US State Department Report On Religious Freedom 2023: Violence Against Muslims, India Remains Blacklisted for The 4th Time
New Age Islam News Bureau
04 July 2024
Featured
Image Source: Reuters
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India
·
Shiv Sena MLA Demands Action Against College
for Banning Jeans, T-Shirts After Hijab and Burqa, Calls It Talibani Fatwa
·
Interfaith Marriage: SC Asks Uttarakhand Judge
to Ascertain If Woman Wants to Go Back to Spouse
·
11 Bangladeshi nationals arrested at Agartala
railway station
--------
South Asia
·
3 members of Ansar-al- Islam Bangla team held
·
Biden administration reviews expansion of
intelligence cooperation with Taliban
·
World Uyghur Congress Commemorates Urumchi
Massacre
·
Taliban demand prisoner exchange for release of
American citizens
·
UN can’t dictate countries’ special reps’
attendance at third Doha civil society meeting
·
Greenhouses help farmers enhance economy in
Kandahar
·
Over 800 families to enjoy potable water in
Herat
--------
North America
·
Bond increased to over $1 million for Texas
woman charged with attempted murder of Muslim child
·
US deports more than hundred Chinese migrants
in rare move
·
'Undeniable complicity in killings': Biden
administration resignees slam Gaza policy as 'failure'
--------
Europe
·
Government Adviser Alleges Muslim Activists
Face Hiring Bans: Report
·
Muslim International Film Festival director
hopes to break down prejudice
·
Lino Lakes City Council halts Madinah Lakes
project, Muslim leaders say process was discriminatory
·
France: decision to close Islamic school in
Nice overturned
·
Russia EXPO to host beauty pageant
--------
Mideast
·
Iran imposes sanctions on 11 US officials over
suppressing pro-Palestine student protests
·
Masoud Pezeshkian, A Reformist Politician
Within Iran’s Shiite Theocracy, Runs to Be Iran’s Next President
·
Four Palestinian Islamic Jihad Operatives
Killed Planting Explosives in the West Bank
·
Israeli Hostages Attempted Suicide, Says Palestinian
Islamic Jihad Movement’s Armed Wing
·
Adidas Qamis for Football and Mosque Takes
Internet by Storm
·
Hamas says it has sent new ‘ideas’ on halting
Israel war
·
UN notes optimism over Yemeni prisoner swap
discussions
·
Tensions rise as Turkiye talks normalization
with Syria
·
UN experts condemn military courts in West Bank
and call on Israel to abolish them
---------
Southeast Asia
·
Controversy Halts Non-Halal Food Festival at
Solo Paragon Mall
·
Ex-Terror Convict Pledges Allegiance to
Republic after Serving Sentence
·
PM Anwar says ‘deeply moved’ by Sheikh
Al-Azhar’s visit to Malaysia
·
2,794 domestic violence cases reported
nationwide from 2021 to 2023 - Nancy Shukri
·
Indonesia to Send 27 Athletes to Paris Olympics
·
Malaysian National Allegedly Masterminds Indonesia's
Largest Synthetic Drug Factory
--------
Pakistan
·
Five People Including Former Senator Killed In
Bajaur Bomb Blast
·
PM for Promoting Pak-Azer-Turkiye Economic
Cooperation
·
PM expresses deep sorrow over loss of precious
lives in Bajaur explosion
·
Terrorist commander killed in Bajaur IBO
·
Three martyred in roadside bomb blast in Bajaur
·
Khyber police on high alert after TTP threat
·
Pak-Russia ties stand strong, PM Shehbaz tells
Putin
--------
Arab World
·
Saudi Metal Band Set to Make History at German Festival
·
Saudi culture ministry calls for creative
nominees
·
Change of dates for International Saudi Falcons
and Hunting Exhibition
·
MEWA launches alliance on agricultural and food
technologies
·
Saudi defence minister meets president of
Turkiye’s Defence Industry Agency, Haluk Gorgun
·
Ithra launches national Formula 1 school’s
competition
--------
Africa
·
Women, Children Trapped at Church in Sudan’s
Capital Endure Hunger, Bombardment
·
Unemployed Youths Are Risks to National
Security – Dare To FG
·
Terrorism Charge: South East Senators to Meet
Fagbemi On Kanu
·
Can Senegal’s Faye play peacemaker and help a
splintered West Africa bloc?
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL:
US State
Department Report On Religious Freedom 2023: Violence Against Muslims, India
Remains Blacklisted For The 4th Time
Jul 4,
2024
Featured
Image Source: Reuters
------------
In the
wake of the 3rd consecutive term of the Modi Government under the Hindutva
canopy, Indian religious minorities, particularly the Indian Muslims are
struggling hard to hold on their constitutional rights. Amid sweltering alarms
of Hindu-Fascism, the US State Department Report on International Religious
Freedom, 2023 has underlined the upsurge of intolerance and violence against
Muslims in India for the 4th year. The trailblazing report by the ‘United
States Commission On International Religious Freedom’ (USCIRF) sheds lights on
the worsening situation of religious minorities under the Modi government that
has ‘continued to worsen’.
Underscoring
the government for systematic violations of representative ethos, the report
has detected religious discrimination, fake conversion charges, risks of
Uniform Civil Code, communal outbursts, hate speeches and arbitrary
governmental practices in India that have resulted into violence, inequality,
detention, mass resettlement and derogatory policies.
The
panel has mapped unfair treatment of Indian religious minorities and cases of
harassments, murders, intimidation, vandalism of worship houses and
administrative inaction. The 69-page testimony classifies risks on the entity
of Indian Muslims that form 14 percent of Indian population as the central
minority community of India. But working independently, the USCIRF panel has
‘No Power’ to regulate the frameworks or to set policy as per given
recommendations.
Highlighting
the role of Hindu nationalist publications and social media, USCIRF has charted
down the roles of ruling Bhartiya Janta Party and associated jingoist
organisations like HJS (Hindu Janajagruti Samiti), RSS (Rashtriya Swayamseva
Sangh), VHP (Vishwa Hindu Parishad) and others that have crafted the
beleaguered ‘intimidating atmosphere’ of intolerance against minorities.
This
assertion also bangs US President Joe Biden who has ‘failed to designate India’
and who has not been wakeful enough to tackle the situation as per its previous
alarms and recommendations. The double-standard of United States regarding
Muslims and religious freedom is hypocritical because the pro-Zionist US-policy
has a historic record of providing financial, military and political aid to
Israel in order to support horrifying massacre. A mammoth increase in
Islamophobia and misinformation was reported after Hamas confronted Israel on
October 7, resulting in targeted abhorrence in Muslim-majority localities in
India.
Numerous
musters of HJS were held in between where Hindutva offenders armor-plated
victim-blaming and justified their phony projection of Indian Muslim community
as a threat to the nation to attain electoral benefits in the 2024 Lok Sabha
elections. Indeed, incidents anywhere in the world that deal with Muslim faith
affect Indian Muslims. That’s the reason why the latest ‘All eyes on Rafah’
trend was getting absurd reactions in India and majoritarian Hindu extremists
were making irrational comparisons and raising questions on Kashmiri Pundits
and Pakistani Hindus while targeting Indian Muslims side by side.
The
‘legal instruments of oppression’ to restrict religious minorities addressed in
the US state department report
From
2021 the US panel has been criticising the idea of Uniform Civil Code (UCC)
that paves the path to similar personal laws instead of pluralistic laws for
Indian religious minorities; Muslims, Christians, Sikhs and others, in order to
fortify the dogma of Hindu-Rashtra. While the constitution instructs states to
apply ‘various personal laws’ in matters of ‘marriage, divorce, adoption and
inheritance’ to ensure cultural multiplicity, still, on February 7, 2024 the
Uniform Civil Code (UCC) has been passed by Uttarakhand legislative assembly
that has been in the epicenter of parliamentary hullabaloo since the year
2023.
The
religious freedom commission, along with Human Rights Watch has also slammed
the parliamentary provisions to criminalise false promises of marriage and
sexual exploitation of women. Chhattisgarh, Gujrat, Himachal Pradesh,
Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Haryana, Karnataka, Uttarakhand and Uttar
Pradesh are already experimenting these anti-conversion laws to crush the
chances of forced, influenced or counterfeit conversions.
The report
of the year 2022 also included Assam and Arunanchal Pradesh in its blacklist.
These states with conversion prohibitions have witnessed ‘unjustified arrests’,
intentionally targeting Muslim population. In case ‘clear proofs’ are lacking,
the person accused of conversion is subjected to imprisonment or penalties
while the accuser remains free, turning the law into an administrative
instrument to suppress minorities.
On the
other hand, the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) demands the NGOs and
religious organisations to ‘be licensed by the Ministry of Home Affairs before
accepting or transferring foreign funds’, equipping center with the power to
reject and limit social work arena. FCRA requires NGOs to use no more than 20%
amount in administrative tasks, creating hazards for them to maintain religious
operations. These attempts to stop the alleged anti-national activities have
clearly endangered social welfare, civil society and the work of humanitarian
organisations, as observed by the US panel.
The role
of the government in reinforcing communal hate against Muslims and other
minorities
The
previous report by the United States commission on international religious
freedom’ highlighted the hijab-ban, institutional polarisation, mob lynching and
derogatory comments by extremist leaders like Yati Narasinghanand, Nupur
Sharma, Haribhushan Thakur Bachaul and Gyan Dev Ahuja which were provoking
masses to commit violence, whereas the latest documentation adds the
government-endorsed ‘public celebration of Hindu festivals’, and ‘Love Jihad’
narratives led by BJP and affiliated organisations.
Tapping
an insightful gaze on violence against Christians, tribal communities and the
appalling rapes of two Kuki women in Manipur, the recent description underlines
the demolition of 1,209 structures in Haryana that majorly belonged to Muslim
shopkeepers and residents and the scary calls of hateful ‘economic boycott’ of
the Muslim community.
Looking
back into 2022, the report gives a succinct flashback of the time when Jamiat
Ulama-E-Hind filed petitions to ‘blanket-ban’ the bulldozing of Muslim properties
after the house of a Muslim activist Afreen Fatima was shockingly demolished on
June 12 for being ‘illegally built’ and the Supreme Court of India rejected
their appeal. It’s noteworthy that the repetitive incidents of demolishing
Muslim properties in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and other states have grabbed
worldwide concerns, compelling international organisations like Amnesty
International to urge Indian authorities to halt ‘unlawful’ bulldozing of
Muslim properties.
Putting
emphasis on the cow vigilantism upsurge under the BJP regime, attacks on the
Islamic groups of Jammu and Kashmir and minorities’ houses of worship, the
report criticises ‘272 incidents of communal violence’ in 2022 as per National
Crimes Record Bureau.
The
Indian American Muslim Council has hailed the documentation of these democratic
and humanitarian concerns under Narendra Modi rule that has ‘continued to
systemically violate the religious freedom of minority communities’. Despite
bilateral ties between US and India hitting $120 billion trade in 2022 along
with reported ‘informal groupings’ in G20, G7 and Quad Leaders’ Summit, the
Indian government has ‘not accepted’ its arbitrary autocracy about supressing
the voice of minorities.
The
‘inaction’ and attacks on the freedom of expression
US
officials have harked back to the Human Rights Watch (HRW) report that
signposts ‘a lack of proper investigation in cases against minorities’ and the
ill tactics of punishing the victim communities and activists who protested
against the chauvinist pattern. On the other hand, police and courts have given
mixed responses in heinous criminal cases while dangling between two plugs.
During March, 2023 the Gujarat police arrested 10 more people alleging their
roles in communal violence in Khambat, Gujarat while in 2021 a court in UP
released 41 Hindu individuals who were charged with murder cases in the Maliana
communal violence during 1987.
Similarly,
69 Hindus who were accused of assassinating 69 people during the 2002 Gujrat
riots have been shockingly acquitted by the court. The Supreme Court had
allowed temporary freedom to the rapists of Bilkis-Bano but the bail pleas of
activist-student Umar Khalid have been left unsorted.
A group
of 93 former senior civil servants has approached Prime Minister Narendra Modi
in March, 2024 against the harassments of minorities, hate speeches and
communal crimes of BJP affiliated people but it did not attain any response
from the Prime Minister. The report also draws attention towards reserved but
vacant seats in the National Commission For Minorities and National Human
Rights Commission; and takes account of the methodical punishments for
exercising freedom of choice and for fighting for the federal ethos, as emphasised.
The Human rights Watch, World Report, 2023 has confirmed these growing concerns
about communal biases in ‘institutions, including justice system and
constitutional authorities like the National Rights Commission’.
Double
standards of Muslim pacification: mapping human rights in India and Palestine
During
Modi’s visit to Washington in June 2023, US and Indian governments have
recapped the frameworks of freedom, human rights, democracy and equal
opportunities for citizens but the ground realities tell another story. Against
the false claims and hollow promises to safeguard human-rights, US officials
have been endorsing the Israeli raft in cross-border attack, bloodshed and
brutal slaughter of innocent Palestinians. As per The Chicago Council On Global
Affairs report, the United Nations General Assembly has called for cease-fire
in the ongoing Palestinian crisis but it was unable to pass resolution because
the US again used veto-power to support Israel. Since 2001, US has used veto
more than 14 times to advocate heinous butchery in Gaza strip.
Hindu
nationalists have shamelessly used the Palestinian crisis to fuel more
intolerance against Indian Muslims by supporting the Zionist forces as Israel
demonstrates the fascist ideal of religious nationalism for the vicious ethnic
cleansing of religious minorities.
The
joint resolutions of the powerful executive heads of India and the US are
essentially mutual diplomatic show-offs of hollow concerns with double
standard. Their claims about religious freedom and human rights are
rational-crucial paper works and verbal annotations that require on-ground
solutions, humanitarian empathy and unbiased perspectives to change the scene.
Source: feminisminindia.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://feminisminindia.com/2024/07/04/us-state-department-report-on-religious-freedom-2023-violence-against-muslims-india-remains-blacklisted-for-the-4th-time/
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Police
host activities for Uyghurs in Xinjiang on Islamic holiday
03-07-24
Men
dance in front of the Id kah Mosque after Eid al-Fitr morning prayers in
Kashgar, northwestern China's Xinjiang region, June 5, 2019.
------------
On an
important Muslim holiday last month, police and security officials in China’s
far-western region of Xinjiang set up camps to keep an eye on Uyghurs, took
Uyghurs to see communist-themed films, and visited Uyghur homes to make sure
they weren’t practicing Muslim religious activities.
The
moves around the Qurban Eid, also known as Eid al-Adha or the Feast of the
Sacrifice, which fell on June 17 this year in Xinjiang — one of two official
Muslim holidays in China — appeared to be attempts to undermine the observation
of the Muslim holy day, outside experts said.
Chinese
authorities are trying to weaken Uyghurs’ ethnic and religious identity and
forge their loyalty to the Chinese state and the Communist Party, while
maintaining security, the experts said.
“It
looks like they are trying to Sinicize Eid,” said Erkin Ekrem, a professor at
Hacettepe University in Ankara, Turkey, and vice president of the World Uyghur
Congress.
“The
Chinese government is trying to change the Eid customs, prayers and traditions
[by] making Uyghurs consume food along with Chinese people [and] adding Chinese
elements to the Eid festivals, thereby removing the Muslim Eid elements,” he
added.
Before
2017, when the Chinese government started cracking down on religious activities
in the predominantly Muslim region, men would observe the holiday by visiting
mosques for special prayers, cooking meals, spending time with relatives and
welcoming guests to their homes.
Since
then, authorities have also forbidden Islamic dress for women, beards for men,
and Muslim names for children. They have also prevented Uyghurs from fasting
during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan and encouraged the consumption of pork
and alcohol, which Islam forbids.
Chinese
national consciousness
On the
eve of Eid, Ma Xingrui, Communist Party secretary of Xinjiang, visited
communities in Urumqi, the region’s capital, and asked residents to strengthen
Chinese national consciousness and insist on the Sinicization of Islam.
Public
security officers celebrated the holiday with Uyghurs and other ethnicities in
Xinjiang and promoted “the common consciousness of the Chinese nation,” the
Xinjiang Daily reported on June 19.
The
Keriye County Public Security Bureau in Hotan invited teachers at area primary
schools, students and parents on June 16 to participate in social activities at
a police camp to “build strong Chinese national consciousness and celebrate
Eid,” the report said.
On the
same day, police in Qitai county in the Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture
invited Uyghur “relatives” with whom they had been paired up under a previous
monitoring program to visit a museum to watch communist-themed films.
On June
17, members of the Public Security Bureau in the prefecture’s Manas county
visited Uyghur homes and danced with residents, who had no choice but to join
in, the news report said.
