran; an NGO aiming to foster Shia-Sunni relations even sought approval from
prominent clerics in Iran before organising a joint prayer for Eid,
highlighting the extent of Iranian influence. Many Shia leaders also travel to
Iran and Iraq for pilgrimages and conferences. While improving relations with
Iran may offer advantages for Indian Shia Muslims, it’s important to guard against
undue foreign influence as well.
Source: theprint.in
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://theprint.in/opinion/why-delhi-tehran-deal-on-chabahar-port-is-good-news-for-indias-shia-muslims/2089128/
--------
Gujarat
Waqf Tribunal Orders FIR Against Mosque Trustees
May 17,
2024
Ahmedabad:
The Gujarat State Waqf Tribunal ordered the registration of an FIR for cheating
and forgery against two trustees of a Waqf property in Surat, for mismanaging
the property by passing resolutions using forged signatures.
The
tribunal ordered its chief executive officer to register an FIR at the police
station having jurisdiction over Khalifa Mohalla Masjid in Nanpura against two
of the mosque’s trustees — Noor Mohammed Bagwala and Mohammed Shafimiyan
Shaikh.
The
tribunal quashed a waqf board order passed in Oct 2021 by which a change report
for the waqf property was accepted in which the names of both persons were
entered as mutavallis or trustees.
The
tribunal noted that the trustees allegedly put in forged signatures of people
in the resolution book, though no meeting was held and people living in the
neighbourhood also said that they were not informed about any such meeting.
Even
after their appointment as trustees, they did not perform their duties
sincerely and honestly.
They had
been managing the mosque’s affairs since 2007, but no audit reports of accounts
were submitted to the waqf board.
They
built a two-floor building on the waqf property and rented it out without
informing the local body or the board. The tribunal also ordered the
appointment of an administrator to manage the property for six months.
We also
published the following articles recently
Shahi
Idgah row: '1968 compromise' a 'fraud' by Sunni Central Waqf Board, Hindu side
tells HCThe Hindu side in the Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Idgah dispute alleged
fraud by Sunni Central Waqf Board and the mosque committee in a 1968
compromise. The property belongs to deity Katra Keshav Deo for over 1,000
years. The birthplace of Lord Krishna was demolished in the 16th
century.110154019
Juma
Masjid trustee' claims his entry has made Mumbai South contest 'triangular'Shiv
Sena (UBT) candidate Arvind Sawant faces competition from Shiv Sena (Shinde)
candidate YaminiJadhav and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) candidate Shoeb Khatib,
trustee of Juma Masjid, for the Mumbai South seat.110060400
AC can
restore land granted by govt, not tribunal: HCThe high court ruled that an
assistant commissioner lacks power to restore land under the Karnataka Scheduled
Castes and Scheduled Tribes Act unless granted by the state govt or PTCL Act.
Nagappa, a Scheduled Caste member, sold part of his granted land to
Shankerappa, leading to a legal battle.110023657
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/waqf-tribunal-orders-fir-against-mosque-trustees/articleshow/110190781.cms
--------
Shahi
Idgah: Waqf Board, mosque panel failed to provide property documents, Hindu
side tells Allahabad High Court
16 May
2024
Prayagraj:
The Hindu side in the Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Idgah case on Thursday told the
Allahabad High Court that till date no documents regarding ownership of the
property in dispute has been provided either by the Sunny Central Waqf Board or
by the mosque committee.
The
submissions were made during the hearing of a plea challenging the suit seeking
'removal' of the Shahi Idgah mosque adjacent to the Krishna Janmabhoomi temple
in Mathura
The
matter is being heard by Justice Mayank Kumar Jain on the plea moved by the
Muslim side regarding the maintainability of the suit.
The high
court fixed May 20 for further hearing in the case
On
Wednesday, the Hindu side argued that the claimed compromise made in 1968
between the two sides was a 'fraud' by Sunni Central Waqf Board and the mosque
committee.
The
Hindu side had also submitted that the property belongs to deity Katra Keshav
Deo for more than 1,000 years and that the birthplace of Lord Krishna was
demolished in the 16th century and a 'chabutara' (platform) was constructed as
Idgah
Advocate
Taslima Aziz Ahmadi, appearing for the Muslim side through video conferencing
on Wednesday, again told the court that the suit is barred by limitation. As
per her, the two parties had entered into a 'compromise' on October 12, 1968
and the said compromise was confirmed in a civil suit decided in 1974.
Ahmadi
said that the limitation to challenge a compromise is three years, but the
present suit has been filed in 2020 and thus it is barred by limitation.
She
further submitted that the suit has been filed for possession after removal of
the structure of Shahi Idgah as well as for restoration of a temple.
Ahmadi
said the prayer in the suit shows the structure of the Idgah is there and the
mosque management committee is in possession of the same
From the
Hindu side, it was earlier argued that the suit is maintainable and the plea
regarding non
Source: deccanherald.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.deccanherald.com/india/uttar-pradesh/shahi-idgah-waqf-board-mosque-panel-failed-to-provide-property-documents-hindu-side-tells-allahabad-high-court-3025988
---------
Sharad
Pawar slams PM Modi’s ‘foolish statement’ on Cong’s budget for Muslims
He said
that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had lost his confidence and since he had
nothing new to offer the electorate, he had to resort to making such statements
to distract voters.
Written
by Express News Service
May 16,
2024
Sharad
Pawar vs Narendra ModiSharad Pawar (left), Prime Minister Narendra Modi
(right). (File photo)
Addressing
a press conference in Nashik, NCP(SP) chief Sharad Pawar on Thursday slammed
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, over the latter’s comment where he accused the
Congress of making a separate budget for Muslims.
He said
that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had lost his confidence and since he had
nothing new to offer the electorate, he had to resort to making such statements
to distract voters.
“Narendra
Modi has nothing to offer now, which is why he is working on distracting the
attention (of voters). All his current speeches do not hold even 1 per cent
truth. One cannot run the country by thinking merely about castes and religion.
He (Modi) has lost his confidence,” said Pawar.
The
veteran politician slammed PM Modi over his statement where he made the
accusation that the Congress will make a separate budget for Muslims. “This is
a foolish statement. Budget does not belong to caste and religion. When it is
presented in a Parliament, it belongs to the nation,” Pawar said.
A day
after PM Modi’s roadshow in Mumbai, which came under criticism from the
Opposition over the metro’s partial closure and use of roadblocks, Pawar said
that holding a roadshow in Mumbai was not a sign of being wise. “The roadshow
was held in an area dominated by Gujarati community. Why was the venue with a
bigger road not chosen for the same,” he said.
Taking a
dig at the jiretop controversy, where his former colleague Praful Patel
presented the jiretop – a headgear worn by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj – to PM
Modi and placed it on his head, Pawar said that one should not forget the
history. “One could be obligated. But obligation should not be to the extent of
using something which is associated with Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj,” he said.
Pawar
reminded PM Modi that the latter as Gujarat chief minister used to come to him
for any issue related to agriculture when he was the union agriculture
minister. “I had taken him to Israel to show him agriculture related
experiments. He knows everything and his speeches these days are nothing but
politics. He was then interested in the state’s development, now he is more
interested in playing politics,” said Pawar.
Source: indianexpress.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/sharad-pawar-modi-statement-9333516/
--------
Europe
Councillors
ElectMohammed Asaduzzaman AsBrighton And Hove’s First Muslim Mayor
16 May,
2024
Brighton
and Hove has its first South Asian Muslim mayor after councillors unanimously
elected Mohammed Asaduzzaman to the largely ceremonial role.
Traditionally,
mayors take up the chains of office after many years of service on Brighton and
Hove City Council – not least as they are required to chair meetings of the
full council.
But the
63-year-old chef was only elected to the council in Hollingdean and Fiveways ward
at the local elections last May.
Even so,
the Labour leader of the council Bella Sankey said that he had dedicated many
years to public service in Brighton and Hove before he was elected.
At the
“annual council” meeting at Brighton Town Hall today (Thursday 16 May),
Councillor Sankey described Councillor Asaduzzaman as a “well-known and
well-loved” figure in the community.
She
said: “Mohammed is warm, kind, funny and ambitious for our city. He is also
part of a duo. And my nomination would not be complete without mentioning his
consort and beloved wife, Most Ara. I know she will be a credit to him and our
city in the year ahead.
“Brighton
and Hove can look forward to a mayor whose compassion has already left a mark
on the city’s social, cultural, economic and political landscape and whose role
will inspire our residents to work better together and to transform our city
for the better.”
She said
that his good works included providing 500 free meals to essential service
providers during the covid-19 pandemic.
He also
pushed for vaccinations for those with uncertain immigration status, acted as
an interpreter for those in legal need and gave support to victims of crime.
Green
councillor Raphael Hill said: “I would encourage the mayor to be mindful of the
politically neutral nature of his role as the mayor is separate from the
administration.
“I’m
sure he’ll work hard to ensure that all councillors can make their voices heard
in debate.”
Councillor
Asaduzzaman donned the robes of office in the chamber of the Georgian town
hall, joined by his wife Most Jasmin Ara.
Labour councillor Amanda Grimshaw was elected
as deputy mayor and is expected to take over the mayoralty in a year’s time.
In
Brighton and Hove, the mayor has a largely ceremonial role as first citizen,
welcoming visitors and representing the city on the regional, national and
international stage. The mayor also chairs meetings of the full council.
Each
year, the mayor traditionally supports a number of local charities. Councillor
Asaduzzaman has chosen BHT Sussex, the Sussex Cricket Foundation, Chomp
Brighton, My University Hospitals Sussex, Brighton Students’ Union and the
Royal Pavilion and Museums Trust.
Source: brightonandhovenews.org
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.brightonandhovenews.org/2024/05/16/councillors-elect-brighton-and-hoves-first-muslim-mayor/
--------
Hajj
fraud warning given to UK Muslims from MPs and police ahead of 2024 pilgrimage
Muslims
planning Hajj trips are often targeted by fraudsters when trying to organise
the costly trip to Mecca but feel too ashamed to speak out, MPs heard in the
build-up to this year’s pilgrimage.
Police
forces across the country report that British Muslims are being fleeced out of
between £1,000 and £33,000 by fraudsters who promise to arrange their Hajj
travel and accommodation outside of official channels.
City of
London Police are the UK’s lead force tackling Hajj fraud. Victims are often
slow to come forward because criminals prey on their feelings of guilt,
according to Nickie Aiken, the MP for Cities of London & Westminster.
“They
have told pilgrims that, despite the high prices they are paying, complaining
might void the religious merit gained by performing their Hajj,” she is due to
tell MPs in a Commons debate on Friday.
“Therefore
it is clear that there may be a certain level of shame associated with
complaining about their Hajj experience. We must ensure that people feel safe
enough to report any suspected fraud through the right avenues."
Commander
Umer Khan from City of London Police reinforced Ms Aiken’s message that scams
can be minimised by going through the Saudi government’s Nusuk platform.
He
stressed: “Together, we can help protect the spiritual journey of thousands of
British Muslims and prevent criminals from exploiting their faith and
trust."
In a bid
to streamline the process and tackle fraud, the Saudi government introduced the
Nusuk portal for would-be pilgrims to apply for visas and book travel packages
including flights and hotels, which can reach several thousand pounds.
Saudi
Arabia administers a quota for each country’s pilgrims. The total for British
Muslims was initially slashed from 25,000 before the Covid pandemic to 3,500
this year, although that was doubled after other countries failed to meet their
own quotas.
All
places have been filled up ahead of the start of this year’s annual Hajj in
mid-June, according to the Council of British Hajjis, which was founded in 2006
partly to combat rogue tour operators.
Bolton
South East MP Yasmin Qureshi, who chairs the All-Party Parliamentary Group on
Hajj and Umrah, said all UK pilgrims must “exercise caution” and only use the
Nusuk portal set up by the Saudis.
“Booking
through third-party agents outside of this official system exposes pilgrims to
significant risks of fraud, as we have unfortunately witnessed in previous
years,” she told the Standard.
“Unscrupulous
individuals often exploit the deep emotional desire to perform Hajj, preying on
those who may be desperate to secure their place.”
