VHP, Other Hindutva Outfits Protest Arrest of The Accused in the Junaid-Nasir Murder case, The ‘Gau Rakshak’ Monu Manesar

New Age Islam News Bureau

06 October 2023

 

Monu was to be brought to Gurgaon on September 26 in connection with a case at Pataudi police station. (Photo: File)

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India

·         Youth Detained InGoa For Remarks On Islam, Prophet Muhammad

·         FIR against Maulana for sexually molesting minor girl in Madrasa in Ranchi

·         J&K: 3 army officers among 5 personnel injured as colleague opens fire, explodes grenades inside camp in Rajouri

·         As Afghan school in Delhi downs shutters, pupils left in lurch face uncertainty
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South Asia

·         Amnesty International Urges Pakistan to Reconsider Decision to Deport Afghan Immigrants

·         Islamic Emirate: Pakistan's Decision to Expel Afghan Refugees ‘Unjust’

·         Education Ministry Striving to Provide Religious, Modern Education

·         Concerns Mount About Pakistani Arrests, Deportations of Afghans

·         Muttaqi Discusses Economic Cooperation at Trans-Himalaya Forum

·         Durrani: TTP 'in Afghanistan' Should Be Returned or 'Neutralized'

·         Afghanistan’s Embassy in New Delhi continues operations: India’s Foreign Ministry

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North America

·         How American Occupation Of Syria Enables Terrorist Attacks Like In Homs

·         CAIR Applauds Introduction of Youth Voting Rights Act to Empower Young Voters

·         U.S. Supreme Court to Hear CAIR, Law Office of Brandon Mayfield Case about Muslim Man Removed from No-Fly List

·         Muslim Parents Seek a Path Forward After Protests Over LGBTQ Rights In School

·         Tupac Shakur murder suspect Duane 'Keffe D' Davis appears in court

·         Washington Post: Biden plans November meeting with China’s Xi

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Europe

·         European Parliament Condemns Taliban with ‘Gender Apartheid’ Resolution

·         EU member states forge crucial accord to tackle illegal immigration crisis

·         France forced to leave Niger

·         Putin weighs in on Canadian parliament Nazi scandal

·         EU parliament backs sanctions against Azerbaijan

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Mideast

·         Top Iranian, Saudi Diplomats Stress Need To Boost Mutual Cooperation In Several Fields

·         UAE Strongly Condemns Ongoing Storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque Courtyard By Settlers

·         Iran, Syria FMs call for regional coop. on fighting terrorism

·         Palestinian youth killed during settler assault on West Bank town

·         Turkiye threat to Kurdish militants a ‘shot across the bow’ to US, analysts say

·         Nearly 4 million people in Lebanon need humanitarian help but less than half receive aid, UN says

·         3 Palestinians killed as fresh violence erupt in flashpoint town of Hawara

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Arab World

·         Major Find Points To 6,000-Year-Old Human Settlement in Saudi Arabia’s Hail Region

·         Saudi Arabia Condemns Israeli Official for Storming Courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque

·         Qatar Debate discusses bridging gaps between govts, Muslims

·         Qatar strongly condemns settlers' storming of Al Aqsa Mosque

·         Tree-mendous: Green Riyadh Project arrives in Al-Nakheel

·         Saudi FM meets with Italian counterpart

·         Saudi Arabia condemns terrorist attack that killed 29 soldiers in Tabatol

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Southeast Asia

·         Indonesian President Receives Secretary-General Of Muslim Council Of Elders And Delegation

·         Claims Of Political Talk in Rawang Mosque: High Court Orders Preacher Ahmad Dusuki to File Defence In Fahmi Fadzil’s Suit By October 20

·         Bartender sentenced to 18 months' jail for splashing paint, damaging cars

·         Three killed in crash involving six motorcycles at coastal highway in Terengganu

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Africa

·         Muslim Muslim Ticket Not Best for Nigeria, Atiku Insists 

·         Uganda: Opposition leader arrested upon landing at national airport

·         Burundi: Former PM bail release denied by Supreme Court

·         Mauritius repeals colonial-era anti-same-sex law

·         Niger: Algerian mediation “welcome”, says Nigerian diplomacy

·         How Abuja’s ‘one chance’ victim was attacked before her death – Co-passenger

·         Nigeria’s president faces new challenge to election victory as opposition claims he forged diploma

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Pakistan

·         Imran Transferred to Adiala Jail Without His Consent, Claims Lawyer

·         Police let 623 refugees go over valid documents

·         PM reaffirms Pakistan's unwavering support to Kashmiris

·         Petition against Elahi’s arrest: SC asks which law prevents arrest of an accused

·         To get ECP disqualification overturned: PTI chief moves IHC for suspension of Toshakhana verdict

·         Pakistani, Afghan FMs meet amid growing tensions over deportation of refugees

Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau

URL:     https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/vhp-gau-rakshak-hindutva-manesar/d/130840

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VHP, Other Hindutva Outfits 'Will Hold Mahapanchayat to Protest the Arrest of The Alleged Murderer of Two Muslims, The ‘Gau Rakshak’ Monu Manesar

 

Monu was to be brought to Gurgaon on September 26 in connection with a case at Pataudi police station. (Photo: File)

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By: Express News Service

Gurgaon | October 5, 2023

Members of the VHP and other outfits Wednesday announced that a Mahapanchayat will be held in Gurgaon to protest against cow vigilante Mohit Yadav alias Monu Manesar’s arrest.