“The
police showed their concern for the public by their actions and also planted
the seeds of national unity deep in everyone’s hearts,” it said.
Assimilation
policies
Henryk
Szadziewski, director of research at the Uyghur Human Rights Project, said
public security agents interfere in Muslim holidays like Eid al-Adha to push
assimilationist policies in Xinjiang.
Uyghur
identification with Turkic culture along with a belief in Islam and related
social and political values are considered a threat because they are outside
the control of the Chinese state, he told Radio Free Asia.
“China’s
policies are intended to weaken those kinds of affinities outside which are
beyond the borders of China and to ensure Uyghurs allegiances are pinned to the
Chinese state and, of course, the Chinese Communist Party,” Szadziewski said.
But the
Chinese government separates Islam in China from Islam in the rest of the
world, Erkin Ekrem of the World Uyghur Congress said.
“In
China, the Sinicization of Islam is being carried out vigorously,” he told RFA.
“They are trying to create a nation away from Islamic beliefs and customs.”
“Deemphasizing
the religion adding in this secular Chinese national consciousness [is] meant
to delink Eid al-Adha from its religious origin,” he said. “That is one of the
aims here.”
Source: rfa.org
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.rfa.org/english/news/uyghur/police-host-activities-xinjiang-islamic-holiday-07032024143638.html
---------
California
State Reports Fewer Hate Crimes In 2023, But Jewish, Muslim And LGBTQ+ Groups
Saw More
July 3,
2024
(Illustration
by Local News Matters via Wordclouds)
------------
The
number of reported hate crimes in California decreased slightly from 2022 to
2023, but those against Jewish, Muslim and LGBTQ+ people rose over the same
period, according to the annual hate crime report from California Attorney
General Rob Bonta.
The
number of hate crimes referred for prosecution — about a third of total
reported hate crimes — also rose slightly from 2022 to 2023. For hate crimes
targeting the LGBTQ+ community at large, there was an 86.4 percent increase —
nearly double from 2022.
Equality
California, a Statewide LGBTQ+ civil rights organization, blamed anti-LGBTQ+
legislation and rhetoric at home and across the country for the spike in
violence and harassment.
“These
statistics aren’t a surprise. Hate does not happen in a vacuum,” said Equality
California Executive Director Tony Hoang.
Meanwhile,
anti-Jewish hate crime events increased by 52.9 percent and anti-Islamic events
increased by 60 percent.
Hate
crimes based on race — including anti-Black, anti-Hispanic or Latino,
anti-white and anti-Asian events — decreased across every racial group from
2022 to 2023.
“While
it is heartening to see an overall decrease in hate crimes in 2023, some of our
communities, including our LGBTQ+, Jewish and Muslim communities, continue to
be targeted and endangered by hate at alarming rates,” Bonta said in a
statement.
Bonta
added that hate crimes are historically underreported, and that dozens of
police agencies throughout the state failed to report the full year of hate
crime data due to system management errors or staffing shortages.
In the
Bay Area, the police departments in Morgan Hill, San Jose and Santa Cruz, as
well as the sheriff’s department in Solano County, made the list for incomplete
data.
The
Mendocino County Sheriff’s Department and the Lodi police in San Joaquin County
also failed to report in full.
Source: localnewsmatters.org
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://localnewsmatters.org/2024/07/03/state-reports-fewer-hate-crimes-in-2023-but-jewish-muslim-and-lgbtq-groups-saw-more/
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Islamic
Authorities in Russia's Dagestan Ban Niqab After Attacks
03 July,
2024
Dagestan
is a Muslim majority republic in the North Caucasus of the Russian Federation
[Getty]
---------------
Islamic
authorities in Russia's mostly-Muslim North Caucasus region of Dagestan on
Wednesday temporarily banned women from wearing the niqab full-face veil, after
simultaneous attacks targeting churches and synagogues killed 22 last month.
In a
statement posted on the Telegram messenger app, the Dagestan Muftiate said it
was introducing a "temporary" ban on the niqab after an appeal from
Russia's ministry of nationality policy and religious affairs.
Reports
following the attacks on 23 June said one of the gunmen had planned to escape
wearing a niqab.
The
muftiate, a religious organisation representing Dagestani Muslims, said that
the ban would remain in place "until the identified threats are eliminated
and a new theological conclusion is reached".
The
niqab, a style of veil that covers most of the face and body, originated on the
Arabian Peninsula and gained some popularity in Dagestan amid an Islamic
revival in the region that followed the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.
Though
only a small minority of Dagestani women wear full-face veils, niqabs have been
a common sight in the region's larger cities.
Similar
veils are banned by law in several European and post-Soviet countries.
Twenty-two
people were killed in a simultaneous attacks on Orthodox churches, synagogues,
and police checkpoints across Dagestan on 23 June. Security forces said they
killed five attackers in gun battles that left a synagogue in the city of
Derbent gutted by flames.
Dagestan
was in the 2000s and 2010s plagued by an Islamist insurgency that spilled over
from neighbouring Chechnya, though security in the region had improved in
recent years.
In
October, an anti-Israeli mob stormed the airport in the Dagestani capital
Makhachkala hunting for Israeli citizens and Jewish people arriving on a flight
from Tel Aviv.
Five
months later, 145 people were killed in a March attack on a Moscow concert hall
that was claimed by ISIS's Central Asian affiliate. Russian authorities
detained several Tajikistani nationals it said had staged the gun and bomb
attack.
Source: newarab.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.newarab.com/news/islamic-authorities-russias-dagestan-ban-niqab-after-attacks
--------
Zionist
enemy destroys Ibn Othman Mosque in Shujaiya, second largest historical mosque
in Gaza
03 Jul
2024
GAZA
July 03. 2024 (Saba) - On Tuesday, the Zionist enemy forces fired several large
rockets at the "Ben Othman" mosque located in the heart of Shujaiya
and turned it into a monument after an eye, which is one of the historical
Islamic landmarks in the Gaza Strip.
According
to the Palestinian Information Center, the mosque is the second largest
archaeological mosque in the Gaza Strip after the "Omari Al-Kabir"
mosque, located in the "Al-Daraj neighborhood" in the center of the
city, and it is one of the historical evidence of the nobility of Gaza City.
The
residents of the "Shujaiya neighborhood" call this mosque the
"Great Mosque" because of its large area and its middle market, which
has had a great impact on their lives over the ages since its establishment
more than 600 years ago.
It is
noteworthy that the mosque "Ibn Othman" had been subjected to attacks
and demolition through previous wars on the Gaza Strip, and was considered a
center for confrontations with the Zionist enemy forces during the uprising of
stones that broke out on the eighth of December 1987.
The
mosque, which is in the Mamluk style, covers an area of 2,000 square meters, of
which 400 meters is the area of its main square, and it has two gates
overlooking the Shujaiya market.
Source: saba.ye
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://www.saba.ye/en/news3345471.htm
--------
India
Shiv
Sena MLA Demands Action Against College for Banning Jeans, T-Shirts After Hijab
And Burqa, Calls It Talibani Fatwa
Jul 3,
2024
MUMBAI:
The jeans and t-shirt ban on campus in the N G Acharya and D K Marathe college
in Chembur came under fire from Shiv Sena MLA Pratap Sarnaik in the state assembly
on Wednesday. He demanded that the state government take action against the
“Talibani fatwa” of the college.
“Around
70-80% of the youth wear jeans and T-shirts. Will you ban a swimming suit for a
swimming competition and t-shirts and shorts for sports competitions?” Sarnaik
asked. Last year, the same college had banned the hijab and Burqa on its
premises.
“This
ban goes against the rights of students in a democracy. If it spreads to other
colleges, there will be a law and order issue,” he said.
According
to the notice by the college titled “dress code and other rules” dated June 27,
torn-jeans, T-shirts, revealing dresses and jerseys are not allowed on its
premises. The notice states, “Students should wear formal and decent dress
while on campus.
They can
wear a half-shirt or full-shirt and trousers. Girls can wear any Indian or
western outfit. Students shall not wear any dress which shows religion or
cultural disparity. Nakab, hijab, burkha, stole, cap, badge etc shall be
removed by going to common rooms on the ground floor and then only they can
move throughout the college campus.”
Last
month, the students of the same college moved the Bombay High Court,
challenging the directive issued by the college imposing a dress code under
which they cannot wear hijab, naqab, burka, stoles, caps and badges inside the
premises. However, the high court on June 26 said a dress code is meant to
maintain discipline which is part of the college's fundamental right to
"establish and administer an educational institution".
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Please click the following URL to read
the text of the original Story
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/shiv-sena-mla-demands-action-against-college-for-banning-jeans-calls-it-talibani-fatwa/articleshow/111457734.cms
--------
Interfaith
Marriage: SC Asks Uttarakhand Judge to Ascertain If Woman Wants to Go Back To
Spouse
03.07.24
More
than six years after allowing a woman to live with her parents instead of her
husband who belongs to another religious faith, the Supreme Court on Wednesday
took note of a fresh plea by the man that his wife be freed from their custody
and asked a sessions judge to ascertain whether she now wanted to live with
him.
The row
over the interfaith marriage had reached the apex court in 2018 when petitioner
Mohammad Danish approached it for a direction to free his wife, then 20, from
the custody of her parents.
A bench
headed by the then Chief Justice, Dipak Misra, had on May 17, 2018 allowed the
woman to go back to her parents, who claimed the 'Nikahnama' furnished by
Danish was fake and that he had abducted their daughter.
The
judges, after interacting with the woman, had allowed her to live with her
parents, saying being an adult she was "free" to lead her life as per
her wish.
The
woman had then expressed her desire to go with her parents in Haldwani district
of Uttarakhand. The top court had disposed of the habeas corpus petition filed
by Danish to produce his wife without touching upon the aspect of their
marriage and ‘Nikahnama’.
"After
we made some queries, we found that she has a clear mind and intends to stay
with her parents. In view of the aforesaid, the habeas corpus petition filed by
the petitioner shall stand disposed of," the bench had said.
On
Wednesday, a vacation bench of justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Ahsanuddin
Amanullah took note of the fresh plea filed by Danish claiming his wife now
wanted to come back to him.
“Considering
this, we direct the First Additional Sessions Judge, Haldwani to visit the
place and record her statement,” the bench said and directed the state
administration to render assistance to the judicial officer in compliance of
its orders.
The
bench asked the judicial officer to record the statement within two weeks and
file a report. The matter will be taken up one week thereafter.
The
parents of the woman, who accompanied her to the courtroom back in May 2018,
had alleged her so-called husband had kidnapped her and executed a
"fake" Nikahnama (marriage contract).
The
counsel for the Uttarakhand government had then told the court that the
Nikahnama and the marriage certificate were fake. He had claimed it was a clear
case of abduction and Danish's petition should be dismissed.
The
Uttarakhand police had arrested the couple from Delhi in 2018 after lodging an
FIR for alleged abduction following a complaint by the woman's parents.
Danish
had then moved the court seeking reunion with his wife saying he was arrested
by the police and lodged in Haldwani jail for alleged abduction of his wife, a
Hindu girl, who had later converted to Islam of her own free will and taken a
different name.
His
petition said both of them hailed from Haldwani district and were pursuing
Bachelors in Business Administration in Bheemtal town where they fell in love.
Danish
had claimed since her parents were opposed to their relationship, they got
married in Ghaziabad as per Islamic rituals and customs.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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11
Bangladeshi nationals arrested at Agartala railway station
July 3,
2024
Eleven
Bangladeshi nationals, including eight women, two men and a 13-year-old girl
who entered India illegally, were arrested at Agartala railway station on Tuesday
night while trying to board a train out of the state, officials said on
Wednesday. The incident comes two days after 11 Bangladeshi nationals were
arrested at the same railway station.
“These
people entered Indian territory illegally and came to Agartala railway station.
They have confessed during preliminary interrogation that they were about to
board trains to Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata and other cities when they were
arrested. We registered a case and produced them in a local court today with a plea
for remanding them to police custody for further interrogation,” Tapas Das,
Government Railway Police (GRP) station in-charge of Agartala railway station,
said.
The
accused were identified as Alamin Sardar, 36; Deepa, 34; Jharna Begum, 30; Akhi
Sekh, 27; Lakkhi Akter, 25; Aduri Khanam, 24; Abu Hanif Sardar, 22; Sumaya
Akhtar, 18; Tumpa Haque, 18; Baisakhi, 13; and another woman named Lakhi Akter.
They come from Gopalganj, Khulna, Sirajganj, Chittagong, Netrokona, Narail,
Siddhirganj, Jessore and Sadar districts of Bangladesh, officials said.
On June
30, 11 Bangladeshi nationals, including five women, were arrested from Agartala
railway station after illegally crossing the international border inside the
Indian territory in search of job opportunities. The Bangladeshi nationals said
they had planned to go to Odisha, Kolkata or Bengaluru in search of jobs.
Two days
before that, two Bangladeshi nationals were arrested at Agartala railway
station before they could board a train to reach Karnataka. On June 26, five
people, including four women Bangladeshi nationals, were arrested while they
tried to leave the state from Agartala station.
Three
days before that, nine Bangladeshi nationals, including six women, were
arrested while attempting to board a train from Agartala railway station in
search of job opportunities.
A series
of arrests of drug peddlers, gun runners and human traffickers have come to
light at the Agartala railway station recently, leading authorities to suspect
that it is used as a corridor for trafficking.
Three
Bangladeshi nationals who tried to board a train from Tripura and move outside
the state were arrested from Chandrapur Inter-State Bus Terminus on May 30
after they failed to board a train and were compelled to go to the bus depot.
Five days before that, a Tripura youth was arrested along with a woman in
possession of a 9 mm pistol and ammunition from Agartala railway station after
they reached here by the Jan Shatabdi Express. A day before that, five
Bangladeshi nationals, including three women, were arrested from the same
station while trying to board Tripurasundari Express to Delhi.
Source: indianexpress.com
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South Asia
3
members of Ansar-al- Islam Bangla team held
03 Jul
2024
DHAKA,
July 3, 2024 (BSS) - Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime unit (CTTC) of
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has arrested three militants of banned outfit
Ansar-al- Islam Bangla team from city’s Mohakhali area on Tuesday.
The
arrested were identified as Md. Mamun Hossain, Abu Bakkar and Hasibul Islam, a
CTTC press release said here.
Acting
on a tip off, a team of CTTC conducted drive in city’s Mohakhali Bus terminal
area and arrested them on Tuesday, it said.
CTTC
team also seized a laptop and three mobile phones from their possession. A case
was filed with Tejgaon Industrial Area Police Station in this connection.
Source: bssnews.net
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Biden
administration reviews expansion of intelligence cooperation with Taliban
July 4,
2024
According
to sources cited by NBC, the Biden administration has placed cooperation with
the Taliban on the agenda to track down ISIS-Khorasan’s branch.
NBC
reported yesterday, Tuesday, 3rd, citing two informed sources and a former US
official that the Biden administration’s concern about ISIS-Khorasan’s
capability to conduct transnational operations has prompted consideration of
cooperation with the Taliban regime in Afghanistan.
According
to the report, ISIS-Khorasan’s attack on the Moscow concert hall in March of
this year, which killed 130 and injured hundreds, has challenged the US
officials’ view of ISIS’s inability to target US interests.
Two
informed sources and a former US official told NBC that “Biden administration
officials are now discussing expanding cooperation with the Taliban regime to
help track down ISIS-Khorasan’s branch amid a global terrorist threat.”
The US
military’s withdrawal from Afghanistan and reduced Western influence in Africa
have weakened Washington’s capacity to gather intelligence on various branches
of ISIS, including its significant operations from Afghanistan.
The NBC
report indicates that the Biden administration has not yet reached a final
agreement on expanding cooperation with the Taliban, as there is widespread
opposition to the proposal, with some members of Congress insisting on
guarantees from the Taliban regime regarding human rights and related issues in
exchange for such cooperation.
Some
Biden administration officials have proposed scenarios for reopening their
country’s embassy in Kabul to expand intelligence cooperation with the Taliban.
Amidst
these developments, Russian officials have highlighted concerns over the
proliferation of militant and terrorist groups in Afghanistan, numbering over
21, all reportedly operating under the influence of the Taliban.
This
situation underscores broader international apprehensions regarding security
and stability in the region following the Taliban’s takeover.
The
presence and activities of these diverse militant factions pose significant
challenges to regional stability and efforts towards peacebuilding in
Afghanistan.
The
reported increase in militant groups under Taliban control raises urgent
questions about the Taliban’s ability and willingness to govern and secure
Afghanistan effectively.