Ms
Qureshi added: “Anyone who fears they have been a victim of Hajj fraud should
not suffer in silence or feel embarrassed about coming forward. It is very
important that they report the crime to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.
“We
cannot respond to the threat and put a stop to it without information. This
will help protect the community from these crimes.”
“Booking
through third-party agents outside of this official system exposes pilgrims to
significant risks of fraud, as we have unfortunately witnessed in previous
years,” she told the Standard.
“Unscrupulous
individuals often exploit the deep emotional desire to perform Hajj, preying on
those who may be desperate to secure their place.”
Ms
Qureshi added: “Anyone who fears they have been a victim of Hajj fraud should
not suffer in silence or feel embarrassed about coming forward. It is very
important that they report the crime to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.
“We
cannot respond to the threat and put a stop to it without information. This
will help protect the community from these crimes.”
Source: standard.co.uk
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/hajj-fraud-warning-muslims-mps-police-b1158371.html
--------
Police
CCTV appeal after window smashed at mosque in Warrington
At 9am
on Monday 13 May a window was smashed at the mosque on Arpley Street before a
man was seen making off from the scene.
Sgt
Graham Robinson said: “We are urging anyone who recognises the man in the CCTV
images, or the man himself, to come forward so that we can progress with our
investigation.
“The
same goes for anyone with information, or dashcam footage that may help.”
Anyone
with information should contact Cheshire Police on 101 or via
www.cheshire.police.uk//tell-us quoting IML 1822302.
Alternatively,
information can be given anonymously by contacting Crimestoppers on 0800 555
111.
Source: warringtonguardian.co.uk
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/news/24324752.police-cctv-appeal-window-smashed-mosque-warrington/
--------
Viral
post about Muslims in England makes a number of incorrect claims
16 MAY
2024
A post
seen over 20 million times on X (formerly Twitter) and shared multiple times on
Facebook makes a number of claims about Muslims in England.
It’s
very similar to a post we’ve seen and checked multiple times over the last
seven years, and as we’ve written before, almost all of the claims are either
wrong or lack evidence to support them.
The post
was shared on X by Laurence Fox, actor and leader of the Reclaim Party, on 4
May 2024. We’ve since seen versions of the post shared by numerous other X
accounts, and it’s also appeared in other languages.
We’ve
asked Mr Fox to provide evidence for the claims included in his X post but have
not received a response.
False or
misleading claims about specific religious groups have the potential to harm
individuals and groups. Online claims can spread fast and far and are difficult
to contain and correct. Internet companies must take responsibility to ensure
that they have clear and transparent policies on the treatment of misinformation
on their platforms, and then apply them consistently.
Muslim
mayors
The post
claims that the mayors of London, Birmingham, Leeds, Blackburn, Sheffield,
Oxford, Luton, Oldham and Rochdale are all Muslim.
All of
these towns and cities have had Muslim mayors in the past, but only some
currently have Muslim mayors. The religion of mayors isn’t generally a matter
of public record, but the religion of some mayors, such as Mayor of London
Sadiq Khan, is known. The Mayor of Blackburn with Darwen has publicly spoken
about being Muslim, and Oxford City Council has said its Lord Mayor is Muslim.
The current Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Chaman Lal, is from a Sikh family.
Mayors
in England can be directly elected, such as in London, or they are civic or
lord mayors that carry out ceremonial duties but are not responsible for
running local services.
Claims
about the Muslim population
The post
claims there are “4 million Muslims out of 66 million people in England”.
Data from
the Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimates that England’s population
was 56.5 million in mid-2021. The most recent census shows there were around
3.8 million people who identified as Muslim living in England in 2021.
While
the census does ask people about their religion, answering the question is
voluntary so there is some uncertainty about the figure. Around 94% of people
in England and Wales answered the question about religion in the 2021 census.
The post
also includes claims about the proportion of Muslim women specifically and
Muslims generally who do not work and receive state support—“78 percent of
Muslim women do not work, receive state support + free accommodation”, and “63
percent of Muslims do not work, receive state support + free housing”.
The 2021
census found 37% of Muslim adult females were in employment, as were 51.4% of
all Muslims aged between 16 and 64, meaning the figures in the post are
incorrect.
We’ve
not found official data breaking down those claiming Universal Credit and
benefits by their religion. The government says that this data is unavailable,
as while questions on claimant’s religion are included in an equality survey
made available to claimants, this survey is optional and providing information
on religion is not compulsory.
Of those
who responded to the 2021 census and said all those in their household
identified as Muslim, 27.8% in England lived in social housing, although this
doesn’t mean the accommodation is free.
The post
also says: “State-supported Muslim families with an average of 6 to 8 children
receive free accommodation.”
We asked
the ONS about this claim, as we couldn’t find information from the 2021 census
on the number of children by household and religion.
The ONS
told us that working out the average number of children per household is not
straightforward. The ONS said, to the best of their workings, that in
Muslim-only single family households with dependent children, there were an
average of 2.6 children at the time of the 2021 census, though this figure
excludes multi-generational households, and assumes that households of eight
people or more include exactly eight people.
Mosques,
sharia courts and councils
The post
claims: “Today there are over 3,000 mosques in England.”
The ONS
does not collect data on the number of places of worship, including mosques.
In 2018,
the government said it estimated there were “1,500 mosques and prayer halls in
England”, and in 2020 the Muslim Council of Britain said, in written evidence
to a Lords select committee, there were “about 1,200 mosques” in Britain.
The
organisation Muslims in Britain maintains a database of mosques in the UK. It
says there are 2,143 premises across the UK that are used for Islamic worship,
1,987 of which are in England. This figure includes spaces such as hired halls,
chaplaincies or dedicated prayer rooms, as well as temporary premises, those
still under construction and those that are planned or proposed. Muslims in
Britain report there are 1,858 masjids (mosques) in the UK, 1,717 of which are
in England.
The post
then states that “there are over 130 sharia courts. There are more than 50
Sharia councils”.
Sharia
councils (sometimes referred to as sharia courts) have existed in the UK since
the 1980s, but there is no official count of how many are in existence. They
are usually a group of local religious scholars who advise on issues of
marriage and divorce in accordance with the religious rules of Islam. These are
not formal courts of law, and have “no legal status and no legal binding
authority under civil law”, according to the Home Office. A 2018 Home Office
review found that there were between 30 and 85 sharia councils in England and
Wales.
Religious
education
The post
also claims: “Now every school in the UK is required to teach lessons about
Islam.”
All
state-funded schools in the UK do have to teach a form of religious education
(RE). In England, it’s not part of the national curriculum and parents have the
legal right to withdraw their children for all or part of the lessons, as they
also do in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Once pupils in England reach the age
of 18, they can also choose to withdraw from the lessons. Local councils
determine the RE syllabus, but schools that are academies and faith schools can
set their own syllabus.
Government
guidance states that the law doesn’t define what the principal religions of
Great Britain are, so those who set the syllabus in local authority schools
“can decide which are the principal religions represented in Great Britain,
other than Christianity, to be included in their agreed syllabus.”
Other
claims
Some
versions of the post we’ve seen circulating on Facebook include additional
claims that we’ve previously written about.
One of
these is that “now all UK schools are ONLY serving HALAL MEAT. [sic]”
This
doesn’t appear to be correct. The government does not hold information on the
number of schools that only provide halal meals. Government rules on school
food don’t specify that food which meets religious dietary requirements must be
served. Individual schools may choose to provide halal meat if they wish, but
there’s no obligation for all schools to do so. We’ve found examples of schools
in Scotland and England with pork—which is not halal—on their menus.
Another
repeat claim is that there are “Muslims-Only No-Go Areas Across the UK [sic].”
As we’ve explained before, there are no areas in the UK where UK law doesn’t
apply or where police can’t do their work (except perhaps diplomatic premises),
and no evidence of geographical areas that exclude individuals on the basis of
religion.
Source: fullfact.org
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://fullfact.org/online/muslims-in-england-claim-repeated/
--------
Ealing
man faces anti-Muslim offences in West London
Jonathan
Katan, 61, is charged with 11 counts of racially aggravated criminal damage.
He is
additionally charged with two racially aggravated public order offences.
Katan
will appear at Uxbridge Magistrates' Court tomorrow (Friday, 17).
He was
arrested in November last year after red paint was thrown or sprayed at
locations in Hammersmith, Fulham and Ealing on 11 separate occasions.
Det Supt
FigoForouzan said: “These charges have come as a result of diligent police work
by officers who have gathered evidence while providing support and reassurance
to those affected."
Chief
Supt Sean Wilson, in charge of policing in West Area, said: “Officers have
worked incredibly hard with the Crown Prosecution Service and communities in
both boroughs of Ealing and Hammersmith and Fulham to get an arrest and a
charge in this case.
"This
demonstrates how seriously we take allegations of hate crime against any of our
communities.
“While
criminal proceedings are now active, I ask the community to refrain from speculating
on this case, particularly on social media, to avoid any risk of prejudice.”
Source: ealingtimes.co.uk
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.ealingtimes.co.uk/news/24324255.ealing-man-faces-anti-muslim-offences-west-london/
--------
Mideast
Jordan
Muslim Brotherhood denies reports Iran is sending it weapons
The
Muslim Brotherhood in Jordan has slammed a report by Reuters claiming the
kingdom had thwarted a suspected Iranian-led plot to smuggle weapons to the
group to carry out acts of sabotage, Quds Press reported.
The
group’s spokesman, Moaz Al-Khawaldeh, said in a press statement that “Reuters
attributed its story to two unknown sources without bothering to communicate
with the group’s leadership, to confirm the veracity of the allegations but
rather it treated them as facts.”
Yesterday
Reuters quoted two Jordanian sources as saying that the kingdom had foiled an
Iranian-led plot to smuggle weapons from Syria to a Muslim Brotherhood cell
Jordan that has links to the military wing of the Palestinian group Hamas to
carry out acts of sabotage.
“The
cache was seized when members of the cell, Jordanians of Palestinian descent,
were arrested in late March,” Reuters claimed in its report, noting that the
sources had declined to say what acts of sabotage were allegedly being planned.
In a
statement yesterday, Hamas said it had “no ties to any acts targeting Jordan”
and that it only sought to target Israel.
For his
part, Al-Khawaldeh added that “the group’s stable policy has not changed”
stressing that throughout its history, the group has been keen on preserving
Jordan’s security and stability. He added that such behaviour “violates the
group’s policies and decisions”.
He
called into the question the timing of the release of such news, saying it had
“hidden intentions and goals” that seek to disturb the national scene, and sow
division at a time when the Gaza Strip is enduring genocide.
Gaza, he
continued, must be the focus in order to stop the aggression and support its
valiant resistance.
Source: middleeastmonitor.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20240516-jordan-muslim-brotherhood-denies-reports-iran-is-sending-it-weapons/
--------
Hamas,
Jihad say supporting Gaza fronts draw new equation in conflict with enemy
[16/May/2024]
BEIRUT
May 16. 2024 (Saba) - A meeting was held between the leaders of the Islamic
Resistance Movement Hamas and the Islamic Jihad in Palestine during which they discussed
the most important field and political developments in the Palestinian cause.
According
to al-Mayadeen, the meeting was attended by Khalil al-Haya, deputy head of
Hamas' political bureau in the Gaza Strip, along with Hamas leaders Osama Nasr
and Osama Hamdan, Islamic Jihad Secretary General Ziad al-Nakhaleh, and member
of its political bureau, Akram al-Ajouri.
The two
sides emphasized that what is taking place during "Al-Aqsa flood" and
on the 76th anniversary of the occupation of Palestine and the establishment of
the Zionist enemy entity on its land confirms that this entity will come to an
end.
The two
sides praised the steadfastness and patience of the Palestinian people in the
confrontation with the Zionist enemy in "al-Aqsa Flood" epic, their
rally around the resistance, and the valor of the resistance and the heroism of
the fighters in the field.
They
also stressed that the escalating resistance in the West Bank confirms that the
Palestinian people's choice is to continue the struggle to achieve their goals
of liberation and return.