Monu was arrested last month by the Haryana Police for allegedly uploading “objectionable and inflammatory” posts under a fictitious name on social media. Hours later, he was handed over to Rajasthan Police, which had been looking for him for the past several months in connection with the murder of two men, Nasir and Junaid, in February this year.

During a panchayat at Manesar’s Baba Bhishma Mandir on Wednesday, VHP member Devender Singh said that Monu was innocent and not involved in any offence. “It was our village’s panchayat today, which was attended by the sarpanch and other villagers. After October 7, we will hold a panchayat and take this matter up with the government. Mamman Khan (Ferozepur Jhirka MLA) was a part of the conspiracy behind the Nuh violence and he got bail. We have to ensure that Monu faces no injustice and he is safe. Monu was implicated,” he claimed.

Dharmender Singh, a former cow vigilante, present at the panchayat said that Khan faced four FIRs and got bail, while Monu faced one and is still in jail.

Monu was to be brought to Gurgaon on September 26 in connection with a case at Pataudi police station. Though a production warrant was issued, he couldn’t be brought. Police said he will be produced at a Pataudi court on October 7.

Meanwhile, the leader of the Gau Raksha Dal, Haryana, Acharya Azad Singh Arya, called for a meeting of Hindu groups at the Gurgaon DC office Friday to submit a representation against Monu’s arrest.

Source: indianexpress.com

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https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/mahapanchayat-protest-monu-manesar-arrest-vhp-outfits-8969161/

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Marking The Historic Moment Bangladesh Became The 33rd Nation to Be a User of Nuclear Fuel

 

Photo: The Nation Thailand

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Oct 6, 2023

Marking the historic moment Bangladesh became the 33rd nation to be a user of nuclear fuel, Russian President Vladimir Putin termed the Rooppur power plant a symbol of strong bilateral ties between Dhaka and Moscow.

"Both countries have interests in this project, and it will have a huge contribution to Bangladesh's energy and economic security," he said while addressing the uranium handover ceremony at the plant site in Ishwardi yesterday.

Putin joined the ceremony from Moscow via a video link while Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina attended the event virtually from the Gono Bhaban.

Adorned with flags of the Russian Federation and Bangladesh, the plant site wore a festive look as Bangladesh officially received the first batch of the fuel for the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant from the project's Russian contractor Rosatom.

Rafael Mariano Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), joined the ceremony through video conference.

Terming Bangladesh a tested friend and development partner, the Russian president said the relations between the two countries are based on mutual equity and respect, BSS reports.

Putin said Russia and Bangladesh established ties more than 50 years ago. "At the beginning of the 1970s, the Soviet Union had extended support to East Bengal in its struggle for independence and rebuilding the newly independent country."

Russia is one of the first countries to recognise Bangladesh.

Putin also recalled last year's celebration of the golden jubilee of the diplomatic relations between the two countries and Bangabandhu's historic visit to Moscow.

"Bangabandhu's visit to Moscow was a historical milestone for building ties between the two countries," Putin said, adding, "Sheikh Hasina successfully and with dignity is carrying forward her father's tasks."

Congratulating Bangladesh, he said, "The flagship project meets the interests of both countries and promotes the further deepening of mutually beneficial cooperation."

In her speech, Hasina said, "… the nuclear power plant is another step towards building Smart Bangladesh."

She said the plant has been designed and built keeping in mind natural disasters. She also mentioned that Russia promised to take back the spent fuel.

"We will use nuclear energy to protect peace," she said, expressing her firm commitment to elimination of nuclear weapons worldwide and to the implementation of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, BSS reports.

She said it was a day of great pride and joy for the people of Bangladesh.

"Due to the relentless efforts of the Awami League government, Rooppur nuclear power plant is becoming a success today [Thursday] through the adoption of nuclear fuel."

The PM said her government enacted the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory Act and established an independent Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority. The BAERA has ensured safety at every level of the plant by maintaining close liaison with the IAEA, she added.

She said the Nuclear Power Plant Company Bangladesh Limited (NPCBL) has been formed through a separate legislation to manage the power plant.

Hasina said the goal is to generate power from the first unit of the plant in 2024 and from the second unit in 2025.

At the outset of the ceremony, a documentary on the manufacturing and delivery of the uranium fuel assembly was screened.

The power plant's Project Director and Managing Director of the NPCBL Md Shawkat Akbar made an introduction to the plant and Science and Technology Minister Yeafesh Osman delivered the welcome address.

Director General Alexey Likhachev of Rosatom, the nuclear energy corporation of Russia, also spoke at the event.

Congratulating Bangladesh, IAEA DG Grossi said the plant would help develop Bangladesh through environment-friendly power generation.

Andrei Petrov, first deputy director general of Rosatom, on behalf of Putin handed the prime minister at the Gono Bhaban a certificate of fuel delivery. Rosatom DG Likhachev handed over a model of the fuel assembly to Minister Yeafesh at the plant site.

Rosatom is building the 2,400MW power plant, and its first unit, with a 1,200MW capacity, is set to be operational next year.