International
observers closely monitor these developments as they impact regional security
dynamics and efforts towards fostering a secure and stable environment in
Afghanistan.
Source: khaama.com
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World
Uyghur Congress Commemorates Urumchi Massacre
Press
Release – For Immediate Release
04 July
2024
Contact:
World Uyghur Congress www.uyghurcongress.org
+49 89
5432 1999 or contact@uyghurcongress.org
On July
5, marking the 15th anniversary of the 2009 Urumchi massacre, the World Uyghur
Congress (WUC) commemorates the victims of the violent crackdown against
peaceful protesters by the Chinese government. On July 5, 2009, thousands of
Uyghurs took to the streets and marched towards the People’s Square in central
Urumchi to protest the Chinese government’s handling of the Shaoguan incident,
during which several Uyghurs were killed by a mob of Chinese factory workers in
a dispute.
“The
2009 Urumchi Massacre stands as one of the darkest episodes in the history of
the Uyghur people,” says WUC President Dolkun Isa. “The Chinese government's
harsh crackdown on the protest marked a pivotal turning point, intensifying the
repression of the Uyghur people and resulting in the current genocide.”
From
July 5-7, 2009, thousands of peaceful Uyghur protesters demanding equal
treatment and respect for their rights and freedoms were killed, disappeared,
or injured at the hands of Chinese police forces. Hundreds of Chinese police
with shields, rifles, and clubs moved to disperse and arrest the protesters
before they reached Urumchi People’s Square. The heavy-handed response resulted
in unrest among the protesters, further escalating the situation and leading to
a brutal crackdown by Chinese authorities. Following the incident, the regional
government imposed a communications blackout that lasted for months, preventing
the flow of information.
On July
5, the global Uyghur diaspora communities will hold protests remembering the
Urumchi Massacre and calling for an end to the ongoing human rights abuses. We
call on individuals to participate in these protests as a sign of solidarity.
The World Uyghur Congress reiterates its calls on the international community
to hold China accountable. The failure of the international community to
scrutinize the Chinese government's actions, allow for China to continue to implement
policies that perpetrate crimes against humanity and genocide in East
Turkistan.
Source:
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Taliban
demand prisoner exchange for release of American citizens
July 3,
2024
The
Taliban spokesperson announced on Wednesday that discussions were held in Doha
with US representatives regarding prisoner exchange.
Zabihullah
Mujahid stated that the Taliban would release American citizens in exchange for
the release of its fighters from Guantanamo.
Zabihullah
Mujahid, spokesperson for the Taliban administration, stated in a press
conference in Kabul that two American citizens would be released only if the
United States also released its fighters from American prisons and Guantanamo.
Mr.
Mujahid responded during today’s press conference in Kabul regarding statements
by the US State Department spokesperson concerning the imprisonment of two
American citizens in Afghanistan.
He set
conditions for the release of American citizens from Taliban prisons and
demanded the release of its fighters from US prisons.
He did
not specify which Taliban fighters should be released from US prisons but urged
the United States to accept the conditions of the Taliban in exchange for the
release of its members.
Mujahid
stated during his remarks, “Afghanistan’s conditions must be accepted. We also
have citizens imprisoned in America, in Guantanamo. In exchange for them (the
two Americans), we must release our own citizens. When American citizens are
important to them, Afghan citizens are important to us.”
The
Taliban has set conditions for America that Vedant Patel, Deputy State
Department spokesperson, said yesterday at a press conference that the American
delegation emphasized in a meeting with Zabihullah Mujahid in Doha on the
immediate and unconditional release of American citizens from the Taliban
prisons.
Source: khaama.com
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UN can’t
dictate countries’ special reps’ attendance at third Doha civil society meeting
July 3,
2024
The
spokesperson for the United Nations Secretary-General commented on the absence
of special representatives from some countries in the third Doha meeting with
Afghan civil society representatives, stating that the UN is not in a position
to dictate which representatives should attend such meetings.
Stephane
Dujarric emphasized that the third Doha meeting was not an intra-Afghan
dialogue.
The
exclusion of women and civil society representatives from the third Doha
meeting became contentious during its proceedings. Critics argued that the UN
granted legitimacy to the Taliban by their presence in Doha.
Regarding
the non-invitation of civil society representatives, the UN spokesperson told
reporters on Tuesday that the meeting was between special representatives of
countries and the Taliban and not an intra-Afghan dialogue.
Dujarric
stated that each special representative could have addressed human rights,
women’s rights, and drug issues.
The
absence of women’s representation at the third Doha meeting amidst ongoing
human rights violations in Afghanistan has sparked international concern.
Excluding women from such discussions undermines gender equality efforts and
future governance inclusivity.
Human
rights organizations criticize the decision, calling it a missed opportunity to
address critical issues affecting Afghan women directly. They emphasize the
importance of inclusive peace negotiations that safeguard the rights and
dignity of all citizens, especially women disproportionately affected by
conflict.
As
discussions on Afghanistan’s future progress, the international community
insists on inclusive, rights-based approaches for sustainable peace and
development. The exclusion of women’s voices in Doha highlights broader
challenges in achieving equitable and lasting solutions for the country’s
complex socio-political landscape.
Source: khaama.com
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Greenhouses help farmers enhance economy in Kandahar
July 4, 2024
The construction of greenhouses for vegetable products in Kandahar has widely improved the economic situation of local farmers. Kandahar, located in southern Afghanistan, is a province where a large number of people work in agriculture and livestock raising to support themselves. Collaboration between the government and other organizations in several districts of Kandahar has resulted in the construction of greenhouses and cold storage facilities for vegetables and other crops, thereby improving farmers’ economic situation. Mohammad Amin, a farmer from Dand district, has grown crops in a greenhouse for the past two years. He says that greenhouse yields are 50 percent higher than those from regular fields. Amin emphasizes that greenhouses are beneficial since they allow for yearround gardening. Previously, Amin earned 100,000 Afghani every year from a single acre of land. Now, he gets 200,000 Afghani per year from the same greenhouse across three seasons. He says, “The government built this greenhouse for me.” Before the greenhouse, we gathered crops twice a year and earned 100,000 Afghanis. We are now earning 200,000 Afghanis from the greenhouse. Farmers who own greenhouses enjoy stable economic situations. Greenhouses have been used for cultivation worldwide for many years. However, Af ghan farmers have only begun to adopt greenhouse farming over the past two decades, finding it highly beneficial. Sharifullah Agha, a farmer from Daman district, built greenhouses on three acres of land using his own cash. He claims that they can provide the market with produce year-round. According to Agha, with adequate care and upkeep, greenhouse farming can produce significant revenues. He says, “We built greenhouses on three acres of land and the profit is substantial. Farmers’ problems can be handled with a small greenhouse and well-maintained crops. “All farmers should think about building greenhouses on their land.” Agricultural experts highlight that greenhouse farming has multiple times the benefits of regular field farming and they encourage farmers to utilize this method. Engineer Qudratullah Hamidi, an agricultural expert, emphasizes that greenhouse construction by the government and institutions is a promotional endeavor, and farmers should invest in their own greenhouses. He states, “The advantages of greenhouses significantly outweigh those of conventional agricultural fields. Farmers should not rely on the government or organizations to create greenhouses for them, but instead, take the initiative to build their own.” Local officials in Kandahar province indicate that the government has built 50 huge greenhouses in various districts. Mawlavi Shamsur Rahman Musa, an official of Kandahar’s Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock Department, says they hope to create 50 more greenhouses for farmers next year. He went on as saying: “This year, with the help of cooperating institutions, we have built 50 greenhouses in Kandahar province, and we plan to construct 50 more next year.” Ehsanullah Wolasmal
Source: thekabultimes.com
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Over 800 families to enjoy potable water in Herat
July 4, 2024
KABUL: In a significant development for the Kohsan district of Herat, the construction of two water supply networks has provided 800 families with access to clean drinking water. Additionally, these new networks have enabled the irrigation of hundreds of acres of farmland, greatly enhancing agricultural productivity in the region. Mawlawi Ahmad Rashid, Head of the Afghanistan Red Crescent Society in Herat, told BNA that the construction of these two networks cost 1.5 million Afghanis. He emphasized that with the implementation of these networks, 800 families now have access to clean drinking water, and water is available for irrigating hundreds of acres of farmland. Meanwhile, the villagers in Kohsan district have welcomed the Islamic Emirate’s efforts to provide them with drinking and agricultural water, considering it a significant contribution to their well-being. The Afghanistan Red Crescent Society has launched a project named “Climate Change,” under which various projects are implemented in areas affected by climate change. bakhtar
Source: thekabultimes.com
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North America
Bond increased to over $1 million for Texas woman charged with attempted murder of Muslim child
July 3, 2024
EULESS, Texas — A Texas woman accused of trying to drown a Muslim child is back in jail following an increase in bond, court records show.
Elizabeth Wolf, 42, was originally arrested on May 19 after Euless police say she made racial remarks to a Muslim woman and tried to drown the woman’s 3-year-old daughter at the family’s apartment complex pool.
The Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office charged Wolf with attempted capital murder and injury to a child. She was initially released on a $40,000 bond, but she was rearrested last week after Judge Andy Porter increased her bond to $1,015,000, following a finding that the initial bond imposed by a magistrate judge was too low based on a public safety assessment and Wolf’s criminal history. She is currently being held at the Lon Evans Corrections Center in Fort Worth, according to the Tarrant County court website.
Wolf’s defense attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Mustafaa Carroll, executive director of the Texas branch of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, told Courthouse News Service that while he’s happy Wolf has been rearrested, he feels she never should have been released on only $40,000 to begin with.
“I don’t know how that happened,” Carroll said.
Police say Wolf was initially arrested for public intoxication following a report of a disturbance between two women. The mother, who has not been publicly identified, reportedly told officers that Wolf had approached her and asked her where she was from and if the two children playing at the pool were her’s. According to a statement from CAIR-Texas, the mother was wearing an Islamic headscarf and modest swimwear.
Police say the mother told officers that Wolf then grabbed her 6-year-old son, but he was able to pull away from her, causing a scratch on his finger. Wolf then reportedly grabbed the woman’s 3-year-old daughter and forced her underwater. The mother was able to pull her daughter, who was yelling for help and coughing up water, from the pool, police say.
The mother reportedly told police that Wolf had made racial statements such as saying the mother was not an American. CAIR-Texas said in a statement that after she was handcuffed by an officer, Wolf shouted to a bystander, “Tell her I will kill her, and I will kill her whole family.”
The mother, identified only as Mrs. H, said in a June statement through CAIR-Texas that her family has been left traumatized by the incident.
“We are American citizens, originally from Palestine, and I don’t know where to go to feel safe with my kids,” Mrs. H, said. “My country is facing a war, and we are facing that hate here. My daughter is traumatized; whenever I open the apartment door, she runs away and hides, telling me she is afraid the lady will come and immerse her head in the water again.”
Police have recommended the offense be considered a hate crime, according to a statement from the Euless Police Department. The district attorney’s office declined to comment on whether it will pursue a hate crime enhancement in the case.
Source: courthousenews.com
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US deports more than hundred Chinese migrants in rare move
03 July 2024
The United States’ Department of Homeland Security said that it deported 116 Chinese people back to China in the first such “large charter flight” in five years.
The department said it was working with China to “reduce and deter irregular migration and to disrupt illicit human smuggling through expanded law enforcement efforts”.
"We will continue to enforce our immigration laws and remove individuals without a legal basis to remain in the United States," said DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said in a statement.
The recent flight carrying 116 Chinese migrants during the weekend came amid the intense political debate ahead of the US presidential election over the issue of Chinese immigration.
The weekend's extensive charter flight announcement contrasts with ongoing attempts in other regions to block important pathways utilized by Chinese migrants to reach the western hemisphere.
In the past few years, the US has faced challenges in repatriating Chinese citizens who lack the legal right to remain in the country, as China has been reluctant to accept their return.
The issue of Chinese migration has been a focal point for Republicans and former president Donald Trump, who have expressed concerns regarding the reasons behind the influx of Chinese migrants to the US.
Asian rights groups are worried by the possibility of the rhetoric fueling harassment against Asians, while migrants have stated that their motivation for coming is to escape poverty and repression.
In 2023, over 37,000 Chinese nationals were apprehended by US border authorities at the southern border, a tenfold increase compared to the previous year.
Border officials in the United States detained over 37,000 Chinese citizens at the southern border in 2023; marking a tenfold rise from the previous year.The United States’ has deported at least 116 Chinese migrants in the first such “large charter flight” in five years.
China’s Embassy in the US said the country’s law enforcement was cracking down “hard on crimes that harm the tranquility of national border, and maintained a high pressure against all kinds of smuggling organizations and offenders.”
Source: presstv.ir
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'Undeniable complicity in killings': Biden administration resignees slam Gaza policy as 'failure'
03 July 2024
Twelve former US officials have denounced President Joe Biden’s policies on Gaza as “a failure and a threat” to the country’s national security, calling on the government to overhaul them and use all "available leverage” to bring the ongoing war to an immediate end.
The 12 signatories who quit their posts over Biden’s controversial approach made the remarks in a joint public statement titled "Service in Dissent" which was released on Tuesday in conjunction with Independence Day, known colloquially as the Fourth of July.
“Each of us has sworn an oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States, and as our nation celebrates its Independence Day, each of us are reminded that we resigned from government not to terminate that oath but to continue to abide by it; not to end our commitment to service, but to extend it,” the former officials said.
“This failed policy has not achieved its stated objectives,” they said, noting that it has not brought safety to the Israeli regime and has rather been “devastating for the Palestinian people, ensuring a vicious cycle of poverty and hopelessness, with all the implications of that cycle, for generations to come.”
The signatories went on to say, “As a group of dedicated Americans in service of our country, we insist that there is another way,” outlining steps to ensure that a "catastrophic policy failure like this can never happen again."
The ex-officials also argued that the US policy toward Gaza has “been deeply damaging” not only for US relations in the region, but also for the country’s global credibility.
The former officials further noted that US’ continuous flow of arms to Israel has ensured the country’s “undeniable complicity in the killings and forced starvation of a besieged Palestinian population in Gaza.”
"This is not only morally reprehensible and in clear violation of international humanitarian law and US laws, but it has also put a target on America’s back," they added, arguing that it has put the lives of service members and diplomats at risk.
The signatories also called on Washington to use “all necessary and available leverage to bring the conflict to an immediate close”, ensure expansion of humanitarian aid to Gazans and support the self-determination of the Palestinian people.
“There is an urgent need for change in the organizational cultures and structures that have enabled the current US approach,” they stressed, calling on Washington to have transparency regarding arms transfers.
The signatories further stated they “stand united in a shared belief that it is our collective responsibility to speak up,” urging their colleagues to use their voice and not to be complicit.
Among the signatories are Josh Paul, who oversaw Congressional relations on weapons transfers, a former White House official, two former air force department personnel and a former army officer in the Defense Intelligence Agency.
Israel launched the devastating war on Gaza on October 7 after the territory’s Palestinian resistance groups carried out a surprise retaliatory attack, dubbed Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, against the occupying entity.
Since then, the United States has supplied the Tel Aviv regime with more than 10,000 tons of military equipment, and used its veto power against all United Nations Security Council resolutions that called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
The relentless Israeli military campaign against Gaza has so far killed nearly 38,000 people, most of them women and children.
Source: presstv.ir
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Europe
Government adviser alleges Muslim activists face hiring bans: Report
Jul 03, 2024
A report to Parliament has made the claim that outspoken Muslim activists are facing a hiring ban and discrimination at their workplaces.
Amira Elghawaby, who didn’t specify any examples of employment hardships faced by those who advocate for “Palestinian human rights,” made the allegation in the report titled A Hopeful Path Forward for Canada’s Muslim Communities, according to Blacklock’s Reporter.
“Over the past several months Canadian Muslims have shared their growing concerns about an increase in an anti-Muslim, anti-Palestinian and anti-Arab backlash that has already led to loss of income, threats to current or future employment, harassment, violence, vandalism and exclusion,” Elghawaby wrote.
“We have been watching heartbreaking scenes from the Middle East over the past several months, particularly the distressing number of civilian deaths and injuries. The war has had a direct impact on many in our country including Canadian Muslims and particularly those of Palestinian descent.”
The claim that vocal Canadian Muslims are facing job bans and discrimination follows Hamas’s attack on Israel last October and Israel’s subsequent war in Gaza to eliminate the terrorist group.
Elghawaby, the Special Representative on Combating Islamophobia, was appointed to the advisory position in February 2023 following community recommendations made at the 2021 National Summit on Islamophobia.