The two
sides reviewed the efforts made to end the Zionist aggression on Gaza and its
aftermath, as well as the failure to reach an agreement and an exchange deal
due to the intransigence of the enemy and the American support for it.
The two
sides also valued the role of the support fronts in Lebanon, Yemen and Iraq,
which today are drawing a new equation in the conflict with the Zionist enemy,
emphasizing that it will not be accepted in the region and that the free people
of the nation are siding with Palestine and its resistance against it.
Source: saba.ye
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.saba.ye/en/news3330389.htm
--------
Hezbollah
introduces new weapons and tactics against Israel as war in Gaza drags on
May 17,
2024
BEIRUT:
The Lebanese militant group Hezbollah this week struck a military post in
northern Israel using a drone that fired two missiles. The attack wounded three
soldiers, one of them seriously, according to the Israeli military.
Hezbollah
has regularly fired missiles across the border with Israel over the past seven
months, but the one on Thursday appears to have been the first successful
missile airstrike it has launched from within Israeli airspace.
The
group has stepped up its attacks on Israel in recent weeks, particularly since
the Israeli incursion into the southern city of Rafah in the Gaza Strip. It has
struck deeper inside Israel and introduced new and more advanced weaponry.
“This is
a method of sending messages on the ground to the Israeli enemy, meaning that
this is part of what we have, and if needed we can strike more,” said Lebanese
political analyst Faisal Abdul-Sater who closely follows Hezbollah.
While
the cross-border exchanges of fire have been ongoing since early October,
“complex attacks” by Hezbollah began a few days after Iran’s unprecedented
drone and missile barrage attack on Israel in mid-April.
In the
past two weeks, Hezbollah has escalated further in response to the Israeli incursion
into the city of southern Rafah in the Gaza Strip, a Lebanese official familiar
with the group’s operations said. The official spoke on condition of anonymity
because he was not authorized to detail military information to the media.
The
Thursday afternoon attack by a drone carrying missiles came just days after
Hezbollah launched three anti-tank guided missiles at an Israeli military post
that controlled a surveillance balloon flying over the border. They released
camera footage afterward to show they had hit their mark. Hours later, the
Israeli military confirmed that the spy balloon had been shot down over
Lebanon.
The
night before, Hezbollah had carried out its deepest attack in Israel to date
using explosive drones to strike at a base in Ilaniya near the city of Tiberias
about 35 kilometers from the Lebanon border. The Israeli military said the
attack did not hurt anyone.
Abdul-Sater,
the analyst, said the Iran-led coalition known as the axis of resistance, which
includes the Palestinian militant group Hamas, has warned that if Israeli
troops launch a full-scale invasion of Rafah in an attempt to go after Hamas,
other fronts will also escalate.
Yemen’s
Iran-backed Houthi rebels claimed Wednesday that they attacked a US destroyer
while Iran-backed militants in Iraq have said they fired a series of drones
toward Israel in recent weeks after having gone relatively quiet since
February.
Hezbollah’s
use of more advanced weaponry, including drones capable of firing missiles,
explosive drones and the small type of guided missile known as Almas, or
Diamond, that was used to attack the base controlling the balloon has raised
alarms within the Israeli military.
“Hezbollah
has been escalating the situation in the north,” said military spokesman Lt.
Col. NadavShoshani. “They’ve been firing more and more.”
In
adapting its attacks, Hezbollah has also managed to reduce the numbers of
fighters lost compared with the early weeks of the conflict.
The
group has lost more than 250 fighters so far, compared with 15 Israeli troops
since fighting broke out along the Lebanon-Israel border a day after the
Israel-Hamas war started on Oct. 7.
According
to a count by The Associated Press, Hezbollah lost 47 fighters in October and
35 in November, compared with 20 in April and 12 so far this month.
The
official familiar with the group’s operations said Hezbollah had reduced the
numbers of fighters along the border areas to bring down the numbers of
casualties. While Hezbollah continues to fire Russian-made anti-tank Kornet
missiles from areas close to the border, it has also shifted to firing drones
and other types of rockets with heavy war heads — including Almas as well as
Falaq and Burkan rockets — from areas several kilometers (miles) from the
border.
Over the
weekend, Hezbollah said it had launched a new rocket with a heavy warhead named
Jihad Mughniyeh after a senior operative who was killed in an Israeli airstrike
on southern Syria in 2015.
Eva J.
Koulouriotis, a political analyst specialized in the Middle East and jihadi groups
wrote on the social media platform X that Hezbollah’s recent escalation likely
has several goals, including raising the ceiling of the group’s demands in any
future negotiations for a border deal, as well as raising military pressure on
Israel’s military in light of the preparations for the battle in Rafah.
Israel’s
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant vowed in a speech last week that “we will stand,
we will achieve our goals, we will hit Hamas, we will destroy Hezbollah, and we
will bring security.”
On Monday,
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah reiterated in a speech that there will be no
end to the fighting along the Lebanon-Israel border until Israel’s military
operations in the Gaza Strip come to an end.
“The
main goal of Lebanon’s front is to contribute to the pressure on the enemy to
end the war on Gaza,” Nasrallah said.
His
comments were a blow to attempts by foreign dignitaries, including US and
French officials, who have visited Beirut t o try to put an end to the violence
that has displaced tens of thousands of people on both sides of the border.
A day
after Nasrallah spoke, Canada’s Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly visited Beirut
and told Lebanon’s private LBC TV station that she was pushing for a ceasefire.
“We need
the people living in the south of Lebanon to be able to go back to their
homes,” she said. “We need to make sure that the Israelis living in the
northern part of Israel are able to get back to their homes also.”
Hezbollah’s
deputy leader Naim Kassim warned Israel in a speech over the weekend against
opening an all-out war.
“You
have tried in the past and you were defeated and if you try again you will be
defeated,” said Kassim, referring to the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah 34-day war that
ended in a draw.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2511831/middle-east
--------
Israel
to abolish free trade deal with Turkiye in retaliation
May 17,
2024
JERUSALEM:
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich on Thursday said Israel would abolish
its free trade agreement with Turkiye and also impose a 100 percent tariff on
other imports from Turkiye in retaliation for Turkish President Tayyip
Erdogan’s decision to halt exports to Israel.
The
plan, he said, would be submitted to the cabinet for approval.
Earlier
this month, Turkiye said it was stopping exports to Israel during the duration
of the Israel-Hamas war, citing “worsening humanitarian tragedy” in the
Palestinian territories. But the Turkish Trade Ministry has said that companies
have three months to fulfil existing orders via third countries.
“His
(Erdogan’s) announcement of the stoppage of imports to Israel constitutes a
declaration of an economic boycott and a serious violation of international
trade agreements to which Turkiye has committed,” Smotrich said in a statement.
He noted
that Israel’s actions would only last as long as Erdogan remained in power.
“If at
the end of Erdogan’s term the citizens of Turkiye elect a leader who is sane
and not a hater of Israel, it would be possible to return the trade route with
Turkiye,” Smotrich said.
Under
Smotrich’s plan, all the reduced customs rates applicable to goods imported
from Turkiye to Israel according to an agreement to the free trade deal would
be abolished. At the same time, a duty would be imposed on any product imported
from Turkiye to Israel at a rate of 100 percent of the value of the goods in
addition to the existing duty rate.
The
finance, economy and foreign ministries, the statement said, would also take
steps to strengthen Israel’s manufacturing while diversifying sources of import
to reduce the dependency on Turkiye.
Israel’s
Manufacturers’ Association called Smotrich’s plan “an appropriate response” for
not allowing Erdogan to damage the economy without a response.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2511711/middle-east
--------
ICRC
officials to meet UK Foreign Office over plan for Palestinian detainees
May 16,
2024
LONDON: Officials
from the International Committee of the Red Cross will hold talks with the UK
Foreign Office over concerns about British plans to visit Palestinian detainees
in Israeli jails.
Foreign
Secretary David Cameron has reportedly negotiated a deal with Israel’s
government to allow two British legal observers and an Israeli judge to visit
some prisoners being held in Israeli prisons amid reports of “inhumane
treatment,” The Guardian reported on Thursday.
In an
interview with the BBC at the weekend, Cameron said he had spoken to Israeli
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the issue.
“It’s
not all bleak ... I said it (the lack of access to detainees) was not good
enough, that we needed to have a proper independent system for inspecting and
regulating, and the Israelis have announced they are now doing that,” he said.
Netanyahu’s
government has blocked ICRC staff from having any access to Palestinian
detainees since the Hamas-led attack on Oct. 7. It has said the block will
remain until Hamas allows access to Israeli hostages taken during the attack.
Critics
say this stance could constitute a breach of the Geneva Conventions, with the
ICRC having made repeated requests to both sides in the conflict to allow
access to all those detained, as set out in the conventions.
Observers
have also raised concerns that the UK plan will “weaken the rule of law” and
could set a “dangerous precedent” for how detainees are treated in other
conflict zones, The Guardian report added.
The
ICRC’s director for the Middle East region, FabrizioCarboni, is in London to
hold talks with Foreign Office officials.
In a
statement to The Guardian, the aid organization said Palestinian detainees must
be treated as protected persons with access to the ICRC, as proscribed under
the Geneva rules.
The
statement added: “We have seen the reports of a government of Israel decision
to allow observers to visit some places of detention. The ICRC remains hopeful
that suitable steps are taken that could protect the health and welfare of
detainees, which remains paramount. We reiterate our readiness to resume our
mandated detention activities.”
Arab
News columnist and director of the Council for Arab-British Understanding,
Chris Doyle, said the Foreign Office plan risked establishing a system that
bypassed the ICRC and internationally accepted regulations.
“There
is no transparency about Cameron’s alternative … I very much doubt that two
Foreign Office-appointed lawyers in the company of a judge from the occupying
power are going to have the expertise of the ICRC, but will instead be taken
around sanitised prisons,” he said.
“What
has happened to the thousands of Palestinians taken from Gaza to Israel is a
huge issue. (Neither) we nor their families know where they are, whether they
are combatants or children, or why in some cases they are being stripped to
their underpants. We have heard nothing from the UK government about this,” he
added.
During a
week-long truce between Hamas and Israeli forces in November, the ICRC played
an active role in facilitating the swap of 105 Israeli hostages held by Hamas
and 240 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2511656/middle-east
--------
Africa
Unidentified
Muslim group disrupts interfaith worship centre in Ilorin
16 May
2024
Olojatuntun
stated that the worship centre was originally a mosque but has since been used
by worshippers of other religions.
“We are
here because of the report that the mosque in Alubosa, Ilorin, where
Christians, Muslims, and even traditionalists worship. We observe this
practice, which should not happen in this town,” Olojatuntun declared in a
video that surfaced on Facebook
Olojatuntun
added that henceforth, such practice will not be tolerated as it contravenes
the rules laid down by the forefathers of Ilorin.
“We are
not here to fight but what we want in the name of the Emir is that the practice
must not happen again. It is not advice; if they must hold Christian service there, they can, but not mix things
up,” Olojatuntun said.
“We
won’t allow anyone to destroy this town; to gather people and ask them to be
practising both religions. So tell them (the owners of the mosque) that we must
not come back. Though they could claim they own the land, this is the town of
Emir.”
The
centre’s owner, Iya Meta Lokan, responded to the group’s concerns in a separate
video.
She
described herself as a devout Muslim who received a divine calling to minister
using “Christian ways” and preach to both faiths.
“When I
was called by God, I was told to teach, following the Christian way. I was told
to preach to both Muslims and Christians. I have been on the mountain; when
Muslims come, we pray likewise for Christians,” Iya Meta Lokansta
She
added that focusing only on Islam will be difficult, as that will be against
her “spiritual call.”
The
Guardian cannot verify the date on which this incident took place.
Source: guardian.ng
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://guardian.ng/news/unidentified-muslim-group-disrupts-interfaith-worship-centre-in-ilorin/
--------
Pakistan
Pakistan,
Australia agree to promote tolerance, religious freedom
May 17,
2024
Australian
High Commissioner Neil Hawkins called on Minister for Law and Justice and Human
Rights Azam Nazeer Tarar in Islamabad.