The first batch of the nuclear fuel (uranium rods) reached Bangladesh on a special cargo plane from Russia on September 28. It was transported to the plant site on September 29.

Source: thedailystar.net

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https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/diplomacy/news/strategic-partnerships-neighbours-peaceful-region-momen-3435821

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Interfaith Harmony Day Event in US Brought Together Representatives from Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, and Buddhism

 

Photo:  BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha

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06th October 2023

By Express News Service

BENGALURU:  The BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham in Robbinsville, New Jersey, USA, on Wednesday saw a group of 20 representatives from major faiths coming together in an assembly titled Interfaith Harmony Day, marking a significant highlight within in a week-long series of celebrations leading up to the grand dedication ceremony of the Akshardham Mahamandir on October 8.

Earlier in the day, the second of three sessions of the Murti Pratishtha (idol consecration) ceremony was presided over by His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj to mark the consecration of the idols of Ram, Sita, Hanuman, Lakshman, Shiva, Parvati, Ganesh, Kartikeya, Krishna, Radha, Tirupati Balaji, and the revered lineage of Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) spiritual gurus. The third idol consecration will take place along with the grand dedication ceremony of BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham on October 8, according to a press release issued by BAPS.

The Interfaith Harmony Day event brought together representatives from Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, and Buddhism, and was a testament to the core principles of Akshardham, wherein unity emerges from diversity, and the common threads that bind humanity together are celebrated with reverence and appreciation.

Throughout the event, attendees engaged in interfaith dialogues, prayers, and cultural exchanges through a vibrant and enlightening experience highlighting the shared values, ethics, and principles that connect individuals across religions. The Interfaith Harmony Day was a vivid reflection of faith, unity, and selfless service, showcasing the power of faith to bridge divides and strengthen the bonds of humanity, for which Akshardham serves as a platform.

His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj expressed his joy in seeing the gathering of various spiritual and religious leaders, stating: “We share the same sky, the same earth. We breathe the same air, drink the same water, and we are all God’s children. This is the message of Akshardham.”

Addressing the audience, Pujya Brahmaviharidas Swami said, “We believe that the essence of religion is harmony, and this forms the core belief of Hindu dharma, Sanatan Dharma ... We may be birds of different feathers and different flights, but we all belong to the same nest on this Earth, which is our spiritual home.”

Bishop Darin Moore, Chair of the Governing Board of the National Council of Churches said, “We are truly on holy ground today. This monument that has been erected, the wonderful way in which the architects have given so much detail is awe-inspiring. But what makes this powerful most of all is the people who are part of this great movement.”

Source: newindianexpress.com

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https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/karnataka/2023/oct/06/interfaith-run-up-to-akshardham-temple-in-us-2621249.html

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Sweden On Quest to Restore Trust with Muslim Countries; Meetings with Saudi Arabia, Oman and Algeria Possible

 

According to Billström, Sweden’s efforts to regain the trust of the OIC countries began in earnest during the UN General Assembly in New York in September and will be intensified with planned trips to Oman, Saudi Arabia and Algeria soon. [EPA-EFE/ANDERS WIKLUND SWEDEN OUT]

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Charles Szumski

Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billström will soon hold new meetings in Saudi Arabia, Oman and Algeria to rebuild trust following this year’s multiple Quran burnings, Billström said on Thursday.

While talks between Swedish representatives and the Organisation of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC) during last week’s UN meeting in New York have improved the currently rather strained relations, Billström believes there is still work to be done.

“It will take a long time to rebuild trust. My priority for the remainder of my mandate will be to work with these states”, he said to the Swedish press.

Sweden has witnessed several Quran burnings over the summer, which, while permitted and protected under the umbrella of freedom of expression, have seriously damaged Sweden’s image in the Muslim world.

Thousands of people demonstrated in several Muslim-majority countries, and OIC called an emergency meeting of 57 foreign ministers.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, among others, called on his citizens to protest against Sweden, emphasising national unity over the Quran.

In addition to the protests, Iraq broke off diplomatic relations with Sweden, ambassadors were recalled, and the embassy in Baghdad was violently stormed.

A disinformation campaign also emerged online, targeting several Muslim-majority countries, with false claims that Swedish social services are involved in child abduction.

According to Billström, Sweden’s efforts to regain the trust of the OIC countries began in earnest during the UN General Assembly in New York in September and will be intensified with planned trips to Oman, Saudi Arabia and Algeria soon.

“My impression is that we have made some progress through intensive diplomatic efforts. We have talked to several states this summer about how we see the situation in Sweden,” said Billström.

One step in rebuilding trust is to explain to Muslim countries that while Sweden takes the Quran burnings seriously, it intends to remain a country where religion can be criticised, even in ways that may offend believers, Billström stressed, while reminding that Sweden also has many friends in the Muslim world.

“Sweden has every interest in reconciliation with the OIC countries, given the growing number of its citizens who come from these countries,” a source close to the matter told Euractiv, adding that this was a perfect pretext for Turkey to block Sweden’s NATO bid for months.

However, it has been revealed by Turkish President Erdogan himself that Turkey will say yes to Sweden’s NATO bid if the US keeps its promise to sell F-16 fighter jets to Ankara.