“Beyond the worry for loved ones many in Canada’s Muslim communities have also been facing ongoing hardship and anxiety about their ability to publicly exercise their civil liberties including freedom of speech, assembly and expression on the issue of Palestinian human rights,” she wrote.
Elghawaby, who had opinion pieces published by the Toronto Star in the past before the war in Gaza, has written that Palestinians in Gaza were “long held hostage by the Israel government” and described Jews as “hostage takers.”
Elghawaby says she prides herself as an advocate for Canada’s 1.8 million Muslims.
“I have been working to ensure Canada has adequate tools to safeguard the rights and dignity of Canadian Muslims,” she wrote.
“We have launched resources and connected communities to the federal government. We are also working internally towards systemic change called for by Muslim communities. Social change takes time. It must overcome decades if not centuries of outdated tropes, myths and stereotypes about who Muslims are.”
Source: torontosun.com
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Muslim International Film Festival director hopes to break down prejudice
03-07-24
The first ever Muslim International Film Festival opens its doors in London on Thursday 30 May, and its director, Sajid Varda, has been speaking to Eye For Film about his hope that it can begin to break down prejudice and show other people that Muslims are not so different from them.
Having started out as an actor, Varda reflected that the sort of roles he was offered changed drastically after 9/11, and that suddenly there were negative portrayals of Muslims everywhere. "That became a real frustration for our community, not just in this country, but around the world," he said. "When we see ourselves portrayed on screen, it's never ever in a complimentary manner, it's never authentic and it's never really from our perspective. It's always from somebody else's lens. It has been a real frustration for us, those eye rolling moments. There's four key tropes: Muslims are terrorists, Muslim men are misogynists, Muslim women are oppressed, and Islam is a threat to the West."
In response to this, he set up a charity called UK Muslim Film, which has spent the last three years trying to educate people and improve representations. It was party inspired by his experience of starring in Lewis Rose's multi-award-winning The Chop in 2016 - a short film which portrayed members of Muslim and Jewish communities getting along together. As he travelled the film festival circuit with it, he saw other good films with Muslim characters, but realised that most of them would remain invisible to the general public. That was also when he decided that a specific festival was needed, to help Muslims reclaim their identity and celebrate it.
The festival has simple rules. Films don't necessarily have to be made by Muslims, but they have to portray some aspect of Muslim experience in an authentic way, and they have to be free of violence, sexual themes and nudity, none of which, he points out, are necessary to tell a good story. This means that anybody should feel confident about going to watch them. The line-up he has managed to put together is really impressive, featuring some of the strongest films on the festival circuit this year, and he puts this down to the eager response of filmmakers who agreed with him that such a festival was long overdue. He's also grateful for the support he's had from the likes of the BFI, Channel 4 and BAFTA.
He has found that there's a lot of goodwill towards the project from the public as well. "This has been in the works for over a year now, but with what's going on in the Middle East, I think people have felt sincerely apologetic for not understanding. There is a huge amount of goodwill and love and understanding towards the Palestinian people. I believe it is apparent now that for so long, Muslims, Arabs, those who do not look a certain way, are treated as second class citizens. So this festival has come at a time where people are desperate to learn, they're desperate to understand and to connect.
"We hope this will be a wonderful opportunity for all audiences to come through the doors to learn about us and understand. Actually, there's nothing to be afraid about. A lot of the fear that we have is very irrational. A lot of it is perpetuated by the media. And when you don't know enough about a community that's being victimised or othered, then that's where the issue lies. People are at that point where they do want to know each other better."
He also hopes that this will be an ongoing project and will encourage other filmmakers to tell authentic stories.
"We want to ensure that this first festival is really a benchmark for how we feel festivals should be in terms of the quality, the professionalism, the way in which we treat filmmakers. Because I just feel that some festivals don't honour filmmakers as they should, or treat them well enough. We're limited in resources, but we're doing everything we can to make sure that experience is a great one. We want them to keep coming back, to submit their films to us, and we want to ensure that this is a regular fixture in the calendar for London."
Source: eyeforfilm.co.uk
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https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/news/2024-05-27-muslim-film-festival-director-hopes-to-break-down-prejudice-news-story-by-jennie-kermode
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Lino Lakes City Council halts Madinah Lakes project, Muslim leaders say process was discriminatory
03-07-24
LINO LAKES, Minn. — A controversial real estate project in the north metro has been dealt a setback.
On Monday, the Lino Lakes City Council tabled a proposal for the Madinah Lakes project. The 3-2 decision was made despite the fact a moratorium vote is set for next week.
The developers say the project would turn 156 acres of a sod farm into a Muslim-friendly community with housing, a variety of businesses and a mosque.
Local Muslim leaders with the Council on American-Islamic Relations on Tuesday said they are frustrated and disappointed that the process appears to be discriminatory.
"For the past three months, we have seen hundreds of people show up to every city council meeting or planning meeting. And in those meetings, people have continuously projected Islamophobic, anti-Muslim statements in why they do not want this project to move forward," Jaylani Hussein, executive director of CAIR-MN, said.
Hussein is calling upon the residents of Lino Lakes and surrounding areas to contact the City Council "and let them know that this is unacceptable."
Community members in favor of pausing the project talked to us at a meeting back in April. They told us their concerns are about the safety and cost of building on a sod farm, not the mosque.
Source: cbsnews.com
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France: decision to close Islamic school in Nice overturned
July 3, 2024
The Administrative Court in Nice yesterday overturned an order to close the Avicenne Middle School in the French city. “Errors in the institution’s books do not justify taking such a final action,” said the court.
“Avicenne School emerged stronger from this ordeal,” insisted the school’s lawyer, Sefen Guez Guez. He added that he intends to return to court to denounce the rejection of the Islamic school’s requests to sign a contract with the state.
“We were informed of the Administrative Court’s decision, while the lack of transparency of the school’s accounts, which the court acknowledged, poses real problems in the eyes of the Separatism Law,” responded the department responsible for the closure decision.
The privately-funded school is located in a poor area in Nice and has around 100 Muslim students enrolled. The controversy has boosted the number of applications, with 130 already enrolled for the next academic year.
The local authorities do not question the quality of education provided by Avicenne, which is confirmed by the success of the school’s students in secondary school and in public secondary schools. However, the 2021 law to combat separatism requires non-contracted institutions to inform the administration of the source of their funding. The school is part of the Alpes-Maritimes Muslim Union, which apparently made mistakes while responding to questions from officials.
The accounts were not properly prepared for a long time, and only the family names of the contributors were revealed, whether they were parents of students or donors. The first category pay €200 per student per month, and the school relies heavily on these fees to cover the budget.
“If the accounts and documents submitted by the Avicenne School for the years 2018 to 2022 contain errors and inaccuracies, they do not constitute violations that justify the final closure of the institution,” explained the court.
The decision to close Avicenne School was announced on 26 February by the Minister of National Education, Nicole Belloubet, and had to be implemented by 14 March.
France is now preparing for the second round of its national legislative election. The first round took place on Sunday, and was led by far-right parties which have adopted hostile positions against French Muslims. The National Rally and its allies led the first round of voting with 33.14 per cent of the votes, and 39 representatives from the party elected. The left-wing New Popular Front received 27.99 per cent of the votes, while President Emmanuel Macron’s camp came in third place by a large margin, with 20.8 per cent.
Source: middleeastmonitor.com
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Russia EXPO to host beauty pageant
3 Jul, 2024
The grand opening of the ‘Beauty of Russia-2024’ beauty and talent festival took place on Wednesday at the Russia EXPO international exhibition in Moscow.
The opening ceremony was held during the ‘Miss Moscow-2024’ pageant at the All-Russian Exhibition Center (VDNKh). The festival will be held on July 7.
As part of the event, a parade of national costumes representing different regions of Russia will be held. The winners of the festival from previous years are expected to take part in the parade alongside the pageant participants.
According to the organizers, the event will allow viewers “to immerse themselves in the country’s rich cultural heritage and discover the possibilities of using traditional materials and techniques in modern clothing.”
The festival also features designer fashion shows, performances by young vocalists, and pop stars.
The ‘Beauty of Russia’, which has been held since 1995, is one of the oldest beauty pageants in the country. Participants are traditionally the finalists of regional beauty contests. The winners, who have represented Russia at international competitions at different times, have gone on to become Miss World, Miss United Continents, Miss Earth, and others.
‘Miss Moscow’ is an annual beauty contest for residents of Moscow and the Moscow region under the age of 35. Its predecessor was one of the first Soviet beauty pageants, Moscow Beauty, held from 1988 to 1991.
Source: rt.com
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Mideast
Iran imposes sanctions on 11 US officials over suppressing pro-Palestine student protests
03 July 2024
The Iranian Foreign Ministry has imposed sanctions on nearly a dozen US authorities for their role in suppressing pro-Palestinian protests that erupted at university campuses across the United States in condemnation of Israel’s bloody onslaught against the Gaza Strip.
The ministry announced in a statement on Wednesday that the punitive measures were taken in accordance with the Law on “Countering the Violation of Human Rights and Adventurous and Terrorist Activities of the United States in the Region”, (2017) particularly Article 5, which blacklists the following American individuals for their involvement in violation of human rights by quashing the peaceful rallies.
The Americans targeted by the sanctions are as follows:
1. William Billy Hitchens, Commissioner of the Department of Public Safety of Georgia,
2. Eddie Grier, Commanding Officer over Field Operations of Georgia,
3. Linda J. Stump-Kurnick, Chief of the University of Florida Police Department,
4. Pamela A. Smith, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia,
5. Jeffery Carroll, Executive Assistant Chief, Metropolitan Police Department,
6. Karl Jacobson, Chief of New Haven Police Department,
7. Shane Streepy, Assistant Chief of University of Texas Police Department (UTPD),
8. Michael Cox, Commissioner of the Boston Police Department,
9. Scott Dunning, The Indiana University Police Department Central Division Chief,
10. Michael Thompson, The Arizona State University Police Chief,
11. John Brockie, Chief of Police at CAL State Long Beach Police Department.
What these student protests on university campuses across the US underline is the fact that the attempts to manipulate public opinion have failed spectacularly.
The statement further noted that the above-mentioned individuals will be subject to sanctions, pursuant to Articles 6, 7 and 8 of the Sixth Section of the Law.
Accordingly, their accounts and transactions will be blocked in the Iranian financial and banking systems, and their assets will be frozen within the jurisdiction of the Islamic Republic of Iran. No visa grating their entry to the territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran will be issued as well.
“All relevant national organizations and institutions of the Islamic Republic of Iran will take necessary measures for the effective implementation of the sanctions, in accordance with the regulations adopted by the related authorities,” the Iranian Foreign Ministry pointed out.
Pro-Palestine student protests initially broke out at the campus of the University of California, Los Angeles in mid-April, with demonstrators calling for the end of the Gaza war and divestment with Israel.
Despite harsh crackdowns, including mass suspensions, evictions from university housing, and arrests, protests sprung up across the US with footage emerging of students, professors, and journalists being violently detained by the police on campuses.
A new wave of demonstrations – marked by protesters setting up encampments on their campuses – also gripped the US while protests spread to other universities across the globe.
Source: presstv.ir
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Masoud Pezeshkian, A Reformist Politician Within Iran’s Shiite Theocracy,Runs to Be Iran’s Next President
July 04, 2024
DUBAI: After the 2022 death of Mahsa Amini, Iranian lawmaker Masoud Pezeshkian wrote that it was “unacceptable in the Islamic Republic to arrest a girl for her hijab and then hand over her dead body to her family.”
Days later as nationwide protests and a bloody crackdown on all dissent took hold, he warned that those “insulting the supreme Leader ... will create nothing except long-lasting anger and hatred in the society.”
The stances by Pezeshkian, now a 69-year-old candidate for Iran’s next president, highlight the dualities of being a reformist politician within Iran’s Shiite theocracy — always pushing for change but never radically challenging the system overseen by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
After Iran’s June 28 presidential election saw the lowest turnout in history, Pezeshkian now must convince a public angered by years of economic pain and bloody crackdowns to go vote in a runoff poll on Friday — even though a majority of them earlier decided not to cast ballots at all.
“We are losing our backing in the society, because of our behavior, high prices, our treatment of girls and because we censor the Internet,” Pezeshkian said at a televised debate Monday night. “People are discontent with us because of our behavior.”
Pezeshkian will face the hard-line former nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili in Friday’s election. Jalili already may hold an edge as another hard-liner knocked out in last week’s election, parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, urged his supporters to back him.
Pezeshkian has aligned himself with other moderate and reformist figures during his campaign to replace the late President Ebrahim Raisi, a hard-line protégé of Khamenei killed in a helicopter crash in May. His main advocate has been former Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, who reached Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal with world powers that saw sanctions lifted in exchange for the atomic program being drastically curtailed.
Iranian rushed into the streets in a carnival-like expression of hope that the deal would finally see their country enter the international community. But in 2018, then-President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew America from the accord, setting in motion a series of attacks across the wider Middle East. Iran now enriches uranium to near-weapons-grade levels while having a large enough stockpile to build several bombs if it chose.
That, coupled with the bloody crackdown on dissent that followed nationwide protests over Amini’s death and the mandatory hijab, have fueled voters’ disenchantment. Pezeshkian has offered comments suggesting he wants better relations with the West, a return to the atomic accord and less enforcement of the hijab law.
“The inclusion of the reformist Pezeshkian, who was likely qualified by authorities to boost voter turnout, failed to halt the trend of declining participation,” the geopolitical risk firm the Eurasia Group said in an analysis Tuesday. “Regardless of who wins the runoff, it is clear that the majority of Iranians have little faith in the governing system, regard elections to be sham affairs and are unlikely to participate even when an ostensible reformist is on the ballot.”
Pezeshkian was born Sept. 29, 1954, in Mahabad in northwestern Iran to an Azeri father and a Kurdish mother. He speaks Azeri and long has focused on the affairs of Iran’s vast minority ethnic groups. Like many, he served in the Iran-Iraq war, sending medical teams to the battlefront.
He became a heart surgeon and served as the head of the Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. However, personal tragedy shaped his life after a 1994 car crash killed his wife, Fatemeh Majidi, and a daughter. The doctor never remarried and raised his remaining two sons and a daughter alone.
Pezeshkian entered politics first as the country’s deputy health minister and later as the health minister under the administration of reformist President Mohammad Khatami.
Almost immediately, he found himself involved in the struggle between hard-liners and reformists, attending the autopsy of Zahra Kazemi, a freelance photographer who held both Canadian and Iranian citizenship. She was detained while taking pictures at a protest at Tehran’s notorious Evin prison, was tortured and died in custody.
In 2006, Pezeshkian was elected as a lawmaker representing Tabriz. He later served as a deputy parliament speaker and backed reformist and moderate causes, though analysts often described him more as an “independent” than allied with the voting blocs. That independent label also has been embraced by Pezeshkian in the campaign.
Yet Pezeshkian at the same time honored Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, on one occasion wearing its uniform to parliament. He repeatedly criticized the United States and praised the Guard for shooting down an American drone in 2019, saying it “delivered a strong punch in the mouth of the Americans and proved to them that our country will not surrender.”
In 2011, Pezeshkian registered to run for president, but withdrew his candidacy. In 2021, he found himself and other prominent candidates barred from running by authorities, allowing an easy win for Raisi.
In this campaign, Pezeshkian’s advocates have sought to contrast him against the “Taliban” policies of Jalili. His campaign slogan is “For Iran,” a possible play on the popular song by the Grammy Awarding-winning Iranian singer-songwriter Shervin Hajjipour called “Baraye,” or “For” in English. Hajjipour has been sentenced to more than three years in prison over his anthem for the Amini protests.
Yet it remains unclear if he’ll get the votes this Friday after the low turnout last week, something the candidate has acknowledged.
“With all the noisy arguments between me and him, only 40 percent (of eligible voters) voted,” Pezeshkian acknowledged at his final televised debate with Jalili on Tuesday. “Sixty percent don’t accept us. So people have issues with us.”
Source: arabnews.com
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Four Palestinian Islamic Jihad Operatives Killed Planting Explosives in the West Bank
four Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) members in Nur Shams, near the West Bank city of Tulkarm, on July 2. “An IDF [Israel Defense Forces] aircraft struck a terrorist cell in the area of Nur Shams while they planted an explosive device,” the Israeli military stated. A military source told The Times of Israel that the cell was being monitored and was struck when it began positioning a roadside bomb.