During
the meeting, a broad range of issues including bilateral relationships,
upholding human rights, and strengthening the rule of law were discussed.
The
Minister shared that the Ministry of human Rights is taking measures to
strengthen Provincial Commissions on the Status of Women by financial and human
resource allocation in order to improve Pakistan's standing on gender parity
index.
He
further added that the Ministry of Human Rights is also striving for structural
reforms to protect rights of minorities.
Azam
Nazeer Tarar also emphasized the adoption of an inclusive approach for
mainstreaming of the vulnerable segments of the society particularly
transgender community of Pakistan.
Both
sides agreed to continue support for promotion of tolerance, religious freedom
and respect.
Source: radio.gov.pk
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.radio.gov.pk/17-05-2024/pakistan-striving-for-structural-reforms-to-protect-minorities-rights-nazeer
--------
Pakistan
To Be Among World’s Top 10 Economies By 2047:
Minister
May 17,
2024
ISLAMABAD -
Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms, Ahsan Iqbal
Thursday said that by 2047, Pakistan would be included amongst top 10 economies
in the world. “By working hard, we can bring Pakistan to the top 10 economies
of the world by 2047 and for this we have to silence negative voices,” he said.
Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal’s address at the Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs) Conference was held in the Ministry of Planning regarding the
national development agenda.
The
minister said that development is possible only through implementation of SDGs.
“It is also to be taken into consideration that Pakistan’s budget would be
compatible with the SDGs”, he said. Ahsan said that natural resources were
misused in industrial revolution. He said that Pakistan is among top ten
countries affected by climate change.
The
minister said that parliamentarians have a very important role regarding
sustainable development goals and the work of distribution of resources is done
by the Parliament. He said the private sector has an important role to play in
achieving the SDGs and media should help spread awareness of SDGs to the
public. The Sustainable Development Goals, when formulated, were intended to
develop and it is our responsibility to establish safe and sustainable
development for future generations, he said.
He said
that “We want to retain a better country for future generations”.
The
minister said that sustainable development goals are included in Pakistan’s
2025 agenda.
Today,
all the stakeholders, civil society and private sector can also play a role in
achieving sustainable development goals, he stressed.
Source: nation.com.pk
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.nation.com.pk/17-May-2024/pakistan-to-be-among-world-s-top-10-economies-by-2047-ahsan-iqbal
--------
Pakistan
enjoys longstanding relations with Russia: Ayaz Sadiq
May 17,
2024
ISLAMABAD -
Speaker National Assembly of Pakistan Sardar Ayaz Sadiq on Thursday has
said that Pakistan enjoyed longstanding relations with Russia and committed to
enhancing these ties by expanding cooperation across various areas,
particularly at parliamentary front.
He made
these remarks during a meeting with Ambassador of the Russian Federation to
Pakistan H.E. Mr. Albert Khorev, who called on him at the Parliament House.
Highlighting the significance of parliamentary cooperation, Speaker Sadiq
underscored that parliamentary diplomacy had historically played a pivotal role
in strengthening bilateral relations. He emphasized the continuous exchange and
collaboration between the two parliaments through parliamentary friendship
groups and high-level exchanges as avenues to foster mutual learning and
benefit from each other’s experiences.
While
recalling initiatives to strengthen parliament-to-parliament ties during his previous
tenures as Speaker, he mentioned organizing the first Speakers’ conference of
six countries in Pakistan. The conference, attended by his counterparts from
Afghanistan, Iran, China, Turkiye, and Russia, proved pivotal in attending
certain issues of mutual concern. He also mentioned of having the privilege to
serve as Convener of the Pakistan-Russia parliamentary friendship group, during
the 15th National Assembly of Pakistan.
The
Ambassador congratulated Sardar Ayaz Sadiq on his re-election as Speaker and
extended best wishes for his success. He acknowledged the Speaker’s significant
contributions to strengthening Pak-Russia relations and also assured of
continued cooperation to further solidify bilateral ties. Meanwhile, Deputy
Speaker National Assembly Syed Ghulam Mustafa Shah extended warm felicitations
to Mr. Faisal Karim Kundi on his appointment as Governor KyberPakhtunKhwa.
Source: nation.com.pk
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.nation.com.pk/17-May-2024/pakistan-enjoys-longstanding-relations-with-russia-ayaz-sadiq
--------
Pakistan,
UK resolve to enhance coordination on arms control
May 17,
2024
ISLAMABAD -
Pakistan and the United Kingdom have expressed their commitment to
further enhance coordination on multilateral fora on matters relating to arms
control, disarmament & non-proliferation. The commitment was expressed
during the 6th Round of Pakistan –UK Dialogue on Arms Control &
Non-Proliferation held here on Wednesday (May 15), a press release issued by
the Foreign Office said on Thursday. Additional Foreign Secretary (Arms Control
& Disarmament), Ambassador Mohammad Kamran Akhtar, and Director, Defence
and International Security at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
(FCDO), United Kingdom, Ambassador Stephen Lillie, led their respective
delegations. A broad spectrum of topics relating to arms control, disarmament
and non-proliferation came under discussion during the dialogue. Both sides
also shared their perspectives on issues concerning global and regional
security, new and emerging technologies, including the military use of
artificial intelligence and the peaceful applications of nuclear technology.
Source: nation.com.pk
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.nation.com.pk/17-May-2024/pakistan-uk-resolve-to-enhance-coordination-on-arms-control
--------
PTI
founder ‘launched to harm’ Pakistan: Sharjeel Memon
May 17,
2024
KARACHI -
Sindh Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said on Thursday that the Pakistan
Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder launched a campaign to harm the country.
Addressing an event in Karachi, Memon stated: “Israel talks about the violation
of human rights in Pakistan. Israel, which is involved in the genocide of the
Palestinians, is supporting the PTI founder. Israel has funded the PTI founder
for the elections.” “The PTI founder was made victorious through the worst
rigging in the 2018 general elections. The PTV, parliament, and police
officials were attacked,” he said.
“The
entire country was closed due to a 126-day protest,” Memon said.
Memon
took a dig at the PTI founder, saying, “The PTI founder had always embraced the
politics of anarchy.” Speaking about the law and order situation in Sindh,
Memon said: “The Sindh government is serious about the law and order situation
in the province. Everybody is on one page in terms of maintaining peace in
Sindh.” Sharjeel Memon on warpath against PTI. Few days back, Memon fired a
broadside at the PTI.
Expressing
his thoughts, Memon asserted: “The PTI is launching a smear campaign against
the institutions. The PTI had been involved in terrorism on social media.”
Memon
said: “The PTI does not want to hold negotiations, but it is pleading for the
deal, but the institutions are not ready for the deal.”
“All the
groups within the PTI have their own narrative. During the last one and a half
years, every group of the PTI has been requesting the deal,” he added. Memon
questioned, “How can those who launched campaigns against the institutions talk
about the negotiations?”
Meanwhile,
Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon on Thursday inaugurated the Orange
Line Extension, integrating the Orange Line and Green Line Bus Rapid Transport
(BRT) systems in Karachi.
Addressing
the inaugural ceremony at Orange Line Depot in Orangi Town, Sharjeel Inam
Memon, who also holds portfolios of Transport, Mass Transit, Excise, Taxation,
Narcotics Contral and Information, said that the Sindh Government had
integrated the Orange Line and Green Line bus systems to facilitate the people
of Karachi.
He said
now all the Orange Line buses would travel to the Green Line Board Office
Station, from where their passengers could take the pedestrian bridge to board
the Green Line buses. Similarly, the passengers after disembarking from the
Green Line buses could board the Orange Line buses for travel to Orangi, he
added.
Memon
said that the Sindh Government was following the vision of Pakistan Peoples
Party’ leadership serving the people.The Transport Department was planning new
schemes for the people so that they could travel with ease, he added.
He said
that automatic fare payment cards system would be fully operational within a
month.
Memon
appreciated the Federal Government for decreasing the petrol prices, which, he
said, would provide direct relief to the people. He, however, mentioned that
the Sindh Government did not raise the fares of
the People’s Bus Service despite raise in the petroleum prices
previously.
He said
that the government was taking steps for maintaining law and order, besides
eradication of the drugs in the province. Several groups of drug dealers had
been apprehended, he added. The senior minister said the PPP had always backed
independence of judiciary and would continue to do so.
Source: nation.com.pk
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.nation.com.pk/17-May-2024/pti-founder-launched-to-harm-pakistan-sharjeel-memon
--------
PM
Shehbaz calls for permanent solution to AJK issues
May 16,
2024
Days
after the violent protests gripped Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Prime Minister
Shehbaz Sharif has stressed the need for permanent solution to resolve the
issues being faced by the people in the valley.
The
premier paid a day-long visit to the AJK on Thursday two days after the Jammu
Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) called off its protests against
inflation, high taxes and electricity bills.
The four
days-long protests in AJK had claimed at least four lives including a policeman
while also left seven others injured.
The
protests were called off a day after the federal government announced a Rs23
billion subsidy package for AJK.
Addressing
the special cabinet meeting in AJK, PM Shehbaz said he assured that his
government, in collaboration with the AJK leadership, would ensure the
implementation of mutual understanding and seek a permanent solution to the
issues facing the Kashmiri people.
He
instructed the formation of a committee to discuss issues like water charge,
Neelum Jhelum and others for the benefit of the AJK people.
Referring
to the recent movement run by the AJK people for their rights, PM Shehbaz said
the people raised their voices for their genuine demands but amidst that some
“miscreants tried to create riots and cause killings”.
He
condoled the killing of a police official and some citizens during the movement
and announced that his government would support their respective grieved
families under the Shuhada Package.
He told
the participants that Rs23 billion approved by his government had been released
to the AJK government and assured that, after the completion of the IMF team’s
visit, the federal minister and secretary for power would consult with the AJK
authorities to seek a permanent solution to the issues and prevent the
recurrence of such incidents.
The
prime minister asked his AJK counterpart Chaudhary Anwarul Haq to constitute a
committee on his side for necessary consultation with the relevant Pakistani
ministries and urged him to take personal ownership of the matter as he would
do so in Pakistan.
He
instructed the relevant authorities to immediately complete the construction of
the bridge of the Mangla Phase-2 project. Regarding Neelum Jhelum, he said
federal Secretary Water and Minister for Kashmir Affairs Amir Muqam would
discuss the matter with the Kashmiri leadership to formulate short-, medium-
and long-term solutions.
Indian
atrocities
PM
Shehbaz also highlighted the Indian atrocities in Indian Illegally Occupied
Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and the plight of Kashmiris languishing in Tihar jail
and assured that Pakistan would continue extending its moral and diplomatic
support to the Kashmir cause.
He said
the Indian ruling party could not contest the election in IIOJK under its real
name which showed their fear of public anger for Indian human rights abuses in
the territory.
In his
remarks, AJK PM Haq welcomed PM Shehbaz in Azad Kashmir, who was accompanied by
federal cabinet members and senior government officers.
He also
said that Rs23 billion approved by him a couple of days ago, was received by
his government showing an unprecedented swift implementation of the directives.
He said
PM Shehbaz’s visit to AJK manifested the value Pakistan accorded to Azad Jammu
and Kashmir.
Source: thenews.com.pk
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1189730-pm-shehbaz-calls-for-permanent-solution-to-ajk-issues
--------
Southeast Asia
Police
Nab 20 Alleged Jemaah IslamiyahMembers In The Aftermath Of Ulu TiramStation
Attack
17-05-
2024
PETALING
JAYA: The attack on the Ulu Tiram police station, early this morning, saw the
police force detain 20 people who are allegedly Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) members
within Johor in the aftermath of the incident.
The
unprecedented attack was carried out by a suspected JI member who was later
identified as RadinRomyullahRadin Imran, 34.
The
attack resulted in the death of two constables and while another sustained
injuries.
The
suspect was eventually shot dead at the scene in the incident which happened
about 2.45am.
According
to New Straits Times, among the 20-suspected JI members hauled up by the police
include Romyullah’s five family members, aged between 19 and 62.
It is
learnt that his family lived at Kampung Sungai Tiram Ulu, which is located just
metres away from the station.