Asked about this on SVT‘s Aktuellt programme, Billström said that this was an important message from Erdogan but that Sweden was not involved in the deal at all.

Source: euractiv.com

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https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/sweden-on-quest-to-restore-trust-with-muslim-countries/

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Curious to know Islam, Japanese visit Türkiye-run Tokyo Mosque

 

Muhammet Rıfat Çınar, imam of the Tokyo Mosque, speaks to Anadolu Agency (AA), Tokyo, Japan, Oct. 4, 2023. (AA Photo)

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OCT 05, 2023

Tokyo's central landmark, the Tokyo Mosque, has become a welcoming destination for thousands of Japanese visitors eager to gain a deeper understanding of Islam.

Muhammet Rıfat Çınar, the imam at Tokyo Mosque, which is affiliated with the Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet), shared insights during an interview with Anadolu Agency (AA) on the occasion of the Mosques and Religious Officials Week, celebrated between Oct. 1 to 7.

Çınar described how they had warmly welcomed guests to the mosque, particularly from prestigious Japanese universities such as Waseda, Keio and Meiji. These visits provide an opportunity to introduce Japanese visitors to Islamic civilization.

He noted that an increasing number of master's and doctoral students are directed toward researching Islamic topics, and among the most significant appointment requests to visit the mosque come from academics.

In addition to conducting in-person visits, Çınar has conducted remote and face-to-face interviews on Islamic subjects such as zakat, foster brotherhood and divorce in Islam.

Çınar also highlighted the scarcity of resources on Islam available in local publications. To address this gap, the Presidency of Religious Affairs has published nearly 30 reference works in Japanese, which have been distributed to over 100 mosques across Japan.

The Tokyo Mosque has witnessed a significant influx of visitors, with hundreds of individuals visiting the mosque without appointments on weekdays. The numbers soar to over a thousand on weekends when various activities are scheduled. In total, Çınar estimated that around 50,000 visitors, both with and without appointments, visit the Tokyo Mosque annually.

Çınar also took the opportunity to extend his greetings to his colleagues who played a vital role in constructing the Tokyo Mosque and continued their work there.

Among the visitors was a Japanese television broadcaster, Hashimoto, who chose to bring her filming team to the Tokyo Mosque to introduce Islamic civilization to Japanese society. She wore a headscarf while filming inside the mosque and expressed her interest in learning the intricacies of Islamic teachings. The footage she captured will be broadcast on a national television program.

Naito, a university economics student, mentioned his curiosity about the original Holy Quran and how his visit to the mosque allowed him to explore it.

Jouman, an employee of the Shibuya Municipality, had visited the mosque four times due to its proximity to his workplace but admitted he knew little about the Tokyo Mosque. He praised the mosque's beautiful architecture and shared that, when the weather permitted, he enjoyed sitting in its courtyard, listening to music.

An Indonesian organizer named Diah observed Japanese people traveling to learn about Islam during his visits to the mosque. He expressed his happiness at witnessing this cultural exchange and interest in Islam among the Japanese community.

Source: dailysabah.com

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https://www.dailysabah.com/turkiye/curious-to-know-islam-japanese-visit-turkiye-run-tokyo-mosque/news

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India

 

Youth detained in Goa for remarks on Islam, Prophet Muhammad

October 5, 202

Panaji : A-27 year unemployed local resident has been detained by Goa police for allegedly involved in posting objectionable remarks on social media against Islam and the Prophet Muhammad.

On September 30, tension prevailed in some parts of Goa after some persons allegedly posted defamatory messages on social media which hurt the sentiments of the Muslim community.

Muslim organisations had filed police complaints in Panaji, Margao, Ponda, Mapusa, in this connection. Subsequently FIRs were registered in Ponda and Margao police stations in South Goa.

They had also lodged a complaint with the cyber crime department, submitting that the persons who created fake accounts on Instagram, and allegedly made some objectionable remarks against Prophet Muhammad and Islam, should be arrested.

Superintendent of Police (cyber crime) Akshat Kaushal, IPS, on Wednesday addressed a press conference and informed that one of the main accused persons is apprehended, which is a major breakthrough.

“FIRs were registered in Ponda and Margao police stations. The accused person has been handed over to them, they will make further process of arrest,” Akshat Kaushal said.

He said that Cyber police were investigating the case and it was a big challenge for them to liaison with social media companies, as they are having servers in foreign countries, to get details.

“Presently we can not disclose the name of the accused person as more persons could be arrested in this case. He is a local resident and his family has said that he was undergoing some form of medical treatment,” he said, adding medical papers of the accused person will be verified.

He said that the investigation is in the preliminary stage and police will find out how many accounts were created and persons involved in it. — IANS

Source: muslimmirror.com

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https://muslimmirror.com/eng/youth-detained-in-goa-for-remarks-on-islam-prophet-muhammad/

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FIR against Maulana for sexually molesting minor girl in Madrasa in Ranchi

06th October 2023

By Mukesh RanjanExpress News Service

RANCHI: An FIR has been lodged against a Maulana of a local Madrasa in Ranchi allegedly for sexually molestation a minor girl by showing obscene videos to her when no one was around. According to the FIR lodged at Ormanjhi Police station in Ranchi by the victim’s father, the Maulana used to make the 11-year-old girl sit on his lap forcefully and showed obscene videos to her.