The thwarting of the attempted roadside attack follows a spate of recent PIJ bombings that claimed the lives of two Israeli soldiers and wounded more than a dozen troops in the northern West Bank. PIJ claimed responsibility for a deadly roadside bomb attack in the northern West Bank on July 1, in which one Israeli officer was killed and another was seriously wounded. Separately, on June 27, IDF sniper team commander Capt. Alon Sagciu, 22, was killed, and 16 troops were wounded in a PIJ roadside bombing in the West Bank city of Jenin.
Expert Analysis
“Following their recent string of successes, Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorists in the West Bank sought to plan and execute another attack on Israeli troops. A sophisticated network that provides financial and military support facilitates the group’s ability to carry out such attacks. This network affords terrorist groups the ability to acquire the necessary materials and military know-how to manufacture explosive devices and establish bomb-making facilities. This did not happen overnight, and alarmingly, this strategy has likely been replicated by terrorist groups in other West Bank cities.” — Joe Truzman, Senior Research Analyst at FDD’s Long War Journal
“The IDF’s use of an airstrike to eliminate terrorists who were attempting to plant an explosive device illustrates the growing terror threat in the northern West Bank. Terrorist groups, backed by Iran, are seeking to increase their deadly capabilities and spark a larger conflict. These terror groups want to leverage the war in Gaza to create new fronts against Israel.” — Seth J. Frantzman, FDD Adjunct Fellow
Senior PIJ Members Killed in Jenin Counterterrorism Operation
On June 13, Israeli forces operating in the northern West Bank city of Qabatiya killed “two senior terrorists” belonging to Islamic Jihad’s Katibat Jenin branch, the IDF said. The duo was identified as Muhammed Shalabi and Muhammed Fayyad in a statement published by PIJ.
PIJ described Muhammed Shalabi and Muhammed Fayyad as members “of the military council of the Jenin Brigade.” The statement acknowledged they died “in an armed clash after the occupation forces surrounded them on the resilient land of Qabatiya.”
Israeli forces launched the raid based on intelligence provided by the Israeli Military Intelligence Directorate, Aman, and the Shin Bet. During the operation, “fighters engaged in an exchange of fire with the wanted persons that included firing shoulder-fired missiles at the building,” the IDF said.
Source: fdd.org
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Israeli hostages attempted suicide, says Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement’s armed wing
04.07.24
The Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement’s armed wing, Al Quds Brigades, said on Wednesday some Israeli hostages have attempted suicide after it started treating them the same way Israel treated Palestinian prisoners.
“Some enemy prisoners have attempted suicide as a result of the extreme frustration they are feeling due to their government’s neglect of their cause,” Al Quds Brigades spokesperson Abu Hamza said in a post on Telegram.
“We will keep treating Israeli hostages the same way Israel treats our prisoners,” he added.
The Palestinian militant group did not specify what measures it had taken against Israeli hostages.
Arab mediators’ efforts, backed by the US, have so far failed to conclude a ceasefire in Gaza.
Hamas says any deal must end the war and bring full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, while Israel says it will accept only temporary pauses in fighting until Hamas, which has ruled Gaza since 2007, is eradicated.
A possible deal would also see the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza in return for the freedom of Palestinians jailed in Israeli prisons.
Hezbollah commander
An Israeli strike in southern Lebanon on Wednesday killed a senior Hezbollah commander as tensions between the two sides continue to boil, a Hezbollah official told The Associated Press.
The strike near the southern coastal city of Tyre took place as global diplomatic efforts have intensified in recent weeks to prevent escalating clashes between Hezbollah and the Israeli military from spiralling into an all-out war that could possibly lead to a direct confrontation between Israel and Iran.
A Hezbollah statement identified the killed commander as Mohammad Naameh Nasser, who went by the name “Abu Naameh”, his nom de guerre.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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Adidas Qamis for football and mosque takes internet by storm
July 3rd, 2024
ALBAWABA - Adidas has launched its latest "football Qamis" that works for both; prayers and playing football causing wide fuss on social media.
Adidas has collaborated with Malian-origin designer Émile-Samory Fofana who created this new collection of "functional football Qamis".
The functional football Qamis is a long white Thob, traditional Muslim clothes, marked with gold Adidas accents on the sides. Fofana's new collection with Adidas came from his dedication to blending "functionality with cultural and athletic significance".
According to media outlets, the designer has been working on this collection with Adidas for the past 12 months in order to come up with a comfortable Thob that works for both football courts and mosque mats.
Émile-Samory Fofana posted the new collection on Instagram and wrote: "We developed a functional football Qamis for you to be as comfortable on the pitch as on a prayer mat. I couldn’t be happier with the result of this hybridisation. (The perfect illustration of « find a man who can do both »)"
Adidas Qamis for football and mosque takes internet by storm
The new collection by the Parisian-born artist and designer has caused wide controversy on social media and triggered many discussions about how possible is for a football player can be wearing a Thob and play a game.
In the pictures showing the collection, a group of old men were spotted with white hair and beards wearing the Adidas football Qamis. A video was also released for the group playing football to ensure it is very suitable.
Meanwhile, a person on X commented criticizing why the models in the picture showing the collection have some extra weight. He said: "Why do they all have big bellies? May I know the reason? Is it distorting its purpose?"
Another added: "I don't really think Adidas football Qamis is the right choice when it comes to football games."
Source: arabnews.com
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Hamas says it has sent new ‘ideas’ on halting Israel war
July 03, 2024
CAIRO: The Hamas militant group said Wednesday it has sent new “ideas” to Qatari mediators aimed at ending the nearly nine-month Gaza war with Israel.
Israel confirmed that it was “evaluating” Hamas “comments” on a deal to see its hostages in the Palestinian territory freed and would reply.
With the death toll from nearly nine months of war mounting and conditions worsening daily for Gazans, both sides are under increased international pressure to agree a ceasefire.
Israel says there can be no halt to hostilities until Hamas releases all of its hostages.
Qatar, working with the United States, has been leading the mediation.
“We exchanged some ideas with the mediator brothers with the aim of stopping the aggression against our Palestinian people,” a Hamas statement said.
The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Mossad intelligence service confirmed the new approach.
“The hostages deal mediators have conveyed to the negotiating team Hamas’s remarks on the outline of the hostages deal. Israel is evaluating the remarks and will convey its reply to the mediators,” said an Israeli statement.
According to a source with knowledge of the talks, “the Qataris, in coordination with the United States, have been engaging with Hamas and Israel over the past weeks in an attempt to bridge the remaining gaps.”
Source: arabnews.com
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UN notes optimism over Yemeni prisoner swap discussions
July 03, 2024
AL-MUKALLA: The UN’s Yemen envoy, Hans Grundberg, said on Wednesday that the ongoing prisoner exchange between the Yemeni government and the Houthis in Muscat had made progress toward an agreement that would liberate prisoners of war, including Houthi-held Yemeni politician Mohammed Qahtan.
This happened as a Yemeni government spokesperson said that the Houthis had agreed to trade Qahtan for 50 of their militants captured by the Yemeni government.
Mayy El-Sheikh, director of strategic communications and public information at Grundberg’s office, described the atmosphere of the talks between the two sides as “positive and constructive,” noting that the envoy’s office, which sponsors the talks, is building on progress to push for a deal in Yemen that would see all prisoners of war released.
“The parties have reached an understanding about arrangements to release conflict-related detainees that includes Mohamed Qahtan,” she told Arab News, adding: “The office of the UN special envoy stresses the importance of finalizing this understanding responsibly to achieve tangible results toward releasing conflict-related detainees in accordance with the ‘all for all’ principle.”
The current round of prisoner exchange discussions between the Yemeni government and the Houthis began in Muscat on Sunday, with officials from both sides expressing hope that a deal could be reached to free all prisoners.
Two prior successful prisoner exchange discussions between the two sides resulted in the release of 1,800 prisoners and journalists held by the Houthis.
Majed Fadhail, a spokeswoman for the government delegation, told Arab News on Wednesday that he is optimistic about the discussions’ outcome after the Houthis agreed to trade Qahtan for 50 of their inmates.
“The agreement and understanding around Qahtan is very positive and we are optimistic. I am hopeful that the discussions regarding the specifics and during the exchange of names and other matters will continue with the same level of positivity,” Fadhail said.
On Tuesday, Fadhail said that Yemeni government representatives refused to address other prisoner-related issues unless the Houthis agreed to free Qahtan.
The Houthis kidnapped Qahtan in early 2015, preventing him from seeing or contacting his family. They have refused all attempts to have him released.
The breakthrough in prisoner exchange discussions in Muscat came a day after the Houthis rejected UN pleas to release scores of UN and foreign personnel abducted by the militia during their last campaign.
On Tuesday, Abdelaziz bin Habtour, prime minister of the Houthi government, told Peter Hawkins, the acting UN humanitarian coordinator and UNICEF representative in Yemen, that they would only release abducted UN staffers who were not involved in spying for the US or Israel, defying a previous call from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for the “immediate and unconditional release” of all UN employees.
Last month, the Houthis claimed to have broken a “major American and Israel” espionage network made up mostly of Yemeni individuals working for Western embassies, UN agencies, and other international organizations.
The Houthis also detained around 50 Yemeni UN workers and other international organizations, in a crackdown that drew widespread international criticism.
At the same time, the Sanaa Center For Strategic Studies, a Yemeni think tank, urged the international community on Tuesday to take stronger and more coordinated efforts to compel the Houthis to free the workers and stop harassing Yemenis working with international organizations.
In an essay published on its website, the center cautioned that ignoring the Houthis’ assault on Yemeni aid workers would encourage them to continue their campaign, arrest more individuals, and use them as a bargaining chip.
“But without a comprehensive, coordinated response to ensure all detainees are released unharmed, the detentions will drag on for at least some, if not all, of those jailed. In reality, silence will put their lives in even more danger,” the center said.
It added: “Worse, it could encourage the Houthis to detain even more people as they seek to extract political and financial gain by negotiating terms with each of the organizations separately, or with the international community more broadly … The only way to avert that eventuality is a united stance in which the impacted organizations speak with one voice.”
Source: arabnews.com
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Tensions rise as Turkiye talks normalization with Syria
July 03, 2024
ANKARA: Tensions continue to rise amid Turkiye’s normalization efforts with Syria after attacks were carried out on Syrian refugees in the country and Turkish flags were targeted in northern Syria.
The events re-opened the debate on refugees and over Ankara’s ties with its war-torn neighbor.
Both Syrian President Bashar Assad and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan recently signaled a willingness to mend their fractured relations.
This comes after Turkiye reopened the Abu Al-Zandeen crossing near Al-Bab, establishing commercial connections between Turkish-controlled zones and regime-held areas in eastern Aleppo. Additionally, efforts are underway to widen the Hajjez Al-Shatt highway in Turkish-held Azaz, linking Aleppo to the Turkish border city of Gaziantep.
Turkiye also controls a buffer zone in northern Syria. However, the normalization efforts and the reopening of trade routes have ignited tensions in northern Syria.
In recent days, anger has boiled over, with attacks targeting Turkish flags and trucks. Many Syrians in Turkish-controlled zones are demanding the withdrawal of Turkish forces, exacerbating the already volatile situation.
Reports indicate that Turkish-trained forces have even been filmed shooting at Turkish armored vehicles, prompting Turkiye to deploy additional troops to the region to maintain control.
The unrest is not confined to northern Syria. In Turkiye, tensions flared after a Syrian national allegedly harassed a Syrian child, sparking overnight violence in several cities, beginning in Kayseri. People were heard shouting: “We don’t want any more Syrians,” and “we don’t want any more foreigners.”
Turkish authorities detained 474 people for attacking Syrian-owned vehicles and shops. Simultaneously, approximately 79,000 social media accounts on X were identified for inciting violence.
Turkiye hosts about 3.1 million Syrian refugees, according to official data, and one motivation behind Ankara’s renewed dialogue with Damascus is the potential facilitation of refugee repatriation.
However, under dire economic conditions, with inflation in Turkiye running at 75 percent, Syrian refugees are often scapegoated and targeted by locals. In 2021, several refugees were targeted in Ankara after two Turkish citizens were allegedly stabbed by a Syrian.
Following the incident in Kayseri, Erdogan condemned the anti-Syrian riots, stating: “Turkiye is not and will not be a state that abandons its friends. We will proudly wear the medal of honor of being host to Syrian refugees in their most difficult days. Just as we know how to break the corrupt hands that reach out to our flag, we also know how to break the hands that reach out to the oppressed who take refuge in our country.”
Erdogan also criticized the opposition’s “poisonous” rhetoric about refugees. “Burning people’s homes, relatives, or setting fire to the streets is unacceptable, no matter who they are,” he declared.
The president’s remarks came on the same day he met Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman Al-Saud in Ankara.
Omar Kadkoy, program coordinator at Heinrich Boll Stiftung, explained that the policy solution to the violence over the past few years had involved relocating Syrians to provinces with lower refugee populations and closing new registrations in over 1,200 neighborhoods across several cities.
However, Kadkoy noted that the events in Kayseri underscore the policy’s failure.
“It is becoming harder for Turks and Syrians alike to make ends meet. Under similar conditions, almost universally, a tendency to blame others emerges. The same applies in Turkiye. Therefore, implementing humane, sustainable and respecting international law and human rights migration policy under a declining purchasing power due to high inflation is rather difficult.
Kadkoy emphasized that the recent riots in northern Syria are not solely due to Turkiye’s normalization efforts.
“The recent unrest in northern Syria is not exclusive to Turkiye’s statement about normalization with Syria a few days ago. One reason is the recent opening of an internal crossing, Abu Al-Zandeen, with Turkish-Russian consensus. The crossing connects Al-Bab in eastern Aleppo, (the) Euphrates Shield Zone, with the Syrian government in western Aleppo. The step generated reaction as the opening of the crossing meant dealing politically with the Syrian government — a taboo still in the northwest. Another reason has to do with Syrians’ long-standing discontent about the overall living conditions in the area. A third reason reflects Syrians’ dissatisfaction with the Syrian opposition’s failure to produce a democratic environment. Lastly, the violence in Kayseri where Syrians were subject to collective punishment over an alleged Syrian’s crime was that final straw the set off everything.”
Turkiye remains committed to UN Security Council resolutions that advocate for the voluntary, safe, and dignified return of refugees to Syria. However, experts caution that current conditions are far from meeting these standards.
Metin Corabatir, president of the Ankara-based Research Center on Asylum and Migration, said that any repatriation could only materialize after free and fair elections and the drafting of a new constitution in Syria, as mandated by the Security Council.
“Syrians in Turkiye feel very bad and unsafe after these incidents. Even Syrians with Turkish citizenship are living under the same fear. There is a horrifying hate speech that is becoming increasingly widespread. Political parties and some respected journalists are also fueling it. If this continues to spread, refugees will have nowhere to run, and their safety will be compromised,” Corabatir told Arab News.
Corabatir argues that the solution to the refugee crisis lies not in repatriation but in clarifying the legal status of refugees as they are still registered with “temporary protection” in the country.
“The anti-Syrian sentiment has turned into racism that vilifies Arabs. At this stage, at the very least, Erdogan and Ozgur Ozel, the leader of the main opposition CHP, need to come together and resolve this issue in cooperation,” he said.
Although Ankara has received billions of dollars in funding from international donors over the past decade, primarily from the EU to provide health care, education and employment opportunities for Syrians in the country, experts note that these projects are still a drop in the ocean to ensure a sustainable local integration especially amid deteriorating economic conditions.
Corabatir called for a tripartite agreement under UN supervision to facilitate the repatriation of refugees once safe conditions are established.
Zakira Hekmat, president of the Afghan Refugees Solidarity Association in Turkiye, resides in Kayseri. “Three Afghan youngsters were recently killed in Kayseri. There has been an organized anti-refugee sentiment in the region for a long time. We have been advising our community to remain silent during these chaotic times. People have come to our neighborhood and demolished shops. For the past three days, we have stayed in our homes out of fear. Many people cannot even buy bread and water. This situation will eventually impact the Turkish economy. Syrians, despite having work permits, cannot go to the shops in the industrial zone where they are employed.”
Pro-government journalist Abdulkadir Selvi suggested on Wednesday that Erdogan may meet Assad on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization meeting in Astana on 3-4 July as part of the new Turkiye-Syria rapprochement bid. However, there has been no official statement confirming any plans for such high-level backstage diplomacy.
Source: arabnews.com
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UN experts condemn military courts in West Bank and call on Israel to abolish them
July 03, 2024
NEW YORK CITY: UN experts on Wednesday denounced the lack of a mechanism for fair trials in the occupied West Bank where, they said, for 57 years judges in Israeli military courts have been providing legal cover for acts of torture and the degrading treatment of Palestinian detainees “carried out by their colleagues in the armed forces and intelligence agencies.”