Earlier,
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain said police recovered JI
related items from Radin’s house, adding that the Special Branch would identify
and haul up all JI members in Johor for questioning.
Additionally,
Razarudin mentioned that security at the Ulu Tiram and other police stations
had been beefed up.
It is
learnt that Romyullah had rode his motorcycle to the back of the police station
while two constables were busy attending to a couple.
The
couple was lodging a police report on a molest incident which happened two
years ago.
Armed
with a parang, the suspect hacked one constable before grabbing his pistol and
shot the second constable dead.
The
third constable who rushed to find out what was going on was also slashed as he
approached the suspect.
The
injured constable managed to discharge his firearm, killing the suspect on the
spot.
Additionally,
the police have also arrested the couple, aged 21 and 22, for further
questioning.
It is
learnt that the police are trying to ascertain if the duo had gone to the
station as a decoy to distract the policemen on duty during the time of the
incident.
Source: thesun.my
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://thesun.my/local_news/police-nab-20-alleged-ji-members-in-the-aftermath-of-ulu-tiram-station-attack-FB12463622
--------
PM
Anwar: Claims that pro-Israel company will own MAHB shares only to incite
hatred
17 May
2024
ASTANA,
May 17 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim stressed that claims that 25
per cent of the remaining shares of Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB)
would be owned by a pro-Zionist company are baseless.
He said
the allegations raised by the Opposition were merely aimed at inciting hatred among
the people towards the government.
“...there
is nothing positive from them, only inciting hatred and envy. All of our
statements that have been recognised by the world, including the meeting with
Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, do not bring anything positive to them, what is
sought is slander and incitement.
“The
strengthening of the ringgit and stock market only hurts the feelings of the
opposition,” he told a press conference on the last day of his two-day official
visit to Kazakhstan here today.
The opposition
claimed that plans to privatise MAHB via a consortium will also include a
company with links to a pro-Israel firm. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2024/05/17/pm-anwar-claims-that-pro-israel-company-will-own-mahb-shares-only-to-incite-hatred/134927
--------
Wisma
Putra: Malaysia welcomes South Africa’s latest request at ICJ to stop Israel
genocide in Gaza
17 May
2024
PUTRAJAYA,
May 17 — Malaysia strongly supports and commends South Africa for its resolute
effort to stop the genocide against the Palestinians in Gaza.
It also
welcomes South Africa’s latest request for the indication of additional
provisional measures before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against
Israel at the two-day public hearing being held at Peace Palace in The Hague
from May 16 to 17, the Malaysian Foreign Ministry said in a statement Friday.
This is
the third request for additional measures brought by South Africa since the
initial provisional measures granted by the ICJ on January 26, 2024.
The
additional provisional measures pertain to the urgent need for the cessation of
Israel’s military offensive in Rafah, facilitation of unimpeded access to
humanitarian aid and assistance to Gaza.
South
Africa urged submission by Israel of a report to the ICJ on all measures taken
to abide by the provisional measures.
Malaysian
Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan had represented Malaysia during the
Public Hearings on the request for the ICJ’s Advisory Opinion in respect of the
Legal Consequences arising from the Policies and Practices of Israel in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem at the Peace Palace on
Feb 22.
“The
international community has a collective responsibility to demand that Israel
cease its military operations.
“Israel’s
offensives in Rafah, a 64-square-kilometre area crowded with over 1.4 million
Palestinians seeking refuge, will result in a massive humanitarian
catastrophe,” the statement read.
The
Ministry emphasised Malaysia’s unwavering support for the establishment of an
independent and sovereign State of Palestine, based on the pre-1967 borders,
with East Jerusalem as its capital, as well as the admission of Palestine as a full
Member of the United Nations. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2024/05/17/wisma-putra-malaysia-welcomes-south-africas-latest-request-at-icj-to-stop-israel-genocide-in-gaza/134879
--------
PM
arrives in Kazakhstan with mission to strengthen long-standing relations
16-05-
2024
ASTANA:
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim arrived in Kazakhstan today for his
inaugural official two-day visit aimed at further strengthening the
long-standing relationship between the two countries, which spanned over three
decades.
The
Prime Minister’s aircraft landed at NursultanNazarbayev International Airport
here at 1 pm (4 pm Malaysian time) after departing from Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
Anwar
was welcomed by his counterpart, OlzhasBektenov, Kazakhstan Deputy Foreign
Minister AlibekBakayev, Mayor of Astana ZhenisKassymbek, Malaysian Ambassador
to Kazakhstan MohdAdli Abdullah and officials from the Malaysian Embassy here.
The
Malaysian delegation includes Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan;
Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri ZafrulTengku Abdul
Aziz; Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing; Minister
in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr MohdNa’im
Mokhtar; as well as senior officials from various ministries and agencies.
The last
visit by the Malaysian Prime Minister to Kazakhstan, the largest Central Asian
country with a population of almost 20 million, was in 2014, a decade ago.
The
official visit symbolises Malaysia’s commitment to strengthen bilateral
cooperation with Kazakhstan, which was first forged on March 16, 1992, covering
various sectors such as trade, investment, higher education, tourism and halal
industry, for mutual benefit.
Upon
arrival, Anwar who is also the Finance Minister, will visit the Astana Grand
Mosque here, the largest mosque in Central Asia and one of the largest mosques
in the world, which serves as a significant religious centre in the city.
Approximately
70 per cent of the population in Kazakhstan are Muslims, with around 2,900
mosques located throughout the ninth-largest country in the world.
After
visiting the mosque, the Prime Minister will be accorded an official welcoming
ceremony by Kazakhstan President Kassym-JomartTokayev at the President Palace
(AkOrda) before the two leaders engage in a bilateral meeting for a broader
discussion involving both delegations.
A Joint
Statement will be signed following the meeting before the Prime Minister and
the Malaysian delegation are honoured with a dinner banquet hosted by Tokayev.
Before
concluding his visit tomorrow, the Prime Minister is scheduled to deliver a
keynote address at the Roundtable Session on trade and investment cooperation
between Malaysia and Kazakhstan here.
Bektenov
is also scheduled to attend the session, which aims to foster collaboration and
partnership between companies in both countries in the economic, trade, and
investment sectors.
The
Prime Minister is also scheduled to witness the exchange of several Memoranda
of Understanding (MoUs) involving relevant government agencies and businesses
from both sides.
Malaysia’s
total trade with Kazakhstan in 2023 stood at RM474.5 million (US$104.2
million), with RM465.6 million (US$102.2 million) being exports of Malaysian
goods to Kazakhstan and RM8.9 million (US$1.9 million) being the value of
imports from Kazakhstan.
Anwar
had earlier made an official visit to Kyrgyzstan. After this, the Prime
Minister will proceed with an official visit to Uzbekistan.
Source: thesun.my
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://thesun.my/local_news/pm-arrives-in-kazakhstan-with-mission-to-strengthen-long-standing-relations-FB12461949
--------
IGP
orders increased security at police stations nationwide after JI-linked attack
in JB
17 May
2024
JOHOR
BARU, May 17 — Operational security at all police facilities nationwide are to
be stepped up following a pre-dawn attack on the Ulu Tiram police station here
today by a man linked to terror group Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) that killed two
policemen and injured a third.
Inspector-General
of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain the increased security measures also apply
to all the state royal palaces and residences of the state government leaders.
“We will
inform the respective palaces and menteribesar residences on this as it is
important and our responsibility.
“At the
police facilities, especially stations, we will increase the manpower and
patrols. For those facilities that lack lighting, we will also get the
allocation for the addition,” he told reporters at the Ulu Tiram police station
here this afternoon.
JI is an
Islamist militant group based in Indonesia dedicated to establishing an Islamic
caliphate through violent means.
The
group has been linked to the 2002 Bali bombings in Indonesia and has been said
to be part of the global al-Qaeda network.
Razarudin
said police are going after JI’s remaining 20 members in Johor.
Two
young constables Ahmad Azza Fahmi Azhar and Muhamad Syafiq Ahmad Said were
killed by a sole attacker in the Ulu Tiram police station at about 2.30am
today.
Razarudin
said the two constables joined the police force in 2021 and 2022 respectively.
A third
policeman on duty was seriously injured but took down the attacker, said to be
a 21-year-old JI operative from Ulu Tiram.
Razarudin
said the remains of the two policemen will be buried in their hometowns in
Bidor in Perak and Gambang in Pahang after a post-mortem at the Sultan Ismail
Hospital (HSI) here.
“The
third policeman, who was injured by gunshots on his left shoulder and hip, is
receiving treatment at HSI,” he said.
Police
have so far arrested seven people, including the attacker’s father and four of
his family members, for being linked to JI.
The
attack is being investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder.
Source: malaymail.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2024/05/17/igp-orders-increased-security-at-police-stations-nationwide-after-ji-linked-attack-in-jb/134913
--------
In
Johor, two cops dead, one injured after man attacks police station
17 May
2024
JOHOR
BARU, May 17 — Two policemen were killed while another was injured after an
unidentified assailant attacked them at the Ulu Tiram police station along
Jalan Kota Tinggi here early this morning.
It is
learnt that the policemen were shot at and hacked by the man, who was also
killed, during the 2.54am attack.
Johor
police chief M. Kumar, who was at the scene, confirmed the incident but did not
elaborate.
Inspector-General
of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain is said to be on the way to the location.
It is
believed the attacker, a 34-year-old local, had entered the police station
under the Seri Alam district police headquarters with a mask on just before
3am.
He then
used a parang to attack and kill one of two policemen manning the duty counter,
before snatching the victim’s service weapon and shooting the other policeman
several times.
A third
policeman returning from a crime prevention patrol was also attacked, but
managed to shoot and kill the attacker.
The two
policemen killed have been identified as Constable Ahmad Azza Fahmi Azhar and
Constable Muhamad Syafiq Ahmad Said.
Their
bodies were sent to the Sultan Ismail Hospital (HSI), where the injured
policeman is also being treated.
Ahmad
Azza suffered from head and neck injuries believed to be from being hacked by a
parang, while Muhamad Syafiq had gunshot wounds to his body.
Investigators
believed that there was a scuffle with the suspect as they recovered a Walther
9mm automatic pistol and an Heckler & Koch MP5 sub-machine gun belonging to
the police from the scene.
The last
time a policeman was brutally attacked was at the Pinggiran USJ police station
in Subang Jaya, Selangor in August 2017.
In the
incident, Lance Corporal Valentino Mesa was found dead by colleagues at 3.30am
after they returned from a routine patrol.
The
deceased was slashed in the head before being shot.
His
assailant was believed to have used Valentino’s own service weapon, also a
Walther 9mm automatic pistol, to shoot him.
Source: malaymail.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2024/05/17/in-johor-two-cops-dead-one-injured-after-man-attacks-police-station/134861
--------
North America
US
Campus Protests Continue Despite Mass Arrests, Brutality
16 May
2024
With
social media and alternative media outlets giving the nation's youth
unprecedented honesty regarding Israel's war crimes and its non-legitimacy, a
new poll finds that 65% of current American college students support the
protests, half of whom say they sympathize with Hamas.
The
shift in public sentiment has not been accepted by the universities and
political elite. The United States is enduring its worst student repression in
over 50 years.
Pro-Palestine
supporters have erected camps or staged sit-ins at over 100 college campuses
across some 40 states.
Authorities
have responded by making nearly 3,000 arrests, using tear gas, police
brutality, and even firing rubber bullets at peaceful student demonstrators.
Many say
the massively expensive and elitist system of higher learning in the United
States has been exposed as lowbrow, intolerant, and riddled with hypocrisy.
At the
last University encampment standing in Chicago, protesters are humbly proud of
what a historic change they have helped create.
They can
only hope that college administrators will not resort to police violence,
expulsions or attempts to ruin the personal futures of protesters.
Many
universities have refused to seriously talk with the protesters whose main
demands are an end to military aid to Tel Aviv, divestment from Israel, and an
immediate ceasefire in Israel's latest attempt at ethnic cleansing and
genocide.