According to locals, she has been doing such shameful acts with other girls also but they could not complain to their parents out of fear. Many girls go to the Madrasa for studies.

Interestingly, during the investigation, the police found that no one in Madrasa had any idea where he came from, despite the fact that he had been teaching there for the last two years. The 30-year-old Maulana, Imam Ansari is still at large, they said.

“After lodging an FIR, the police have launched a drive to arrest the Maulana,” said the officer in charge of Ormanjhi police station Alok Singh. The matter was revealed after the girl was reluctant to go to the Madrasa for the last week and revealed everything before them when they asked her why she did not

wanted to go there, he added.

The victim told her parents that the Maulana used to make her sit on his lap and showed obscene videos to her and often touched her body.

Source: newindianexpress.com

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https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2023/oct/06/fir-against-maulana-for-sexually-molesting-minor-girl-in-madrasa-inranchi-2621396.html

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J&K: 3 army officers among 5 personnel injured as colleague opens fire, explodes grenades inside camp in Rajouri

PTI Rajouri 06.10.23

At least five army personnel, including three officers, were injured when an officer allegedly opened fire and exploded grenades inside a camp in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday, official sources said.

The officer, said to be of the rank of major, opened fire on his colleagues without provocation during a shooting practice session and then took shelter in the armoury of the unit and lobbed grenades at his superiors who moved near the building in an effort to persuade him to surrender, the sources said.

The tense situation lasted nearly eight hours before the officer was overpowered inside the armoury. The incident took place at the Neeli post near Thanamandi in the district.

The army evacuated a village in the close vicinity of the armoury as a precautionary measure, they said.

The army, however, claimed that an officer was injured in a likely grenade accident at a post in Rajouri.

"On 05 Oct 23 one officer was injured in a likely grenade accident at a post in Rajouri sector. Officer evacuated and stable post initial treatment. Further investigation of the incident in progress," the White Knight Corps of the army posted on X.

The sources said there was a firing practice going on at the camp for the past several days and the accused officer started firing on his colleagues and subordinates without any provocation on Thursday.

Later, he took shelter inside the armoury of the camp and hurled grenades when the commanding officer, along with his deputy and medical officer, moved near the building in an effort to persuade him to surrender, the sources said.

All the three officers were injured when a grenade, hurled by the accused, exploded near them, they said, adding the condition of the second-in-command of the unit was stated to be "critical".

Two other soldiers were also injured in the indiscriminate firing by the accused who was overpowered around 11 pm, the sources said.

On the incident, Jammu-based defence PRO Lt Col Suneel Bartwal said in a message, "I have received calls about some firing/terrorist attack on army camp in General Area Rajouri. I would like to inform you that no terrorist attack has occurred, it is an unfortunate internal incident of the camp."

Source: telegraphindia.com

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https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/jammu-and-kashmir-3-army-officers-among-5-personnel-injured-as-colleague-opens-fire-explodes-grenades-inside-camp-in-rajouri/cid/1971429

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As Afghan school in Delhi downs shutters, pupils left in lurch face uncertainty

By Sadia Akhtar

Oct 06, 2023

New Delhi “Everything was going well at the school... It was a tiny school, you know, and we had no space to play football or tennis but it was still a lot of fun. Now there’s no school and no fun,” said a morose 14-year-old Yosuf Noor.

He is one of the 180 Afghan students who went to the Sayed Jamaluddin Afghan school in Bhogal – till it shut doors over 20 days ago.

A Class 8 student, Noor came to India from Kabul with his parents and siblings in 2019 in a bid to find a safe home. In 2020, he enrolled in the school in southeast Delhi – the only one for Afghani students in the Capital

The school was set up in 1994 by an NGO, and till 2021, the rent of the school building, salaries for teachers, and even books were taken care of by the Afghan government. After the collapse of the Ashraf Ghani regime and the return of the Taliban, the embassy stopped receiving funds from the new dispensation. Months later, the Indian government stepped in to help run the school.

The school, which did not take any fee from the students, was starved of funds and had to move out of its original location in Bhogal to a cramped eight-room apartment in the same area.

The 180 students and 15 teachers faced another crisis this month — people familiar with matter said on Friday that Afghan diplomats appointed by the previous government decided to close the embassy’s operations from October 1. However, external affairs ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi told a media briefing that the embassy continues to function.

Raheema Waheedi, the school principal, said, “The school was driven to closure after electricity was cut off due to non-payment of bills. The school was supported by the Embassy of Afghanistan here but they stopped responding to our requests beginning of the year.”

She said that the embassy has not paid the teachers’ salary for the past eight months and the rent has been pending for three months.

Farid Mamundzay, the last Afghan ambassador to India appointed by the Ashraf Ghani government, said that the embassy could not sustain its support to the school in the absence of funding. “Funding from the Indian government for the Afghan school halted since the start of this year. The Afghan embassy contributed some resources to the school, but sustaining support was beyond our means,” said Mamundzay.

He added that the Indian government could extend support and ensure the school’s continuity at a time when it has no access to support from Kabul. “The Afghan school requires less than $100,000 annually to sustain its operations. This modest amount can make an immeasurable impact on the lives of hundreds of students. We looked for solutions to ensure the school’s continuity and still hope that a solution could be found by the Indian government.”