Not even children are spared this “abusive” system and it makes legal defense impossible, they added.
The experts described the establishment in 1967 of a system in the occupied territories in which the functions of the police, investigators, prosecutors and judges were all vested in the Israeli military, which was given broad powers to conduct legal proceedings.
“This military system has served to control many aspects of Palestinians’ daily lives, including public health, education, and land and property law,” the experts said.
“It also criminalizes many forms of political and cultural expression, association, movement, nonviolent protest, traffic offenses and other acts that might be considered methods for opposing the occupation and its policies.”
To guarantee fair and public trials, international law stipulates that courts must be impartial and the judicial system independent of any branch of government, especially the executive and the armed forces.
Margaret Satterthwaite, special rapporteur to the UN on the independence of judges and lawyers, and Francesca Albanese, special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, said: “The dual court system set up in the occupied West Bank, in violation of international law, has furthered legitimization of the occupation and illegal settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory, through a militarily enforced, draconian penal system that is only applied to Palestinians, without due process guarantees.
“This system also turns a blind eye to settler violence and criminality, allowing it to grow and remain in impunity.
“Since the beginning of the occupation, the Israeli military has either taken part in, or failed to protect Palestinians from, violent settler attacks in the occupied West Bank, including extrajudicial killings, forced displacement, property damage, destruction and unlawful appropriation, discrimination, harassment and threats.”
Public scrutiny of these legal proceedings, and access to information about the harsh treatment of Palestinians in military courts and the leniency shown to illegal settlers, is extremely limited given the heavy media censorship exercised by the Israeli military, the experts added.
Israeli military courts allow military prosecutors to request prohibition orders against Palestinian detainees, preventing them from talking to lawyers for up to 60 days. This denies detainees the right to confer with legal counsel, especially during the interrogation process, the rapporteurs said.
They warned: “When part of a widespread or systematic attack directed against a civilian population, severe deprivation of physical liberty can amount to a crime against humanity.”
They also expressed concern that an order posted by the Israeli military on its website on May 29 transferred responsibility for dozens of bylaws set by the Civil Administration, the Israeli body that governs the West Bank, from the military to pro-settler officials led by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. Annexation is absolutely prohibited under international law, the experts said.
“We call on Israel, as the de facto occupying power, to dissolve the military court and ensure the right to fair trial in the occupied West Bank,” they added.
Special rapporteurs are part of what is known as the special procedures of the UN Human Rights Council. They are independent experts who work on a voluntary basis, are not members of UN staff and are not paid for their work.
Source: arabnews.com
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Southeast Asia
Controversy Halts Non-Halal Food Festival at Solo Paragon Mall
July 4, 2024
Solo. The Festival Pecinan Nusantara, a non-halal culinary event hosted at Solo Paragon Mall in Surakarta, Central Java, has been temporarily suspended amidst controversy.
Veronica Lahji, Chief Marketing Communication of Solo Paragon Mall, announced on Thursday that the mall is unable to confirm the future of the Chinese food festival at this time.
"We are awaiting further guidance from local officials," she said on Thursday.
Witnesses at the scene observed the festival area cordoned off with black curtains this morning, with no patrons in attendance. Vendors were seen attending to their booths. Regarding this, Vero emphasized that vendors must continue to manage their merchandise, especially perishable food items.
However, she assured that no sales transactions were taking place at the festival.
Earlier, the Surakarta Sharia Council (DSKS) met with representatives of the Surakarta City Government to discuss the non-halal food festival at Solo Paragon Mall. DSKS spokesperson Endro Sudarsono urged Muslims not to participate in the event.
The council also raised concerns about the display of notices deemed too explicit. According to Sudarsono, such notices should have been limited and less explicit.
"Due to public concern, this is considered too explicit despite our respect for non-Muslim foods. We cannot impose our will, so it remains a recommendation and a statement of position," he commented.
During the meeting, the council requested the city government to be more selective in granting permissions.
In response, Indradi, Head of the Surakarta City Unity and Political Bureau, clarified that their office did not issue permits for such events.
"Permits for public gatherings are handled by the police. Our bureau does not have the authority in this matter," he explained.
Source: jakartaglobe.id
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Ex-Terror Convict Pledges Allegiance to Republic after Serving Sentence
July 4, 2024
Jakarta. A woman who has completed her prison sentence for a terrorism conviction has voluntarily pledged allegiance to the Republic of Indonesia and vowed to abandon her radical views, a police officer said on Wednesday.
Siska Nur Azizah, 28, was sentenced to 3.5 years for attempting to attack officers at the police’s Mobile Brigade headquarters in Depok, West Java, in 2018.
During a ceremony on Wednesday at the district police office in Ciamis, West Java, Siska saluted the national flag and sang the national anthem, witnessed by family members and officers on duty.
She said she made the decision after discussions with her husband, not because of pressure from authorities.
“I have had many discussions with my husband and finally reached a good conclusion and wanted to swear allegiance to the Republic of Indonesia,” she told the local media outlet Pikiran Rakyat.
She swore allegiance to the republic under the Quran and signed a stamped document declaring her loyalty to the country.
Siska said the state ideology, Pancasila, guarantees freedom of religion and delivered a message to militants across the country to “abandon radical views and stop damaging the reputation of Islam.”
She added that she had renounced her radical views a year ago but decided to make a public declaration only recently.
Ciamis District Police Chief Adjunct Chief Commissioner Akmal said Siska asked the police to facilitate the ceremony, and his office gladly granted her request.
Source: jakartaglobe.id
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PM Anwar says ‘deeply moved’ by Sheikh Al-Azhar’s visit to Malaysia
04 Jul 2024
PUTRAJAYA, July 4 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has described the special visit of the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif (Sheikh Al-Azhar) Prof Ahmad Muhammad Ahmad At-Tayyeb to Malaysia as a great honour, recognising the visit from a highly respected and revered figure in the Islamic world.
He said Sheikh Al-Azhar, currently on a four-day special visit to Malaysia until tomorrow, was renowned as a leading scholar who had made significant contributions to the Islamic world for centuries.
“On behalf of my colleagues, especially from the Malaysian Government, I am deeply moved by the fact that when I extended my invitation to the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, he immediately accepted and arranged for this meeting tonight,” he said in his welcoming speech at the Majlis Ilmu MADANI: ‘Distinguished Speaker Series’ here yesterday, attended by more than 400 guests.
Also present were the Prime Minister’s wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir, and director-general of the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia, Datuk Hakimah Mohd Yusoff.
Anwar noted that besides having a strong stance on the Palestinian issue, Sheikh Al-Azhar was also very knowledgeable about current issues.
“He wants Muslims to lead in matters of digital technology, Artificial Intelligence, energy transition, and he urges Muslims not to fall behind in exploring new fields of thought and technology.
“For this reason, he will also be directly involved in the World Future’s Summit in New York. This, to me, represents a significant role in strengthening Islam, adhering to Islamic faith and morality, while continuing to progress and advocate for change in fields that Muslims need to explore.
“Therefore, I believe his presence, InsyaAllah, will be beneficial, as he emphasises the importance of enhancing the understanding of Islam,” he said.
The special visit by Sheikh Al-Azhar, who holds the status of Prime Minister according to the Egyptian Constitution, marks a historic moment in bilateral relations between Malaysia and the Arab Republic of Egypt, and demonstrates the strong ties and close cooperation between the two countries in efforts to develop a progressive and dynamic Muslim community.
Meanwhile, in his lecture titled ‘The Role of Morality and Tolerance in Building a Madani Nation’, Sheikh Al-Azhar urged Malaysians to maintain harmony among the multiracial community.
“I also remind those present to take guidance from the Prophet Muhammad in terms of interactions among Muslims and between Muslims and non-Muslims,” he said, speaking in Arabic, which was translated into Bahasa Melayu. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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2,794 domestic violence cases reported nationwide from 2021 to 2023 - Nancy Shukri
04-07- 2024
PETALING JAYA: A total of 2,794 cases of domestic violence were reported nationwide from 2021 to 2023, according to Women, Family, and Community Development, Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri.
These cases involved both men and women.
“Of these, 773 cases were reported in Selangor, specifically 81 cases in the district of Klang,“ she told the Dewan Rakyat.
She was responding to a question by V. Ganabatirau (PH-Klang) regarding the statistics of domestic violence cases recorded in Klang from 2021 to 2023.
Nancy mentioned that actions taken against domestic violence cases in Klang included one case receiving an emergency protection order.
Additionally, seven cases were given temporary protection orders, and five cases received protection orders.
She further detailed that eight cases received counselling at the Department of Social Welfare (JKM) office, and 41 cases were provided with advisory services at JKM offices.
“Four cases were referred to other agencies and three cases relocated to separate protection centres. Four cases returned to living with their parents, one case withdrew their application, and seven cases are under investigation,“ she added.
She also provided a breakdown of domestic violence cases by ethnicity in Klang: 37 cases involved Indians, 23 Malays, nine Chinese, six non-citizens, four cases from other ethnicities and two cases involving indigenous Sarawakians.
Source: thesun.my
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Indonesia to Send 27 Athletes to Paris Olympics
July 4, 2024
Jakarta. The Indonesian contingent for the Paris Olympics will comprise 27 athletes, with the country again relying heavily on badminton to secure medals.
The latest additions to the team are swimmers Joe Aditya Wijaya Kurniawan and Azzahra Permatahani, who qualified through the Universality Places -- quotas allocated for nations with traditionally small delegations.
Sprinter Lalu Muhammad Zohri also earned his ticket to Paris through the program.
In the previous edition of the multi-sport event held in Tokyo, Indonesia won a gold medal thanks to the pair Apriyani Rahayu and Greysia Polii in badminton women’s doubles.
Badminton players make up a third of the entire Indonesian contingent.
Here is the list of Indonesian athletes for the Paris Olympics:
Diananda Choirunisa (archery)
Arif Dwi Pangestu (archery)
Rio Waida (sailing)
La Memo (rowing)
Eko Yuli Irawan (weightlifting)
Fathur Gustafian (shooting)
Rizki Juniansyah (weightlifting)
Rifda Irfanaluthfi (artistic gymnastics)
Rahmad Adi Mulyono (sport climbing)
Desak Made Rita Kusuma Dewi (sport climbing)
Bernard van Aert (cycling road)
Jonatan Christie (badminton)
Anthony Sinisuka Ginting (badminton)
Gregoria Mariska Tunjung (badminton)
Fajar Alfian (badminton)
Muhammad Rian Ardianto (badminton)
Apriyani Rahayu (badminton)
Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti (badminton)
Rinov Rivaldi (badminton)
Pitha Haningtyas Mentari (badminton)
Nurul Akmal (weightlifting)
Veddriq Leonardo (sport climbing)
Rajiah Salsabillah (sport climbing)
Maryam March Maharani (judo)
Lalu Muhammad Zohri (athletics)
Joe Aditya Wijaya Kurniawan (swimming)
Azzahra Permatahani (swimming)
Source: jakartaglobe.id
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Malaysian National Allegedly Masterminds Indonesia's Largest Synthetic Drug Factory
July 4, 2024
Malang. A Malaysian national is alleged to be the mastermind behind a synthetic drug factory in Malang, East Java. The case, unveiled by the Narcotics Crime Directorate of the Indonesian National Police's Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim), is the largest of its kind in Indonesia.
Commissioner General Wahyu Widada, head of Bareskrim, said the Malaysian national controlled the drug manufacturing process remotely using video conferencing applications.
"The perpetrators and the mastermind do not know each other personally as they are controlled via television and audio only," Wahyu said in Malang on Wednesday.
At the synthetic drug factory, authorities seized evidence including 1.2 tons of synthetic marijuana, 25,000 ecstasy pills, and 25,000 Xanax pills. Additionally, 40 kilograms of synthetic marijuana raw materials, equivalent to 2 tons of finished products, were confiscated.
Furthermore, precursors that could be produced into 2.1 million ecstasy pills were also seized. The total value of the confiscated evidence is estimated at approximately Rp143.5 billion.
Wahyu revealed that the Malaysian national managed the synthetic drug factory, which was disguised as an event organizer's office. The office was located on Bukit Barisan Street, Pisang Candi, Sukun District, Malang.
According to Wahyu, the Malaysian national provided instructions to several suspects in the factory to produce synthetic marijuana, ecstasy, and Xanax. The police are currently investigating further and pursuing the Malaysian national.
"The Malaysian national gave tutorials on the production process, including the methods and mixtures. He is currently being hunted by us," Wahyu emphasized.
Wahyu added that the perpetrators and the Malaysian national had no personal acquaintance and only interacted through the video conference application. There was an intermediary who recruited the suspects in Indonesia.
"The suspects were recruited. The Malaysian national and the suspects in Indonesia do not know each other because there is a recruiter in between. We are also searching for this person," he said.
With this lack of direct connection, the masterminds and suspects in Indonesia attempted to break the chain to avoid detection.
The police are currently conducting further investigations and developments to dismantle the narcotics production network.
"They try to disconnect the links between the mixers, the chefs, and the distributors in Jakarta, so they do not know each other," Wahyu explained.
On Tuesday, the National Police uncovered Indonesia's largest drug factory in Malang. This discovery was a result of an investigation into a synthetic marijuana transit site in Kalibata, Jakarta.
From the combined operations, police arrested eight suspects with various roles. Suspect YC, 23, a resident of Karang Asih Village, North Cikarang, Bekasi Regency, was the mixer of the narcotics into finished products.
FP, 21, a resident of Karang Bahagia, Bekasi Regency, assisted in preparing the equipment. FP, DA, 24, AR, 21, and SS, 28, also from Bekasi Regency, shared similar roles.
RR, 23, IR, 25, and HA, 21, also from Bekasi Regency, served as the distributors or couriers of the narcotics. Of the eight suspects, five were arrested at the drug factory in Malang.
Source: jakartaglobe.id
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Pakistan
Five People Including Former Senator Killed in Bajaur Bomb Blast
July 03, 2024
BAJAUR: Former senator Hidayat Ullah's vehicle was targeted via a "remote-controlled" bomb, leaving the lawmaker killed along with four others in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Bajaur district, police said on Wednesday.
The incident took place in Bajaur’s Damadola village where the former senator's vehicle was targeted via a remote-controlled device, Deputy Superintendent Police (DSP) Bakht Munir said.
Hidayat, who was a former independent senator from erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata), was killed in the bomb explosion along with four others, he added.
He went to Damadola village in connection with the electioneering of a candidate in the PK-22 constituency — Najeeb Ullah Khan — who is his nephew. He faced the horrific bomb attack while returning to Bajaur’s headquarters, Khar town, police said.
According to the police, Malik Irfan from the tribal district's Niag Banda area and Nazar Deen from Nawagai town were also among the deceased in the horrific explosion which completely destroyed the vehicle.
Hidayat belonged to an influential political family whose father was former National Assembly Lawmaker Haji Bismillah Khan and his brother was former governor Shaukat Ullah.
He was elected as an independent senator twice — from 2012 to 2018 and 2018 to 2024 — besides serving as the Upper House's Standing Committee for Aviation's chairman and a member of the National Counter-Terrorism Authority (Nacta).
The Bajaur incident drew condemnation from President Asif Ali Zardari, Senate Chairman Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani, Federal Minister for Interior Mohsin Naqvi, and others.
President Zardari strongly condemned the terrorism incident and mourned for the deaths of the ex-senator and other persons in the Bajaur bomb blast. He expressed condolence with the families of the deceased persons and prayed for eternal rest of departed souls.
Senate Chairman Gilani termed it a "coward attack" and expressed sorrow over the loss of precious lives in the Bajaur incident.
In a statement posted on Senate chairman office's X account, he said that senator Hidayat Ullah has worked tirelessly for the welfare and prosperity of the people and the country which will be remembered forever.
He also condemned the terrorism incident and vowed that the culprits behind the attack would be taken to justice soon.
Interior Minister Naqvi also condemned the Bajaur bomb blast and extended condolences to the families of the victims.
The latest incident occurred in the KP’s tribal district after Pakistan witnessed a spike in terrorist attacks, specifically in areas bordering Afghanistan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces which were attributed to banned outfit Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
However, it is not clear yet whether the killing of the former senator is linked to terrorism.
Source: thenews.com.pk
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PM for promoting Pak-Azer-Turkiye economic cooperation
July 04, 2024
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has stressed on the need to formulate a strategy to promote Pakistan-Türkiye-Azerbaijan trilateral cooperation in multiple sectors including economy, energy, tourism, meteorology, culture, education and Information Technology..
He was addressing an inaugural session of Pakistan-Turkiye-Azerbaijan Trilateral Summit, held on the sidelines of SCO Summit at Astana in Kazakhstan.