Source: presstv.ir
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2024/05/16/725667/US-campus-protests-continue-despite-mass-arrests,-brutality
--------
Brothers
arrested for temple and mosque burglaries in Montgomery County
May 16,
2024
Police
arrested two brothers for allegedly burglarizing religious establishments in
Montgomery County.
According
to the Montgomery County Police Department detectives, 23-year-old Alex Dumitru
and 18-year-old NatalianDumitru were traveling up and down the East Coast,
primarily targeting Buddhist temples.
Court
documents say they are believed to be part of a Romanian organized crime ring.
On March
13, a blue minivan was seen in the parking lot of the Ahmadiyya Muslim
Community Mosque in Silver Spring, Maryland. That same day, jewelry from a
residence on the property was gone.
The blue
minivan was also seen on March 9 at the Zen Institute. That day a residence on
the temple’s property in Germantown also was burglarized.
The
search warrant, which resulted in the arrest of the two brothers, was served at
their home on Prestwood Road in Catonsville.
A
similar blue minivan was seen in security video at the Wat Thai Buddhist Temple
in Silver Spring on April 7. On that day, $20,000 of donations and valuable
papers were stolen from a safe in a monk’s room at the temple. No arrests have
been made related to this particular burglary.
Local
Washington,
D.C., Maryland and Virginia local news, events and information
“They
steal my safe. They take the safe from my room … That's the donation money in
the safe and I have some, many, documents in there," the monk said.
According
to police, the suspects burglarize one house of worship and immediately go to
another. Unknown individuals also burglarized the Noor Center Mosque in
Germantown and another residence in Spencerville.
The
brothers have been charged with first-degree burglary and were released on a
$10,000 unsecured personal bond.
Source: nbcwashington.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/brothers-arrested-for-temple-and-mosque-burglaries-in-montgomery-county/3618496/
--------
Muslim
advocacy group sues Abbott saying university executive order violates free
speech
MAY 16,
2024
A
national Muslim advocacy group is suing Gov. Greg Abbott for singling out
pro-Palestinian student groups and critics of Israel on Texas college campuses
over his March executive order that aims to take stricter action against acts
of antisemitism.
The
Council on American-Islamic Relations argues that Abbott’s order violates the
First Amendment and falsely equates advocacy for Palestinian liberation –
through slogans like “From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be Free” – to
antisemitism. The organization is filing the lawsuit on behalf of Students for
Justice in Palestine at the University of Houston, Students for Justice in Palestine
at the University of Texas at Dallas, and the Democratic Socialists of America.
The
executive order, which Abbott signed in March, directs Texas universities to
“review and update free speech policies to address the sharp rise in
antisemitic speech” and names expulsion as an “appropriate punishment” for
violating such policies. It specifically names the Palestine Solidarity
Committee and Students for Justice in Palestine as groups he believes have
violated policies and should be subject to discipline.
“Texas
supports free speech, especially on university campuses, but that freedom comes
with responsibilities for both students and the institutions themselves; and
such speech can never incite violence, encourage people to violate the law,
harass other students or other Texans, or disrupt the core educational purpose
of a university,” the executive order states.
The
executive order came as tensions over the war between Israel and Gaza were
heating up on college campuses, and nearly a month prior to the crackdown on
University of Texas at Austin protests, where demonstrators attempting to build
encampments on campus were forced out by police in riot gear and horses. More
than 100 people were arrested. Two protestors were arrested at University of
Texas Houston, and 21 protestors were arrested at the University of Texas at
Dallas.
"Our
community has a long history of opposing unjust policies that specifically
target pro-Palestinian voices and we fully intend to keep that winning history
in place with this legal challenge," William White, director of
CAIR-Houston, said in a press release.
The
Governor’s Office did not respond to immediate request for comment.
Source: texastribune.org
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/16/lawsuit-greg-abbott-texas-campus-protest-antisemitism/
--------
Biden
Poised To Send More Arms To Israel As Rafah Situation Worsens
15 May
2024
The
While House is reportedly moving forward with a new plan to transfer $1 billion
in weapons to Israel.
President
Joe Biden keeps resisting pressure from the international community to stop
arming the savage regime.
Citing
three Congressional aides, the Wall Street Journal reported that the Biden
administration has notified Congress about the deal on Tuesday.
The new
package includes the potential transfer of about $700 million for tank
ammunition, $500 million in tactical vehicles and $60 million in mortar rounds,
according to the officials.
They
said the administration’s notice to lawmakers isn’t the final, formal
notification before a sale.
It is
not clear when the arms would be sent to Israel.
But
according to the Congressional aides, the deal would be an entirely new sale,
and that any weapons that are part of it could take years to be delivered.
The move
comes days after Biden said in an interview with CNN that Washington would
further curtail weapons shipments to Israel if the regime broadened its ground
offensive to include civilian population centers in the Gaza Strip’s southern
city of Rafah.
But
after less than a week, the president and his senior officials made clear they
will continue military support to Washington’s closest ally in West Asia.
National
security spokesman John Kirby said Monday Biden will see to it that “Israel has
all of the military means it needs to defend itself against all of its enemies,
including Hamas.”
“For
him, this is very straightforward: He’s going to continue to provide Israel
with all of capabilities it needs.” Kirby said.
Last
month, Congress passed a $95 billion foreign aid bill that provides nearly $26
billion in military assistance for Israel.
Biden
and administration officials face mounting global pressure to halt arms sales
to Israel.
The
regime has killed more than 35,230 Palestinians in Gaza since October 7, 2023.
Source: presstv.ir
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2024/05/15/725643/Biden-Israel
--------
US
Republicans confront Biden over pausing arms to Israel
May 17,
2024
WASHINGTON:
The Republican-led US House of Representatives voted Thursday to force
President Joe Biden to end his hold on high-payload bombs approved for Israel
but blocked over concerns about their use in Gaza.
The
largely symbolic move — it has no chance of becoming law — is a response to
Biden suspending the shipments over fears of mass Palestinian casualties as
Israeli forces press their assault on the densely populated city of Rafah.
The
Israel Security Assistance Support Act would prevent Biden from freezing any congressionally
approved military aid to Israel, including 3,500 2,000-pound and 500-pound
bombs that he has put on hold.
Republicans
say Biden has no right to interfere with Israel’s military campaign, but House
Democratic leadership described the bill as “another partisan stunt” infringing
on the president’s ability to conduct foreign policy.
Nevertheless,
16 Democrats crossed the aisle to join Republicans in passing the bill by 224
votes to 187, while a further 13 did not vote, in a rare rebuke of Biden from a
small but significant section of his own side.
The
legislation will be dead on arrival in the Democratic-led Senate and Biden has
pledged to veto it in any case.
The war
in Gaza broke out after the October 7 attack by Hamas militants on southern
Israel which resulted in the deaths of more than 1,170 people, mostly
civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures.
Israel’s
military retaliation has killed at least 35,233 people, mostly civilians,
according to the health ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza.
The
White House has voiced frustration with Israel over the rising civilian death
toll and particularly in its ground assault on Rafah, where more than one
million people are sheltering.
Secretary
of State Antony Blinken told NBC on Sunday that Israel “is on the trajectory
potentially to inherit an insurgency with many armed Hamas left, or, if it
leaves, a vacuum filled by chaos, filled by anarchy, and probably refilled by
Hamas again.”
Republican
House Speaker Mike Johnson accused Biden of “carrying water” for Hamas at the
same time as doing nothing to stop the “dangerous nuclear buildup” in Iran,
which attacked Israel last month.
“The
president took no decisive action when Iran was planning to attack Israel, and
now that Israel is fighting for its very survival, he is withholding weapons
and threatening to veto legislation that would give the Israelis what they need
to adequately defend themselves,” he said in a statement.
“The
president and his administration need to reverse course immediately to stand
with Israel and against the terrorism and atrocities of Iran and its proxies.”
The
White House announced a $1 billion-plus package of arms for Israel this week
that includes tank and mortar ammunition, offering cover for pro-Israel
Democrats to reject the bill.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2511701/world
--------
Canada
sanctions four Israelis over ‘extremist’ settler violence in West Bank
May 16,
2024
OTTAWA:
Canada on Thursday imposed sanctions on four Israeli individuals accused of
violence against Palestinians in the West Bank, joining allies including the
United States and Britain in attempting to deter growing settler violence.
The
sanctions, Canada’s first against what the foreign ministry described as
“extremist Israeli settlers,” target individuals accused of engaging directly
or indirectly in violence and violent acts against Palestinian civilians and
their property.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2511596/world
--------
Arab World
How a
Saudi healthcare startup is using AI to transform the diagnosis of chronic
diseases
May 16,
2024
RIYADH:
Healthcare startup SDM is using artificial intelligence to make healthcare
efficient, accessible and potentially life-saving by detecting the stages of
chronic diseases such as diabetes through retinal imaging analysis of the eye.
“When
you hear the phrase ‘your eye is a window to your body,’ it’s actually the
retina that is the window to any systemic diseases,” Dr. Selwa Al-Hazzaa, CEO
and founder of SDM, told Arab News.
Since
launching in 2018, SDM has worked on filling the gaps in the health sector as a
developer of digital technology solutions to promote well-being and
accessibility in remote communities across the Kingdom and beyond.
Al-Hazzaa,
along with her co-founder and managing director, Naif Al-Obaidallah, have had a
longstanding passion for making healthcare accessible and low-cost, with the
belief that “everyone should have access to healthcare.”
Al-Obaidallah
told Arab News: “Everyone should have a right to see a doctor or get treated.”
A
trailblazer in the field of AI medicine, SDM combines AI technology with
Al-Hazzaa’s 40 years of experience, partnering with nonprofits to carry out a
comprehensive mass detection of chronic diseases through the retina.
“I had a
dream that I wanted patients to be examined and get good quality care without
actually coming to Selwa Al-Hazzaa in a specialized hospital,” she said. “I
kept asking myself: Why can’t I take my experience, put it in a package, and
give it to the community?
“By the
time many patients come to me, it’s already too late and they’re blind. There
had to be a way that I could reach the community. And this was when SDM was
born.”
The
result was an accessible and automated healthcare service that does not require
physicians to be on site, thereby reaching tens of thousands of people across
the Kingdom.
The World
Health Organization estimates there are 7 million diabetics in Saudi Arabia.
Within the region, eye disease is the main cause of blindness and 10-12 percent
of the population in Saudi Arabia with diabetic eye disease go blind if the
condition is not treated.
Only an
estimated 24 percent of patients have been screened for diabetic eye disease in
Saudi Arabia, while 76 percent remain unexamined.
The work
SDM is doing highlights the impact AI can have on healthcare and the mass
outreach of health diagnostics at reduced cost and increased accuracy. SDM has
already served more than 30,000 patients in more than 13 centers around the
Kingdom over the last two years.
“Our
focuses are specifically on rural areas, places that don’t have access to
highly specialized doctors,” said Al-Obaidallah. “In a given day, sometimes
we’ve seen over 150 patients. And that’s all using AI and deep learning. It’s a
very trusted way of diagnosing.”
SDM has
benefited from the support of “success partners” at NEOM, the Ministry of Communication
and Information Technology, the King Abdullah University of Science and
Technology, Saudi Telecom, Al-Faisal University and business incubator “The
Garage.”
In order
to grasp the revolutionary impact of what SDM is doing, it is necessary to understand
how disease detection is traditionally conducted.
At the
Kingdom’s diabetic centers, patients are typically seen by pathologists,
endocrinologists, cardiologists and podiatrists. However, patients do not
usually see ophthalmologists, who are technically surgeons and found in
hospitals.
As a
result, eye disease screening is often overlooked, potentially leading to
complications down the line.
“The
patient traditionally would only be sent to take the photo of the retina if
they complained. But the symptoms only come in diabetes in the late stages,”
said Al-Hazzaa.
“They
would save the photos until the ophthalmologist came to visit, which would be
maybe once a month or twice a month, depending on the collaboration with the
ophthalmology clinics.”
Unlike
traditional healthcare methods, SDM has developed technology to make detection
automated, instant and seamless with results reaching the patient in a matter
of minutes, clearing obstacles to treatment.