With the school suspending operations, over 180 children including Noor find themselves at home – lost and confused.

“We came here due to safety concerns as my father is a musician. He was at risk there due to the Taliban. When we got here, I first studied online due to the pandemic. I only started going to the school properly last year,” said Noor. Children were taught English, Pashto, Dari, Arabic, math, physics, and geography, among other subjects, at the school.

Since most students are not fluent in Hindi or English, their enrolment in private or government schools in Delhi is tricky. Although Delhi government schools in the Capital admit refugee students, only a few are able to meet the age requirements for admission.

Under the Right to Education (RTE), there is a provision for a special training centre (STC). Children without documents can be admitted to the STC according to their age, and for six months to two years, the Centre works towards bridging their learning gap. Once the bridge course is completed, they are brought into the mainstream. The provision, however, does not extend to children above the age of 14 years.

This is why the Afghan school was crucial to the community that dots the city.

The abrupt closure of the school has clouded the future of Class 12 students, who are unsure if they will receive the school completion certificate that is supposed to help them with their future career prospects to some extent.

Zamzama Kohistani, 19, who completed Class 12 this year, said, “I am yet to receive a certificate of school completion. The past two years have anyway been tough for our school. Somehow, I managed to complete my education but just towards the end, the school shut down once again... The future looks bleak.”

Then there is Sohrab Khairkhawa, a Class 7 student, who has been helping his mother run her dry fruit shop in east Delhi’s Laxmi Nagar ever since the school shut down. “I miss playing chess with my classmates, I also miss my teachers,” he said. His family left Kabul for India in 2016 amid escalating conflict in the region.

Mohammad Qais Malikzada, deputy of the Afghan solidarity committee, a representative body of the community in India, said, “We want the Indian government to help in the reopening of the school and support the Afghan students and teachers as we don’t have any support from the Afghanistan government or the embassy.”

There was specific response from Indian authorities on the issue.

The closure of the school has left children such as Noor and Khairkhawa with no alternative but to pause their education.

Thirty-five-year-old Hassanzada, who runs a grocery shop in Bhogal, has found a temporary solution to his children’s woes – private tuition. “Since July, teachers have been telling us that they haven’t received their salaries and this situation is unsustainable, so I pulled my children out of there,” said Hassanzada, whose son and daughter studied in classes 3 and 4, respectively. The tuition costs him ₹1,500 per subject per month for each child – a hefty expenditure for him.

“My children studied in a school in Kabul till we moved to India in 2021. They started school here last year after many struggles... And now, they are out again,” he said. “Tuition is expensive. I don’t know how long I can pay for it. I might have to discontinue even this soon unless the school reopens.”

For Noor’s family, the problem is two-fold as the teenager’s mother Mehbooba Noor was also employed as a teacher at the school. “I have not been paid for the last six months. Since the pandemic started, my husband, who is a musician, has not been able to find any work either. It’s extremely difficult to manage the house,” she lamented.

Mehbooba recalled that since the school shut down in September, teachers have been receiving over 50 calls a day from worried parents and students with one question – what next? “We are helpless and don’t know what to tell them... We can’t pay the rent or the electricity bills from our own pockets,” said Mehbooba, who taught Arabic and the Quran at the school.

For now, Noor stares at an uncertain future, while his mother tries to keep him busy with all that she can teach him at home. “I was a part of the choir at school. I even composed and sang those songs there... I miss that now,” he said.

Source: hindustantimes.com

Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original

https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/delhi-news/as-afghan-school-in-delhi-downs-shutters-pupils-left-in-lurch-face-uncertainty-101696568125797.html

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South Asia

 

Amnesty International Urges Pakistan to Reconsider Decision to Deport Afghan Immigrants

2023-10-05

KABUL (BNA): Amnesty International has expressed concern over Pakistan’s decision to deport Afghan refugees residing in the country.

The organization has called this decision alarming and is urging the Pakistani government to revoke it.

Amnesty International has appealed to the Pakistani government to support Afghan immigrants and allow them to return to their home country voluntarily.

This appeal comes in response to the interim government of Pakistan’s recent announcement that Afghan immigrants have a one-month deadline to leave the country.

Source: bakhtarnews.af

Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original

https://bakhtarnews.af/en/amnesty-international-urges-pakistan-to-reconsider-decision-to-deport-afghan-immigrants/

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Islamic Emirate: Pakistan's Decision to Expel Afghan Refugees ‘Unjust’

Naweed Samadi

October 05, 2023

The acting Minister of Defense, Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid, speaking at the 14th graduation ceremony of the police academy in Kabul, condemned the latest decision of Pakistan’s caretaker government to expel Afghan refugees by October 31, calling it an “unjust” decision.

Mujahid said that the decision will harm bilateral relations between Kabul and Islamabad.

The acting minister urged the Pakistani people and clerics to stop such “violent” actions against Afghan refugees in the country.

Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid also called on Afghan investors who have invested in Pakistan to stop investing in their host countries and use their assets for the self-sufficiency of Afghanistan.

“This is an unjust decision and an unfair decision. We ask Pakistan’s citizens, its religious clerics and political elders, to stop these officials who are committing this kind of terror and cruelty to Afghans,” the acting Defense Minister said.