The Summit was also attended by President of Turkiye Recep Tayyip Erdogan and President of Azerbaijan Ilham Heydar Aliyev.
The Prime Ministe underscored that Pakistan deeply values its fraternal ties with Azerbaijan and Turkiye which are grounded in deep rooted cultural, historic and religious bonds.
The Prime Minister affirmed Pakistan's commitment to work together with Turkiye and Azerbaijan to elevate the tripartite cooperation into a strong multifaceted partnership across all areas of mutual interest.
Source: radio.gov.pk
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PM expresses deep sorrow over loss of precious lives in Bajaur explosion
July 04, 2024
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has expressed deep sorrow over the death of three people including former senator Hidayatullah in an explosion at Damadola in Bajaur.
In a statement, he prayed forgiveness for the departed souls and commiserated with the bereaved families.
Terming the terrorists as enemies of peace and democracy in the country, Shehbaz Sharif said that they cannot lower the morale of the Pakistani nation.
The Prime Minister vowed to end the menace of terrorism from the country.
Source: radio.gov.pk
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Terrorist commander killed in Bajaur IBO
July 03, 2024
A terrorist Commander Irfan Ullah alias Adnan has been killed in an intelligence based operation by security forces in Bajaur District.
According to ISPR, he was actively involved in numerous terrorist activities against security forces as well as extortion and target killings of innocent civilians, and was highly wanted by the law enforcement agencies.
Locals of the area appreciated the operation and expressed their full support to security forces in eliminating the menace of terrorism from the country.
Source:
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Three martyred in roadside bomb blast in Bajaur
July 03, 2024
Three people including a former Senator Hidayatullah Khan were martyred and three others injured in a roadside bomb blast in Dama Dola area of Bajaur today.
According to Rescue 1122, the injured were shifted to Tehsil Headquarters Hospital Khaar.
Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari has expressed deep grief over the death of former Senator Hidayatullah and others in bomb blast.
In his message, he strongly condemned the terrorist incident and ommiserated with the bereaved families.
Source: radio.gov.pk
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Khyber police on high alert after TTP threat
July 4, 2024
KHYBER: Police were placed on high alert throughout the Khyber district while additional checkposts were established on different routes after receipt of secret information about possible attacks from the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan on different police stations.
Sources in Tirah said TTP had prepared at least three teams each comprising 10 fighters under the collective command of commander Abuzar with two groups assigned the task of carrying out attacks in parts of Tirah, while the third was dispatched to Bara for possible attacks on Meelwat and Bara police stations.
It was also learnt that TTP commander for Akkakhel area in Tirah issued a warning to local shepherds to desist from bringing their cattle for grazing in the hills as they suspected some shepherds were allegedly spying on them for security forces and passing information about their secret movements.
The TTP affiliates, sources in the region said had conveyed a message that they would avenge the killing of some of their colleagues in a recent intelligence-based operation in Tirah.
Upon receipt of the security alert, police in Bara and other parts of Khyber have intensified their checking of suspected vehicles and motorcycles with establishment of additional checkpoints.
Police have also begun a crackdown on vehicles with tinted glass, while police patrolling has also been intensified.
In a statement issued from Shah Kas Police Centre, district police officer Saleem Abbas Kulachi said night patrolling of all the entry and exit points was in progress.
Security forces killed at least seven militants during an intelligence-based operation in Tirah, while an FC official and a policeman were martyred in a terror attack on Takhtabeg checkpost in Jamrud on July 1.
Source: dawn.com
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Pak-Russia ties stand strong, PM Shehbaz tells Putin
July 03, 2024
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday told Russian President Vladimir Putin that Islamabad and Moscow's relationship stands independently and emphasised the need to further enhance bilateral cooperation.
During their meeting, the premier said: "Our relations stand on our own strength, neither our relations are driven by any geopolitical contingency nor are these impacted by our relations with other countries."
The prime minister is currently in Kazakhstan's capital of Astana to attend the twin Summits of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of State and SCO plus.
PM Shehbaz emphasised the need to overcome financial and other banking issues to expand barter trade between Pakistan and Russia.
In his exclusive meeting with the Russian president today, he said Pakistan has long business relations with Russia. He recalled that Pakistan used to import a lot of machinery and goods from Russia and export textile and leather goods under the barter trade.
The premier further said the two countries can certainly enhance trade, which is at the moment, touching one billion dollars, Radio Pakistan reported.
He also commended the Russian top leader for promoting cooperation in the field of energy at his request. He added Pakistan has received a shipment of oil from Russia and there is a need to further move in this direction.
As regards bilateral relations between both countries, PM Shehbaz said these ties have been on a positive trajectory over the last many years and this is a matter of great comfort for the two countries.
The prime minister, on the occasion, also expressed the desire to work closely with President Putin to further cement bilateral relations.
During his ongoing visit to Kazakhstan, PM Shehbaz was accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar, senior cabinet members and officers.
The prime minister will present Pakistan's perspectives on key regional and global issues at the SCO Heads of State meeting. He will also address the SCO plus summit, a PM Office press release said.
He will present Pakistan's position on key regional and global issues, emphasising the importance of the global organisation's role for the welfare of the SCO region's people.
The prime minister is also likely to attend a round of trilateral meetings between Pakistan, Turkiye and Azerbaijan expected to take place on Wednesday (today).
Source: thenews.com.pk
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Arab World
Saudi metal band set to make history at German festival
July 03, 2024
JEDDAH: Saudi heavy metal band Wasted Land will perform at what metalheads describe as “one of the most prestigious (music) festivals on the planet.”
Wacken Open Air, the annual hard rock and heavy metal festival which attracts nearly 100,000 headbangers to the eponymous town in Schleswig-Holstein, will be held from the first weekend in August with bands from all over the world.
Wasted Land won the Middle East Wacken Open Air Metal Battle in Jeddah in early May, earning the opportunity to represent Saudi Arabia in the festival’s international finals for the first time in history. The event was supported by the German Consulate and European Music Week in Saudi Arabia.
The band will perform on the same stage as some of the best-known metal bands from around the world, including Scorpions, Amon Amarth, Blind Guardian, In Extremo, Pain and Beast In Black.
Band members are vocalist Emad Mujallid, founders and guitarists Ayman Al-Ghamdi and Ahmed Khoja, bassist Mahmoud Al-Tayeb, and drummer Tameem Helmi.
Speaking to Arab News, Mujallid, Al-Ghamdi and Khoja said it was “unreal” and “like a dream come true” to perform at Wacken Open Air.
“With an opportunity like this, it actually brings it to reality that you could do what you love,” Mujallid said.
Al-Ghamdi added: “Yesterday, we were dreaming (of finding) tickets to attend this big festival. Now, in (a) few days, we will be standing on the stage with (the) best in the world. Just being there is an achievement for the first-ever Saudi metal band.”
“For any metal band, playing at Wacken Open Air is a dream of all time. It’s the ultimate stage where legends are gathered,” said Khoja. “We are honored to represent Saudi Arabia at such a huge global event.”
Wasted Land was formed in 2004 and was at the forefront of the battle to prove that heavy metal could exist in Saudi Arabia. The band’s sound is a unique blend of melodic death metal and groove metal. It draws on inspiration from metal bands such as the Suidakra, from Germany, and In Flames from Sweden.
Their journey from Jeddah’s low-key music scene to performing at Wacken Open Air is one of highs and lows, breakup and reconciliation. The members have survived “a crazy amount of lineup and management changes” — but each time they face a challenge, they continue to strive for success.
Khoja described 2004, when he started to gather the band together, as a testing period.
“Times weren’t always so rosy,” he said, referring to the departure of some band members and issues around performing live, releasing songs on streaming platforms, and promoting themselves to their community.
“Basically, our identity was hidden and our musical plays were kept in the basement,” he added. Happily, things have changed.
“The Saudi music scene today is in its best era and the reforms also provided a path for other businesses in the entertainment industry to thrive,” Al-Ghamdi said. “I hope all types of music gets the same attention and support.”
Mujallid added: “I think that Saudi Arabia’s music culture is flourishing right now, and I hope that they will be more open to supporting all genres of music rather than focusing on a few and ignoring others, like rock, jazz, blues, and even heavier music like metal.”
The band members also expressed their appreciation to the German Consulate in Jeddah for its backing, and especially to German Consul General Dr. Eltje Aderhold who will attend the festival to support this remarkable milestone.
Wasted Land is one of the first metal bands to play in Egypt and Dubai and have also opened for international bands like Lacuna Coil and Moonspell.
They were featured in Saudi filmmaker Abdulrahman Sandokji’s documentary “Underground,” which followed the Saudi music scene. The band has also released an album, along with several singles and videos.
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Saudi culture ministry calls for creative nominees
July 03, 2024
RIYADH: The Ministry of Culture has opened nominations for the National Cultural Awards Initiative.
The public can submit their nominations for those who have achieved excellence in various cultural sectors by Thursday.
This can be done through the electronic platform dedicated to the fourth National Cultural Awards Initiative via the link: https://ncajp.moc.gov.sa/.
After the deadline, there will be a sorting, evaluation and arbitration stage for the nominations through specialized committees.
The winners will be announced at the initiative’s closing ceremony, which will be held in September.
The awards include the film award, the fashion award, the music award, the national heritage award, the literature award, the theater and performing arts award, the visual arts award, the architecture and design arts award, the culinary arts award, the publishing award, and the translation award.
The National Cultural Awards Initiative, launched in 2020, is part of the National Culture Strategy under the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.
It aims to acknowledge the achievements of individuals and cultural institutions and support the Kingdom’s international roles in stimulating international cultural exchange.
In its previous three rounds, the initiative honored a group of local and international individuals and cultural institutions in appreciation of their cultural and artistic efforts.
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Change of dates for International Saudi Falcons and Hunting Exhibition
July 03, 2024
RIYADH: Following a change of start date, the International Saudi Falcons and Hunting Exhibition will now take place from Oct. 3 to 12.
It is organized by the Saudi Falcons Club, which said that it aims to promote the hobby of falconry with an exhibition about the birds, hunting and related activities, and through the event introduce younger generations to the heritage of the Kingdom and the nation’s cultural and civilizational identity.
The event will also feature a platform, described as the first of its kind in the country, for selling hunting weapons. Saudi companies, representing more than 55 global brands, will showcase weapons and ammunition, organizers said, including special and rare editions for hunting enthusiasts.
The Saudi Falcons Club also announced a change of dates for the Melwah Racing event, which will now take place between Oct. 7 and 12 at the club’s headquarters in Malham, north of Riyadh. This competition holds great importance for falconers, as it serves as a precursor to the Saudi Falcons Club Cup and the King Abdulaziz Falconry Festival, and gives falconers a chance to assess and develop their birds’ abilities.
Meanwhile, AlUla Falcons Cup, considered the world’s richest falconry event, will take place from Feb. 9 to 15, 2025, in the heritage village of Mughayra. This competition, organized by the Saudi Falcons Club in partnership with the Royal Commission for AlUla, is expected to attract elite falconers from the Kingdom and around the world.
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MEWA launches alliance on agricultural and food technologies
July 04, 2024
RIYADH: At least 40 entities from the public and private sectors in the Kingdom have signed up with the newly organized Saudi Alliance for Agricultural and Food Technologies, with the aim of coming up with solutions to increase efficiency and abundance in agricultural and food products, and achieve safe and sustainable supply chains.
Deputy Minister Mansour bin Hilal Al-Mushaiti of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MEWA) led the launch on July 3, 2024 in Riyadh, according to a report of the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
The alliance's founding partners include the Research, Development and Innovation Authority; King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST); and Topian, a subsidiary of NEOM, as founding partners.
Also signing up were major local companies in the agriculture and food production sector, companies providing advanced technologies in the agricultural field, a number of universities and research centers, financing and investment funds and companies, and non-profit organizations.
"The alliance aims to create a community of those interested in the agricultural and food technology sector, contribute to building bridges between actors in this sector, and build an integrated network that stimulates the dissemination of agricultural food technologies at the national level," the report said.
In a speech during the launching ceremony, Al-Mushaiti challenged the participants to push forward their research and innovation efforts to help the Kingdom achieve its ambitious national goals.
He explained that "the compass of the Kingdom's vision today is moving towards achieving sustainability, through a sustainable environment that preserves natural resources and achieves sustainable water and food security."
Al-Mushaiti took the occasion to point out that the national strategies adopted by MEWA had paved the way for many successes, including an increase in local agricultural production's contribution of 109 billion riyals ($29 billion) to the Kingdom's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2023, the highest ever contribution of the sector, said the report.
With the various entities under one roof now, Al-Mushaiti said he hopes to see the figures further increasing as participants step up their contributions in finding sustainable solutions to challenges facing the agriculture and food sector, especially in light of the increasing local and global demand for food and disruptions to global supply chains.
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Saudi defense minister meets president of Turkiye’s Defense Industry Agency, Haluk Gorgun
July 04, 2024
RIYADH: As part of an official visit to Turkiye, Saudi Arabia’s minister of defense, Prince Khalid bin Salman, on Wednesday met in Istanbul with the president of the nation’s Defense Industry Agency, Haluk Gorgun, and the heads of leading Turkish companies.
They reviewed opportunities for cooperation in the military and defense sectors, in line with the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 plan for national development and diversification, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
In addition, the prince witnessed the signing of several agreements between Saudi and Turkish companies. He also also visited the offices of Turkish Aerospace Industries in Ankara, and Turkish defense company Baykar in Istanbul.
In a message posted on social media platform X, he said: “During my visit to Turkiye, I had the opportunity to see the capabilities of several leading companies in the space and defense industries. I explored their innovative technological projects and latest products, as well as their future plans and strategies.”
Prince Khalid’s visit to Turkiye began on Tuesday, when he met in Ankara with representatives of the Turkish defense company Aselsan, who briefed him on its projects and latest products and services.
The minister was accompanied by the chief of the general staff, Lt. Gen. Fayyadh Al-Ruwaili; the assistant minister of defense, Talal Al-Otaibi; the assistant minister of defense for executive affairs, Khalid Al-Bayari; and the Saudi ambassador to Turkiye, Fahad Abualnasr.
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Ithra launches national Formula 1 schools competition
July 03, 2024
RIYADH: The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture, also known as Ithra, is set to host the third Formula 1 in Schools National Competition from July 4-13.
Twenty Saudi teams with 120 students will compete at the center’s headquarters in Dhahran, vying for a chance to represent Saudi Arabia on the global stage.
The competition serves as a qualifying round, with the top three teams earning the right to represent the Kingdom at the international competition in November, where they will face teams from 40 countries.
These 20 teams emerged victorious from regional competitions across six regions of the Kingdom, which initially involved 270 students.
More than 38 local and international coaches provided intensive training to the participants, guiding them in designing model cars that simulate Formula 1 vehicles.
The program aims to develop awareness of various sciences, technology and mathematics according to high-precision educational and engineering standards.
It offers students a comprehensive journey that combines scientific imagination with purposeful competition, culminating in a final product showcased globally.
The competition offers a variety of events for visitors and students, including an exhibition dedicated to Formula 1 driver attire, artistic installation of a full-scale replica of a Formula 1 car made from 10,000 water bottles and recycled materials, in addition to an interactive pit stop experiences, both real and virtual.
Visitors can also participate in designing their own car box covers in an art workshop and try their hand at interactive driving simulations using eight different Formula 1 simulation modes.
Panel discussions will cover various topics related to car manufacturing and design, featuring influential figures in the world of Formula 1 who will share their inspiring stories.
The Formula 1 in Schools program, supported by Ithra, is one of the world’s leading educational initiatives for school students.
It aims to raise awareness of STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) among students globally.
The program covers topics including physics, aerodynamics, design, manufacturing, branding, graphic design, sponsorship, marketing, leadership, teamwork, media skills, and financial strategies. Students apply their learning in a creative and competitive environment, mirroring Formula 1 teams on a smaller scale.
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Africa
Women, children trapped at church in Sudan’s capital endure hunger, bombardment
July 03, 2024
KHARTOUM: Trapped in a Catholic mission sheltering dozens of women and children from the war raging on the streets of Khartoum, Father Jacob Thelekkadan punched new holes in his belt as the supplies of food dwindled and he grew thinner.
Around 80 people are taking refuge inside the Dar Mariam mission, a Catholic church and school compound in Khartoum’s Al-SHajjara district, caught in the crossfire between Sudan’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), according to accounts by the priest and seven other people at the mission.
The roof of the main building has been damaged by shells, and parts of the nuns’ quarters have been set ablaze. Holes caused by stray bullets mark the mission’s walls.