When a
patient comes into an SDM clinic, a trained technician photographs the back of
their eye using a specialized instrument called a fundus camera. The image is
then sent via a secure cloud for AI diagnostics.
“Within
minutes, the report comes out either in English, which is then integrated for
the doctor, and in Arabic, where the patient is actually given the PDF report
in his or her hand,” said Al-Hazzaa.
“It is
totally run by technicians, photographers, nurses, even primary care physicians
— all these healthcare personnel, who have no experience whatsoever with eye
diseases.”
Al-Hazzaa
underlined the ease this technology provides for patients, healthcare providers
who are taking the photos and the endocrinologists who see the patients
following the examination.
In terms
of accuracy, Al-Hazzaa said the technology outperforms even the most
experienced physicians in detecting problems.
“I can
tell you the algorithmic solution is now much more sensitive than me,” she
said. “The best I could do was 93 percent. The AI solution has actually reached
over 95 percent.
“The
unique thing is, not only are you using automation, which is convenient for the
patient, convenient for the healthcare provider, but you’re also introducing
automation at a sensitivity that is much greater than your board-certified
retinologist, not just ophthalmologist.”
Like
workers across many sectors, the uptake of AI tools among physicians has been
slow to catch on, as many fear that mass adoption could ultimately cost jobs.
“They
thought: ‘Here’s a machine that’s much more accurate than us, that’s faster
than us, and it’s going to take our place.’ They were very reluctant,” said
Al-Hazzaa.
“After
one year of being in the diabetic center, the ophthalmologist actually came
back to me and said: ‘Dr. Selwa, thank you. You improved our surgical skills
because you have taken all the routine repetitive exams that we are no longer
interested in’.”
Diabetic
eye disease is not the only condition SDM is able to detect through the AI
analysis of retinal imaging.
“With
the picture of the retina, which is the back of the eye, you can detect at
least 20 diseases,” said Al-Obaidallah.
“We’re
working on a lot of other diseases, whether it is glaucoma, hypertension,
Alzheimer’s, which can be diagnosed and detected with a picture of your eye.
It’s mind-boggling to see how the eyes can basically tell you everything about
your body. And it’s done in a very basic way. There is no surgery needed.”
As part
of its mission to make healthcare more accessible, SDM is working with a mobile
diagnostics center in Madinah to reach patients in rural areas.
After
some initial delay in securing regulatory approval, SDM’s innovative technology
has since rapidly advanced.
“Artificial
intelligence as a whole, maybe in some industries, it’s there and it’s in use,”
said Al-Obaidallah. “But in healthcare, it’s still fairly new. So, when we work
on something, we’re basically paving the way.
“We
worked with the Council of Health Insurance on coding, the use of artificial
intelligence in healthcare, specifically, in our exam, in our product.
“We were
basically the first company to work with the CHI on the new Saudi billing
system, to introduce artificial intelligence as a billing code for hospitals
and insurance companies to use.”
However,
all of SDM’s services are provided free of charge in partnership with
nonprofits.
“Everything
is free. No one pays anything,” said Al-Obaidallah. “Our goal is for patients
to have the right to diagnosis of chronic diseases.”
Beyond
diagnostics, SDM also recently announced new software utilizing generative AI.
“It’s basically a large language model, an LLM, which is a very hot topic,”
said Al-Obaidallah.
“Recently,
everyone’s been talking about generative AI. So, we’ve worked on a generative
AI model that is more of a chatbot that you ask any question related to
diabetes. And it would basically give you an answer.
“We’ve
been feeding it with journals, publications, specifically, chosen by experts in
the field to make sure that this gives you clear and straight answers.”
Looking
five years into the future, Al-Hazzaa hopes to move from predictive AI to
generative AI using LLMs.
“I know
with confidence that SDM will not only be treating diabetic diseases, but we
will be going into other chronic diseases such as predicting hypertension,
stroke and Alzheimer’s,” she said.
“We will
also be looking into other chronic ophthalmology diseases such as glaucoma,
such as age-related macular degeneration.”
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2511661/saudi-arabia
--------
Mauritania
president arrives in Madinah to visit Prophet’s Mosque
May 16,
2024
RIYADH:
The President of Mauritania Mohamed OuldGhazouani and his accompanying
delegation arrived in Madinah to visit the Prophet’s Mosque on Thursday.
The
president will pray in the mosque and pay his respects to Prophet Muhammad and
his companions Abu Bakr and Umar.
Earlier
on Thursday, Ghazouani attended an Arab League summit in Bahrain.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2511631/saudi-arabia
--------
Saudi
experts on urban heritage give lectures in Paris
May 16,
2024
RIYADH:
Experts on urban heritage from Saudi Arabia are giving a series of lectures on
the topic at the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization offices
in Paris.
Organized
by the Saudi Heritage Commission, the program of four lectures explores some of
the initiatives developed by the organization and the wider strategies on urban
heritage in the Kingdom, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The
first lecture delved into material and intangible methods for preserving urban
heritage, while the second looked at the development of traditional
architecture in Al-Ahsa.
The
third talk considered the role international architects have played in shaping
modern architecture in Saudi Arabia, while the upcoming fourth and final
lecture will tell the stories of sites in the Kingdom that have been added to
UNESCO’s World Heritage List.
The
commission said the lectures in Paris reflect the organization’s efforts to
preserve and develop national heritage as part of the Saudi strategy for
culture set out in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 plan for the development and
diversification of the national economy, and its work to promote Saudi heritage
in international forums.
The aim
of the commission is to enhance the heritage sector in the Kingdom, officials
said, by raising awareness of Saudi heritage and how it relates to the cultural
identity of the nation, fostering a sense of pride in this rich cultural
heritage, and strengthening its partnerships with UNESCO, other international
organizations and local experts.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2511541/saudi-arabia
--------
Saudi
crown prince meets with Arab leaders on sidelines of Manama summit
May 16,
2024
RIYADH:
Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met with Arab leaders on the
sidelines of an Arab League summit taking place in Manama on Thursday.
The
crown prince met with Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad
Al-Sabah, Jordan’s King Abdullah, Syria’s President Bashar Al-Assad, and UN
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
The summit
has been dominated by the Israel-Hamas war and the crown prince said in a
speech that the Kingdom “emphasizes the need for continued collaboration to
confront the brutal aggression against Palestine.”
He urged
the international community to fulfil its responsibility by demanding an
immediate end to Israeli aggression and ensuring the delivery of humanitarian
aid to Gaza.
The
crown prince also stressed “the importance of pursuing a just and comprehensive
solution to the Palestinian issue based on UN legitimate resolutions and the
Arab Peace Initiative, guaranteeing the Palestinian people’s right to establish
an independent state within 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.”
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2511486/saudi-arabia
--------
Makkah
scouts train to use digital quick-response tech to help pilgrims
May 16,
2024
RIYADH:
Saudi scouts are being taught how to use digital technology and quick-response
codes on their smartphones to better help Hajj pilgrims with guidance, on-site
navigation and route planning at the Kingdom’s holy sites.
The
course, run by the Ministry of Education through the Saudi Arabian Scouts
Association, began a 10-day training program in Makkah on Wednesday for scouts
to help pilgrims during the annual Hajj, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Thirty-two
trainees from four scout vanguards are currently enrolled to receive training.
A smart
application that provides route planning, navigation and guidance to pilgrims
at the holy sites will be used.
Explaining
the benefits of using digital technology and QR codes during scout trips to
holy sites, scout leader Abdullah Alharthi said that this approach helps to
protect the environment by eliminating the need for paper maps and signs, and
avoiding visual clutter in sacred spaces.
Additionally,
the digital system ensures the encryption of scouts’ messages.
SASA,
which works with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah to help pilgrims each year, plays
an important role during Hajj season when, every year, scouts from all corners
of the Kingdom gather to assist pilgrims during Hajj.
Regardless
of age or gender, these volunteers devote their time and energy to enable
pilgrims to fulfill the Hajj rituals with ease.
The
scouts affiliated with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah primarily focus on
assisting lost pilgrims by providing guidance and directions, ensuring they
reach their designated camps safely.
Last
year, according to SASA, 3,500 scouts were stationed around the holy sites in
Makkah.
The SASA
volunteers told Arab News they are classified into two age groups: the advanced
scout category and the ranger category. The advanced scout category is made up
of scout members aged between 15 and 17. The ranger category comprises those
from 18 to 22, including scout leaders (150 of whom last year were women) and
friends and pioneers of SASA.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2511461/saudi-arabia
--------
Qatar
attends ‘Russia-Islamic World: Kazan Forum 2024’
17 May
2024
Doha,
Qatar: The State of Qatar’s official delegation participates in the 15th
International Economic Forum “Russia-Islamic World: Kazan Forum 2024”, held in
Kazan city in Tatarstan Republic between May14-19 2024, as the delegation
witnessed the official inauguration of “Russia Halal Expo” international
exhibition.
On the
sidelines of the forum, a series of bilateral meetings were held, as Qatar’s
delegation headed by Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, H E Ghanem bin
Shaheen Al Ghanim met H E Rustam MinnikhanovTatarstan’s President.
Mohammed
bin Hassan Al Malki, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry,
and H E Sheikh Ahmed bin Nasser Al Thani, Qatar’s Ambassador to the Russian
Federation and accompanying delegation were also present during the
meeting. The delegation also met H E
Marat Khusnullin, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, and H E Oleg
Korobchenko, Tatarstan’s Minister of Industry and Trade.
The
meetings witnessed discussing topics of common interest in aim of enhancing the
cooperation between the two countries in commerce, investment, and industry, in
addition to exchanging views on the topics in the forum’s agenda.
The
meetings highlighted Qatar’s economic policies that proved successful in
supporting the private sector, reviewing incentives, legislations, and
opportunities available in the country that aim to encourage investors and
businessmen to invest in Qatar.
On a
related level, Qatar’s delegation toured the “Russia Halal Expo”, which is held
within the framework of the forum, and were introduced to various pavilions,
services, and products offered by participating companies.
It is
worth to note that Kazan Forum 2024 aims to enhance commercial, economic,
academic, technical, social, and cultural ties between the Russian Federation
and (OIC) countries. The forum witnessed throughout its days, organizing events
and dialogue sessions that revolved over various topics including Islamic
financing, Halal manufacturing, investment, industry, logistic services,
tourism, technologies, international cooperation, diplomacy, principles of
environmental, social, and governance practices, SMEs, medicine, sports, and
others.
The
forum also witnessed holding two media related sessions, on the occasion of the
55th anniversary of the establishment of the Organization of Islamic
Cooperation (IOC), one entitled as “Main Directions in Transformation of the
Information Field in Modern world and IOC Countries” and the other as
“Information Space Between Unification and Fragmentation” on global and Islamic
countries levels for media representatives and heads of major broadcasting
organizations, during which modern media issues in countries which have
worldwide influence in terms of media was discussed, as well as highlighting
modern technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, and
Cloud Computing, and their impact on reforming contemporary information.
Source: thepeninsulaqatar.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/17/05/2024/qatar-attends-russia-islamic-world-kazan-forum-2024
--------
KSrelief
provides 500 mobile homes for Syrian refugees in Jordan
May 17,
2024
RIYADH:
The Kingdom’s aid agency KSrelief has provided 500 new mobile homes for Syrian
refugees in Zaatari camp in Jordan, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Friday.
The
homes are for the most vulnerable families, including new arrivals and
newlyweds.
Meanwhile,
in Yemen, the aid agency’s sanitation project has provided over the past week
12.2 million liters of water for residents in Saada, Hajjah and Hodeidah.
Over
40,000 people in Yemen are benefitting from this initiative.
These
projects are a part of the Kingdom’s humanitarian and aid efforts to assist
people in need across the world.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2511876/saudi-arabia
--------
Saudi
Red Sea Authority issues marina licenses
May 16,
2024
RIYADH:
The Saudi Red Sea Authority has issued licenses for three tourist marinas:
Al-Ahlam Marina in Jeddah and Jazan, and the Red Sea Marina in Jeddah.
The
authority is issuing licenses to regulate marine tourism in an effort to
achieve the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 in building the coastal tourism
sector.