Speaking at the 14th graduation ceremony of the police academy in Kabul, the deputy foreign minister, Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, reacted to Pakistan's decision to expel Afghan refugees from its soil, saying that the decision was out of line with the manners of neighbor countries and international laws.

Stanikzai called on Pakistani officials to behave with their language in gatherings and not harm the bilateral relations by making allegations against Afghans.

“We have solved our security and economic problems and we have experience in this regard and if Pakistan wants, we can provide them consultation in solving the problems,” he said.

The deputy foreign minister said that Afghans have freed Pakistan from the Soviet Union invasion along with Afghanistan, and that if the “Mujahideen didn’t fight, the Soviet Union would extend to Gwadar," a city in Pakistan. He urged the US and European countries to engage with the Islamic Emirate and stop “making threats."

Acting Minister of Interior, Sirajuddin Haqqani, at the graduation ceremony, asked the world to stick to what they have pledged to the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.

Haqqani noted that security has been ensured in the country and an inclusive government has been created in Afghanistan.

Referring to the activities of political and jihadi parties over the past decades, Haqqani said that Afghanistan was divided because of them.

"We have Uzbek brothers, Tajiks, Hazaras, Pashtuns, and other different peoples with us here in the system in all departments, and today among these security forces. What do we need that the world mocks us saying that you should create an inclusive government? Alhamdulillah, the slogan of inclusiveness is present in our body,” the acting minister of interior further noted.

This comes as Pakistan’s caretaker government decided to expel Afghan refugees by October 31, an issue with sparked reactions inside and outside the country.

Source: tolonews.com

Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original

https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-185405

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Education Ministry Striving to Provide Religious, Modern Education

Hadia Ziaei

October 06, 2023

The Acting Minister of Education, Habibullah Agha, said at the ceremony celebrating International Teacher's Day that the ministry is working to improve educational opportunities for students in the country.

Speaking at the ceremony, which was held at Amani High School in Kabul, the Acting Minister of Education called education a necessity for the progress and self-sufficiency of the country.

"The Ministry of Education is dedicated to providing its educational services in the areas of religious and modern education in all parts of Afghanistan in a balanced manner,” Habibullah Agha said.

Mullah Abdul Salam Hanafi, the Islamic Emirate's second deputy prime minister, said during the event that strengthening education is one of the Islamic Emirate's top priority. "Some parts of Afghanistan were deprived of education over the years or had neither schools nor madrasas. The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is trying to build schools and madrasas in all parts of Afghanistan," Hanafi said.

The Administrative Office of the Islamic Emirate said education was an issue in talks.

“There were talks with the world regarding the relations. The negative answer of the Americans, and non-recognition, was conditional on that the education curriculum should be according to their wishes. The government did not accept,” said Noorulhaq Anwar, the head of the Administrative Office of the Islamic Emirate.

According to Mullah Abdul Salam Hanafi, the Islamic Emirate's second deputy prime minister, during the two years of the Islamic Emirate's rule, the Ministry of Education organized and regulated 10 million students in 18,498 schools and madrasas with more than 200 thousand teachers.

Source: tolonews.com

Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original

https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-185414

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Concerns Mount About Pakistani Arrests, Deportations of Afghans

October 05, 2023

Afghan immigrants in Pakistan asked the caretaker government of Pakistan to reconsider its decision regarding the expulsion of Afghan refugees.

Some Afghan immigrants said that in recent days, Afghans with legal documents have been arrested by Pakistani police.

Bibi Laila, a 45-year-old Afghan woman, has been living in Pakistan for more than 40 years.

Police recently arrested her 24-year-old son Attaullah, the oldest of her four children.

(Police) arrested him although he had the identity document. If he has committed any crime, they should charge him. He has been arrested only for being an Afghan. If he didn't have an identity document (issued by the Pakistan government) with him, it would have been understandable. We have documents that we obtained from the government after a lot of effort. But if we are arrested like this, what is the value of this document that I have in my pocket?,” said Qurban Nazar, the uncle of an arrested Afghan refugee.

"I appeal to the government to release all the refugees as early as possible. The government should make a policy for the Afghan refugees. It can’t be done without a clear policy. The refugees have been living here since 1979. Now the government wants us to leave, all of a sudden. How can we leave? People should be given at least three years so that they can properly wind up their businesses,” said Abdullah Shah Bukhari, a community leader for Afghan refugees.

"Pakistan's deadline of 27 days started today. If they leave voluntarily during this period, it is better, otherwise they will be arrested and deported to their own country,” said Zaman Zaman, head of the Afghan refugee council in Karachi.

In the meantime, Amnesty International and the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan asked Pakistan to reverse its decision regarding the expelling of Afghan immigrants.

Responding to reports that the Government of Pakistan has ordered all unregistered Afghan refugees to leave the country by November 2023, Nadia Rahman, Amnesty International’s Interim Deputy Regional Director for research in South Asia, said: “They are living incredibly precarious lives where they are either having to undergo arduous processes for registering as refugees in Pakistan; or are stuck in lengthy processes waiting to obtain relocation to another country. A forced return to Afghanistan could put them at grave risk.”

“Amnesty International urges the government of Pakistan to continue its historic support for Afghan refugees by enabling them to live with dignity and free from the fear of deportation to Afghanistan where they face persecution by the Taliban,” said Nadia Rahman.