As food has grown scarce, the nuns have boiled tree leaves for the children to eat and many of the adults have skipped meals.
A Red Cross effort to rescue them in December ended with two dead and seven others wounded, including three of charity’s staff, after gunmen opened fire on the convoy, forcing it to turn back before it could reach the mission. The warring sides traded blame for the attack.
Thelekkadan said he and the nuns had refused offers from the army to ferry them out across the river permanently, leaving the families behind.
“When the road is safe, we will be the first to leave, but with the people,” said Thelekkadan, a 69-year-old Indian national.
Many of the inhabitants of Sudan’s capital fled after the conflict erupted in April last year, enveloping Khartoum and its sister cities of Bahri and Omdurman along the Nile, and quickly spreading to other parts of the country.
At the start of the war, the RSF occupied strategic sites and residential neighborhoods in Khartoum, positioning snipers on high-rise buildings. The army, lacking effective ground forces, responded with heavy artillery and air strikes.
The Dar Mariam mission became a safe haven for those lacking the money to flee or without anywhere to go.
Photos shared with Reuters by Thelekkadan show parts of the mission’s buildings littered with debris, walls heavily damaged by bullets or shelling, and rooms and corridors blackened by smoke.
“Our food situation became very bad,” said Thelekkadan. “We’re all very weak.”
Extreme hunger has spread across Sudan in areas worst affected by the conflict, prompting famine warnings for areas including in Khartoum.
10 MILLION DISPLACED
Some families took shelter at the mission in June last year, hoping for protection from its concrete roof. But the area soon became cut off as the RSF pressed to capture the strategic Armored Corps camp about 2 km away, one of several military bases it was targeting, Thelekkadan said.
Al-SHajjara district has come under heavy attack by the RSF. Those living nearby with the money to do so have registered with the military to be taken across the Nile; some have been waiting for months.
But a nighttime evacuation by boat across the White Nile is considered too risky for the children at the mission, Thelekkadan said.
Sudan’s war has created the world’s biggest internal displacement crisis and has driven nearly 10 million people to seek shelter inside or outside the country, according to the International Organization for Migration.
Reuters has documented how the fighting has triggered ethnically-charged killings in the western region of Darfur and led to the spread of deadly hunger.
The war has also caused unprecedented destruction in the capital, which was sheltered from modern Sudan’s previous conflicts. Both warring factions have impeded the delivery of humanitarian relief, aid workers say, leaving civilians dependent on charity provided by groups of neighborhood volunteers, among others.
An RSF media official said the paramilitary had tried to allow for the evacuation of the families by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), but the army had thwarted the effort and was using them as human shields.
An army spokesman said the families had been trapped by the war, and that troops from the Armored Corps had done their duty by protecting and helping them, in line with army practice in other conflict-hit areas.
Numbers have fluctuated, but since March about 30 women along with 50 children aged 2-15 have stayed at the mission, according to Thelekkadan. His account was confirmed by two of the nuns, an administrator and four women sheltering at the mission, two other priests who have kept in touch with Dar Mariam, and an army intelligence officer responsible for churches in Khartoum.
Those staying at the mission are mostly Christian refugees from South Sudan and Ethiopia, who set up tents made from plastic sheeting around the compound’s buildings, which include a church, a school and a residence.
When fighting starts nearby, they take cover inside the residence. Some poor Sudanese Muslim families have also sought temporary shelter at the mission.
WAITING FOR EVACUATION
The bombardments in November shredded an image of the Virgin Mary at the compound’s entrance, ripped through the second floor of the main building, and set the roof on fire. Several people were lightly injured.
RSF snipers had the entrance to Dar Mariam in their sights. A boy from the neighborhood was killed when mortar shrapnel sliced into his head after he had helped carve out an exit at the back of the compound to avoid sniper fire, Thelekkadan said.
The mission’s residents had been trying to survive “a lot of shooting and bombing,” sister Miriam, one of the nuns, told Reuters in a video call.
“We got used to it and we are not afraid. God is protecting us, but we are waiting for evacuation,” she said.
Thelekkadan and the nuns turned their most secure room into a shelter to try to protect the children from the crossfire. They attempted to distract the children from the violence raging around them, creating a space to use bicycles in the yard and encouraging them to play video games.
“We tried to not make them feel like they are in a prison,” Thelekkadan said.
In early January, the mission was caught in the crossfire again and rooms in the nuns’ residence were set ablaze.
Food has been a challenge. By September, cash was running low, and collecting supplies from local markets became nearly impossible due to clashes.
The children have often received meagre servings of porridge, lentils and beans. But stocks dwindled.
Since February, troops stationed at the Armored Corps camp have delivered some airdropped provisions to Dar Mariam, including sugar and fuel for generators used to draw water from wells, Thelekkadan said.
The army also provided a Starlink connection, allowing those at the mission to use their phones again. They flew the priest and an administrator twice to Port Sudan, a Red Sea city to which army and government offices have relocated, to meet church officials and collect some cash and supplies.
Sister Celestine, another of the nuns, said she is still gripped by fear each time bombardments shake the area.
“I would like to be out of here,” she said. “I want to get out and write a book about everything that happened.”
The fighting has shown little sign of abating.
“These past four days have become very trying for all of us in Dar Mariam and people around as explosions, bombings, gunfire etc have become more intense and frequent!” Thelekkadan said in a message on June 19. “Please do continue to pray for us.”
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Unemployed Youths Are Risks To National Security – Dare To FG
3 July 2024
Sunday Dare said unemployed youths are national security risks. He said palliatives as a cushion for lack of employment are only a “drop in the bucket”.
Dare said palliatives only buy time, and the time should be used to enact laws that would create jobs for the youths
The Former Minister of Youths and Sports, under ex-president Muhammadu Buhari, called for full implementation of the Nigeria Youth Employment Action Plan (NYEAP).
He said Endsars’ protest in October 2020 ought to have brought the attention of lawmakers to the need to make laws that would address youths’ unemployment.
“Youth palliatives only buy time, a drop in the bucket. The time bought should be used to enact laws that create jobs for the youth, that protect the unemployed and that drill down on the full implementation of the Nigerian Youth Employment Action Plan, (NYEAP).
“From the point of view of the securitization theories we must move the youth unemployment issue to a level where state actors and decision makers must address it as an existential threat to our country. EndSars saga ought to have woken our lawmakers up to this realism,” Dare said.
On his X handle, he called on youth advocacy and lobby groups to push the issue of youth unemployment. He said enough advocacy and lobbying are required. He called on the National Assembly to make laws that would favour youths.
He further emphasized the need for technical education, provision of needed infrastructure for training and a deliberate youth entrepreneurship policy.
“The Youth advocacy and lobby have not been enough to push the issue of rising youth unemployment onto the national security agenda. Our lawmakers must view our army of unemployed youth as a national security risk and make laws that will favor youth development.
“The government has a role. And it’s critical. How did the Asian countries combat youth unemployment? State policy. Emphasis on technical education, provision of needed infrastructure for training, upskilling and a deliberate youth Entrepreneurship policy,” Dare added.
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Terrorism Charge: South East Senators To Meet Fagbemi On Kanu
3 July 2024
Under the umbrella of Concerned Federal Lawmakers for Peace and Security in the South East, the region’s senators will be led by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe.
Abaribe, who was one of the former surety for the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, will lead other senators of the region to meet the federal government’s lead prosecutor, Fagbemi (SAN), on Wednesday (today).
Senator Abaribe’s Special Assistant on Media confirmed to newsmen that his principal would lead the meeting slated to hold at the Conference Hall of the AGF at the Federal Ministry of Justice, in Abuja.
The call for Nnamdi Kanu’s release has heightened since he was arrested in Kenya in 2021 by ex-president Muhammadu Buhari-led administration in Kenya.
South East Governors Forum, on Tuesday, agreed to meet President Tinubu to discuss the release of the IPOB leader.
Also, former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, called on the federal government to release Kanu. Speaking to newsmen in his Onitsha residency, Obi said there was no reason for the continued detention of the IPOB leader. He advised the federal government to obey court rulings on Kanu’s release.
Kanu’s lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor had argued that Supreme Court’s ruling on 15 December 2023 was enough to ensure the IPOB leader’s release. On his X handle, Ejimakor said the call for Kanu’s release was proper.
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Can Senegal’s Faye play peacemaker and help a splintered West Africa bloc?
3 Jul 2024
Nearly a year ago, West Africa seemed alarmingly on the verge of war. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) was threatening “military intervention” in Niger if the leaders of the country’s July 26 coup did not immediately relinquish power and free President Mohammed Bazoum.
After the military government in Niamey failed to respond, ECOWAS activated a standby force, raising alarm bells across the region as citizens began to protest the move.
Burkina Faso and Mali – Niger’s fellow military-led neighbours who were already suspended from the bloc – joined with Niamey to form the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) and pledged to defend against any attacks, threatening to widen the conflict.
Tempers then calmed, but only slightly. ECOWAS backtracked, instead slapping crippling sanctions on Niger, blocking its land and air borders, cutting off electricity supply from neighbouring Nigeria, and freezing commercial transactions. On January 29, the AES states jointly declared their exit from the ECOWAS, sending shockwaves through the regional bloc that was already seen as weak.
Since, ECOWAS leaders have been scrambling to get the AES back into the bloc by lifting sanctions on Niger; but that has, thus far, failed to appease the alliance before a January 2025 deadline, when the divorce will be official. The bloc’s fracturing, experts have said, could roll back more than five decades of regional diplomacy, disband military cooperation amid rising insecurity in the region, and cripple economic ties.
As both sides standoff, Senegal’s recently elected President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has attempted to play a “soft” peacemaker, urging ECOWAS to respect states’ sovereignty, and prompting military government leaders to accept dialogue.
“I am nobody’s mediator,” Faye, who does not have an official ECOWAS mandate to resolve the crisis, clarified during a tour of the AES countries in May. But the region’s multiple crises, he pointed out, require collective effort. “We must join forces to tackle common challenges such as terrorism, climate change, and poverty,” he said.
Faye is particularly well placed to reconcile the bloc because he was not yet in office last year when ECOWAS threatened to invade Niger and enjoys goodwill from the military trio, Olakounle Yabi Gilles, head of the West Africa Citizen think tank (WATHI), told Al Jazeera.
“He enjoys credibility already given the special circumstances around his election.”
Faye’s peace mission
Faye, 44, was sworn in on April 2, following one of Senegal’s most tumultuous elections. Outgoing President Macky Sall had delayed general elections in a move widely seen as an attempt to cling to power, forcing ECOWAS to hold emergency meetings during which leaders pressured Sall to stick to a set election timetable. Faye and his ally Ousmane Sonko, who is now prime minister, won a landslide in the March elections.
In May, Faye paid respects to his much older counterparts in Nigeria, Ghana and Ivory Coast, and touched on the sore topic of ECOWAS’s impending breakup, pointing out the need for unity to tackle mass immigration, insecurity and democratic rollbacks in the region as AES members have pushed back election dates.
“Your wisdom and your democratic values should be an asset … and my youth and determination can also be an asset,” Faye told President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria, the current ECOWAS chair, in Abuja. “I am convinced we can open a window of opportunity to discuss.”
Tinubu, who led the initial charge to invade Niger but met unexpectedly strong resistance domestically, urged Faye to “meet those other brothers to persuade them to come back to the fold”.
However, experts have said there are significant challenges for Senegal’s president, a new face in regional diplomacy. AES leaders have pledged to push ahead with their plans. In March, the countries’ military chiefs said a joint force was in the works to combat armed groups in the tri-border region of Liptako-Gourma.
In April, after Faye touched down in Mali and held talks with the interim president, Colonel Assimi Goita, he told reporters that Goita was rigid, but “not totally inflexible” on ECOWAS. He reported a similar atmosphere after speaking to Burkina Faso’s military leader Captain Ibrahim Traore in Ouagadougou. “We must not be discouraged,” Faye told reporters in Bamako.
Analysts have said the peace mission is important to Faye and his fiery Prime Minister Sonko because they share the same views on former colonial power, France.
“Sonko has personal relations with some AES leaders,” said Alioune Tine, founder of Dakar-based think tank Afrikajom Center. “They are all of the same generation and also share sovereignist ideas.”
Bamako, Niamey and Ouagadougou have already cut or downgraded ties with France since 2022, sending back more than 4,000 troops and recruiting Russian mercenaries amid a surge in violence by ISIL (ISIS) and Al Qaeda-linked groups that control swaths of territory. In May, Sonko also raised the possibility of shutting French army bases in Senegal which housed about 350 troops.
Senegal’s historical peacemaker role is also a factor influencing Faye’s push, Gilles of WATHI added.
“Senegal has always enjoyed a role of mediator, especially in The Gambia,” he said, referring to when Dakar led the ECOWAS military mission that deposed Yahya Jammeh who refused to step down after his election loss in 2017.
It’s that big brother role that Faye is trying to revive, Gilles said, as Abuja founders.
ECOWAS decline
When the 16-country ECOWAS was created in 1975, it aimed to boost economic integration. But as it strengthened, its mandate broadened to include peacekeeping and enforcing the rule of law. Mauritania’s unexplained exit in 1999 makes current membership 15.
In its heyday, ECOWAS proved a formidable force, experts note. Nigerian-led ECOWAS troops were pivotal in taking back rebel-held territories and ending the devastating civil wars that racked Sierra Leone and Liberia in the 1990s, representing what is widely seen as the first effective regional security initiative on the continent.
But a recent wave of military coups in the region, internal insecurity and politico-economic instabilities in dominant member states like Nigeria have decimated ECOWAS’s strength and shrunk its influence, experts have said.
It was that age-old glory, some speculate, that a then-newly elected President Tinubu of Nigeria appeared to want to revive last year when he led the charge to invade Niger.
Tinubu himself was a freedom fighter during Nigeria’s coup era. When he accepted to chair ECOWAS on July 9, 2023 – days before the Niger coup – there had been five coups in the region since 2020. He promised to shed the bloc’s “toothless bulldog” image, but his actions backfired.
Not only did Tinubu meet uproar on the homefront as Nigerians baulked at the thought of war amid a biting economic downturn, but the fact that ECOWAS eventually backtracked further made it look like a dog without bite, wrote Nnamdi Obasi of the International Crisis Group.
Analysts have said ECOWAS looks set to be on the back foot in the looming split. The AES countries combined contribute a small 8 percent of ECOWAS’s $761bn gross domestic product, but they have a population of more than 80 million – about a quarter of the bloc’s total. Continuing transnational security pacts are also at risk, including the Multinational Joint Task Force of Nigeria and Niger, which is fighting the armed group Boko Haram.
Nigeria, in particular, would be hit hard. Abuja is a lead contributor to ECOWAS’s peacekeeping missions and hosts the ECOWAS Administrative headquarters, Parliament, and Court of Justice. For decades, Nigeria’s power in ECOWAS has helped cement its influence not just in the region, but on the continent as a whole.
Economic and familial ties with AES member Niger means Nigerian border communities were some of the worst affected during last year’s crisis and would be again if the split becomes permanent.
The AES, meanwhile, may suffer fewer economic consequences, analysts said. All three are part of the West Africa Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA), a francophone community for countries that share the common CFA currency. Like ECOWAS, the countries – Senegal, Guinea Bissau, Ivory Coast, Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso – also enjoy low trade tariffs and free movement, meaning any visa or trade restrictions from ECOWAS could be bypassed fairly easily. Landlocked Niger, which is dependent on Nigeria for electricity and agriculture exports, could be the only exception.
Despite Faye’s best intentions, the AES states have few incentives to rejoin ECOWAS, and thus, their bullish stance. In May, Mali and Burkina Faso extended their transitional governments by three and five years respectively. Already, the alliance has said it does not recognise ECOWAS’s one-year policy for exits and claims its January withdrawal was immediate.
“But that should not be seen as a failure of Faye’s mediation skills or as a lack in his leadership qualities,” Gilles of WATHI pointed out, noting that the odds were not in Faye’s favour.
The way forward would be for ECOWAS to keep the door open to the AES countries, especially in the long term, and anticipate when democratic transitions may happen, analysts said.
To do so, some have suggested ECOWAS keep staff who are AES nationals, and invite the alliance to important meetings. ECOWAS defence chiefs met in Abuja on June 27 to mull over plans for a region-wide “counterinsurgency” force but AES countries shunned invitations to the meeting.
“The position of ECOWAS now should be: Let’s accept, let’s keep the door open, and let’s not confuse the politics of one temporary government with the larger interests of the citizens of those nations,” Gilles said.
Source: aljazeera.com
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