In
regulating the operation of marinas, the authority can improve the quality of
services provided to tourists and visitors, and preserve and sustain the marine
environment.
Regular
field visits are carried out by the authority to tourist marinas in Jeddah,
Jazan, Al-Lith and Yanbu, to provide technical and consultative support.
Marina
operators must ensure compliance with international standards to receive a
license from the authority.
Saudi
Red Sea Authority began its journey toward building and regulating the coastal
tourism sector in 2021, with the objective of enhancing integration among
relevant entities by issuing licenses and permits, and formulating essential
policies and strategies, assessing infrastructure requirements, preserving the
marine environment, attracting investments, and fostering navigational and
marine tourism activities.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2511671/saudi-arabia
--------
South Asia
Sumanthiran
calls out hypocrisy of Sri Lanka Muslim Congress leader over ‘genocide in Gaza’
16 May
2024
Tamil
lawmaker M A Sumanthiran called out the hypocrisy of Sri Lanka Muslim Congress leader Rauff Hakeem
in parliament this week, as the former Sri Lankan justice minister who lobbied
against international accountability for the Tamil genocide, demanded his
government cut ties with Israel over the “genocide in Gaza”.
“We know
what is like to have suffered this way, so we stand in solidarity,” the Ilankai
Tamil ArasuKatchi (ITAK) MP told the house, adding that members of parliament
were being hypocritical when it comes to Tamil people and Palestinians.
“Today
he is moving, that Netanyahu will be tried before the [International Criminal
Court],” said Sumanthiran, speaking on SLMC leader Hakeem. “Why not Gotabaya
Rajapaksa? Why not all those who are in the chain of command who perpetrated
this violence? These genocidal acts on our people? You want Heads of State of
other countries tried before the ICC. ICC is good for you when it is for the
other person. But not in this instance.”
“A UN
intervention you call for, for the others but not for yourself.”
“As we
condemn what is happening in Palestine right now, as we condemn the state of
Israel in committing acts of genocide on the people of Palestine, we do so with
the consciousness that identical matters happened in our own country in this
month, this week,15 years ago. No one has been taken to the ICC. No
international prosecution has happened. Members from both sides keep shouting
saying this is an internal matter while expressing concern about Palestine. How
blind can you be to your own hypocrisy? Wake up!”
“If you
are true to what you are saying here today in this House: Sign the Rome
statute. If Netanyahu's prosecution before the ICC is good for you, sign the
Rome statute. Don't fear! If your hands are clean go before the international
criminal court and show yourself.”
Earlier
in the day, Hakeem told parliament that Israel is looking to “eliminate the
entire civilian population from the Gaza strip”.
“This is
an unfolding genocide,” he continued, adding that Sri Lanka must sever
diplomatic relations with Israel.
“This is
a full genocide and this has to be called into question,” he said. “Threaten
Israel and inform it that Sri Lanka will withdraw diplomatic ties if the
offensive is not stopped in Gaza. Do this as a last resort.”
Hakeem
served as Sri Lanka’s minister of justice under Mahinda Rajapaksa in 2010,
shortly after the Tamil genocide in Mullivaikkal. He held that position until
the end of 2014.
At the
time Hakeem lobbied against international accountability at the UN Human Rights
Council and dismissed reports of war crimes or genocide. He particularly spoke
out against the United States and European Union for introducing resolutions on
accountability at the UN Human Rights Council.
When
asked whether he believed the Sri Lankan security forces committed war crimes
or human rights abuses, he replied “certainly not”. He instead labelled any
deaths “collateral damage”.
Source: tamilguardian.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.tamilguardian.com/content/sumanthiran-calls-out-hypocrisy-sri-lanka-muslim-congress-leader-over-genocide-gaza
--------
Decades-old
Kabul shop: passionate owner faces customer exodus
May 17,
2024
Written
By: Zahra Rashidi
A
relatively worn-out four-walled shop with small alcoves briefly describes a
store in Kabul where its owner has worked for over thirty years. His business
was thriving, especially when Kaka Nader formed a network of regular customers
and worked passionately.
Nader,
70, has been making and selling silver jewellery since he was 17. He has worked
in this small shop in Taimani, one of Kabul’s busy areas, since then; it is the
only shop where, despite several decades, neither the shopkeeper nor the shop
has changed.
For more
than 32 years, Nader has been making and selling silver jewelry. From dawn to
dusk, he polishes and adds lustre to rings, necklaces, earrings, and other
ornaments.
Although
he says, “Thoughts are not in place, and the mind becomes slower as it ages,”
he estimates, “If I am not mistaken, I have been working at this location for
32 years.”
He
recounts the days when, due to a network of regular customers, his shop was
thriving, and his daughter and wife also worked outside the home. Now, his wife
and daughter have been confined to home due to the policies of the Taliban
administration, something that Kaka Nader constantly changes the course of the
conversation to remind that the prohibition on girls’ education and the
suspension of women’s work must be lifted.
Kaka
Nader, in his message to the Taliban regime, says, “I ask the rulers of the
country to lift the work restrictions on women and educational limitations on
girls.”
He says
that prices in the silver market fluctuate like other markets, but he himself
used to consider a fixed price for the regular customers of the shop and was
satisfied with this practice, but now the situation has changed, he no longer
takes orders because most of his customers have left the country.
The walls
of Kaka Nader’s shop, when it was thriving, were adorned with pictures of Ahmad
Zahir, the country’s beloved singer, and also with pictures of Bollywood
actors, but now the walls of the shop are empty. This jeweller emphasizes that
“the Vice and Virtue police asked me to remove the pictures from the shop.”
A woman
who did not want her name mentioned in the report brought a large amount of
silver for polishing to Kaka Nader and said, “I have been Kaka Nader’s customer
for about 11 years. Wherever there is a silver shop, Kaka Nader has very good
and genuine silver.”
Kaka
Nader, who now works alongside Samim, his young son, says that he has aged and
that his son is the main owner of the shop.
Samim
says, “I want to maintain the atmosphere of the shop even if my father cannot
come to it, to keep it as Kaka Nader’s shop and preserve my father’s memories.”
Source: khaama.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.khaama.com/decades-old-kabul-shop-passionate-owner-faces-customer-exodus/
--------
Iran and
Pakistan deport nearly 3,000 Afghan migrants
May 16,
2024
The
Ministry of Refugees and Repatriations of Afghanistan reports that nearly three
thousand Afghan migrants have been deported from Iran and Pakistan to their own
country.
The
ministry said on Thursday, May 16, that a total of 2,621 Afghan migrants from
Iran and 370 Afghan migrants from Pakistan were deported.
According
to the press release, the mentioned migrants entered the country through the
borders of Spin Boldak, Torkham, and Islam Qala after being deported by
Pakistan and Iran.
Recently,
Pakistan and Iran have increased the wave of deportations of Afghan citizens,
and every day, hundreds of Afghan migrants, including families and individuals,
enter the country through various border crossings.
Pakistan
and Iran always cite the main reasons for the deportation of Afghan migrants
from these countries as not having legal documents to reside in Pakistan and
Iran.
Afghanistan
is currently experiencing a dire humanitarian crisis, compounded by internal
conflict and economic instability. The situation is worsening with the
continuous influx of deportees, who find themselves returning to a nation
struggling with limited access to basic necessities such as food, water, and
healthcare.
International
aid efforts remain challenged by the region’s political complexities and
security concerns.
Many of
the returnees face harsh conditions with inadequate shelter and essential
services, exacerbating their plight after deportation.
The
sudden increase in the population returning to Afghanistan overwhelms the
already scant local resources and infrastructure, leading to severe
accommodation and sanitation problems.
The
forced deportation of Afghan refugees not only disrupts the lives of thousands
but also violates international humanitarian principles. These refugees often
return to dangerous environments with no assurances of safety or stability,
raising significant concerns about the ethical and legal implications of such
forced returns, especially without adequate international oversight or
intervention.
Source: khaama.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.khaama.com/iran-and-pakistan-deport-nearly-3000-afghan-migrants/
--------
West
with no diplomatic presence, unaware of progress in Afghanistan, ambassador
May 16,
2024
KABUL:
The Japanese ambassador to Kabul Takayoshi Kurokawa said that the international
community wants the Afghanistan issue to be addressed through dialogues. He
made the remarks in a meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister for Political
Affairs Mawlavi Abdul Kabir, here in Sapidar palace, Arg said in a statement
the other day. “The West has no diplomatic presence in Afghanistan, and
therefore, it is not adequately aware of the progress in Afghanistan and
appreciates the achievements of the Islamic Emirate.,” the statement quoted
Kurokawa as saying. He added that Tokyo is committed to cooperation with Kabul
and expects to draw on Japan’s experiences in Afghanistan in the field of
disaster management. Meanwhile, Mawlavi Abdul Kabir, the Deputy Prime Minister
for Political Affairs, stated that Tokyo’s positive stance towards Afghanistan
has contributed to the establishment of good and positive interaction between
the two sides. He called for strengthening relations between Afghanistan and
Japan in the educational and cultural sectors. “The Islamic Emirate seeks
positive interaction and broad relations with the international community,” the
statement quoted him as saying. The Kabul Times
Source: thekabultimes.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://thekabultimes.com/west-with-no-diplomatic-presence-unaware-of-progress-in-afghanistan-ambassador/
--------
Hanafi
urges aid agencies to cooperate in implementation of development projects in
country
May 16,
2024
KABUL:
The Deputy Prime Minister for Administrative Affairs Mawlavi Abdul Salam Hanafi
said that the international community and aid agencies should cooperate with
Afghanistan in the implementation of development projects, according to a
statement from Arg the other day. Mawlavi Hanafi made the remarks in a meeting
with Jorge Moreira da Silva, the Executive Director of the United Nations
Office for Project Services (UNOPS), and his accompanying delegation, the
statement said. Moreira da Silva appreciated the cooperation of the Islamic
Emirate in the implementation of the UNOPS’s development projects in
Afghanistan and stated that the organization as the largest institution of the United
Nations, is operating in the fields of social assistance, infrastructure, and
irrigation of agricultural lands in Afghanistan, according to the statement. “A
total of 1.3 million people have been provided with social assistance in 90
districts of 30 provinces, as well as the organization has assisted and
provided shelters and essential aid to the earthquake-affected families in
Herat province,” the statement quoted Moreira da Silva as saying The UNOPS
Executive Director said that the organization is going to start a new project
in the field of irrigation of agricultural lands through the installation of
solar pumps and requires the cooperation of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, Mawlavi Hanafi expressed pleasure over the organization’s activities
and the United Nations’ as sistance to the people of Afghanistan and clarified
the IEA supported the activities of UNOPS in Afghanistan and will provide all
the necessary facilities for the implementation of its projects in the country.
“While, a tangible development has been made in the fields of ensuring overall
security, prohibition, cultivation and smuggling of narcotics, elimination of
administrative corruption and economic progress in Afghanistan, it is necessary
that the international community and aid agencies to cooperate in alternative
cultivation of drugs for farmers and the implementation of development projects
to create job opportunities for the people,” the statement quoted Hanafi as
saying. The Kabul Times
Source: thekabultimes.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://thekabultimes.com/hanafi-urges-aid-agencies-to-cooperate-in-implementation-of-development-projects-in-country/
--------
Minister
Azizi Meets Tatarstan President in Kazan to Boost Bilateral Cooperation
2024-05-16
KABUL
(BNA) AlhajNooruddin Azizi, the Acting Minister of Industry and Commerce,
recently engaged in a fruitful discussion with President Rustam
NurgaliyevichMinnikhanov, a Russian Federation official.
The
meeting, which took place on the sidelines of the Kazan Forum, focused on
various aspects of bilateral trade and cooperation.
During
the meeting, both sides explored opportunities to enhance economic
collaboration between Afghanistan and Tatarstan.
A key
point of discussion was the establishment of a Russian chamber of commerce in
Afghanistan, which will facilitate trade and open new avenues for commerce.
Source: bakhtarnews.af
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.bakhtarnews.af/en/minister-azizi-meets-tatarstan-president-in-kazan-to-boost-bilateral-cooperation/
--------