“It is unacceptable to hold them to account for the wrongs of a select few. They have a moral right to seek refuge in this country and to be treated with dignity and empathy. This decision also contravenes international human rights law and must be reversed immediately. HRCP intends to lobby strongly with the government for this decision to be reversed and for Pakistan to sign the 1951 Refugee Convention,” the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan said on X.

"The Human Rights Commission and Amnesty International's statements and support regarding Afghan refugees in Pakistan should not be verbal, but the follow-up should be continued until the results and implementation of this issue,” said Asefa Stankzai, an activist for the rights of immigrants.

In the meantime, he consul of the Islamic Emirate in Karachi, Abdul Jabar Takhari, said that since the beginning of the deportation of Afghan immigrants, more than 100,000 Afghans have returned to Afghanistan.

"Since the crackdown on Afghans began, a large number of Afghans have left Pakistan and returned to the country, their number is more than 100,000,” Takhari noted.

Pakistan’s government announced a major crackdown Tuesday on migrants in the country illegally, saying it would expel them starting next month and raising alarm among foreigners without documentation who include an estimated 1.7 million Afghans.

The country’s caretaker Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti said the crackdown was not aimed at Afghans and would apply to all nationalities, though the vast majority of migrants in the country are Afghans.

Source: tolonews.com

Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original

https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-185406

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Muttaqi Discusses Economic Cooperation at Trans-Himalaya Forum

 Bibi Amina Hakimi

October 05, 2023

The third meeting of the Trans-Himalaya Forum for International Cooperation was held in China with the presence of representatives of Afghanistan, China, Pakistan and some other countries.

Speaking at the meeting, the acting foreign minister of the Islamic Emirate, Amir Khan Muttaqi, emphasized economic cooperation, transit, regional connection and increasing trade between countries.

Muttaqi added that in the past two years, the Islamic Emirate has been able to make good progress in the fields of regional communication, energy transfer from Afghanistan, trade and transit.

“Afghanistan cooperates regarding any step that connects Afghanistan with the countries of the region, in the security and stability fields,” the acting foreign minister said.

“These meetings will lead to more understanding between the countries of the region and members of this meeting, which will benefit Afghanistan in the field of business, investment and transit,” the Islamic Emirate’s spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said.

Amir Khan Muttaqi further stated during the meeting that efforts are being made to start work on large economic projects such as TAPI and Trans-Afghan, and he asked the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank to support these projects.

"Meetings with neighbors regarding commercial and political issues are very important, but the promises that are made in the meetings should be implemented," economist Samiullah Ahmadzai told TOLOnews.

Meanwhile, the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) said representatives of the Islamic Emirate should try to attract more investment to Afghanistan in regional meetings.

“Each trip to foreign countries is significant to attract foreign investors to Afghanistan, and we hope that opportunities in the economic sector should be explained,” said Mohammad Yunus Momand, the first deputy of the ACCI.

The acting foreign minister of the Islamic Emirate, Amir Khan Muttaqi, in separate meetings with Pakistan Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani, and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, on the sidelines of the Trans-Himalaya Forum, discussed strengthening bilateral relations, upgrading the level of diplomatic relations, trade corridors and regional stability.

“The Islamic Emirate should interact with the international community, so that half-finished projects or projects that are about to start will start,” Asif Stanikzai, an economist, told TOLOnews.

The Trans-Himalaya Forum for International Cooperation hosted by China was held on Wednesday and Thursday, and the countries of China, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bhutan, Nepal and Mongolia participated in it.

Source: tolonews.com

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https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-185407

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Durrani: TTP 'in Afghanistan' Should Be Returned or 'Neutralized'

October 05, 2023

Asif Durrani, Pakistan's Special Representative for Afghanistan, once again criticized the use of Afghanistan's soil against Pakistan.

Speaking at the ISSI (CAMEA) – USIP International Conference Navigating Peace & Security in the Region and Beyond / Pakistan’s Role, Durrani claimed that TTP is using modern weapons in Pakistan.

He asked the Afghan government to return or neutralize to Pakistan those TTP members who are taking shelter "in Afghanistan."

“The TTP attacks on Pakistan along the borders have increased. They are taking shelter on the Afghan soil, and this is a negotiation which is an ongoing process, I cannot reveal much, but this is a problem. I cannot blame the government in Afghanistan at the moment, but at the same time I expect -- we as Pakistan expect -- that the kind of peace they have brought in their own land should also contribute to peace in our borderlands, and those TTP people who are taking shelter in Afghanistan either should be returned to Pakistan or be neutralized. They are using modern weapons here. They are using M16s left by the US,” Durrani noted.

Pakistan's Special Representative of Afghanistan said that every day 20,000 to 30,000 people travel to Pakistan from Afghanistan.

“In the neighborhood, Afghanistan has six neighbors. The kind of access provided by Pakistan is not even thinkable by other neighbors. 25,000 to 30,000 Afghans travel every day to Pakistan with different kinds of documents or no documents because they our divided tribes. This … relationships how can you break it, it is not possible. So, here, the governments have to adjust according to the will of the people on both sides,” Durrani added.

Meanwhile, speaking at the 14th graduation ceremony of the police academy in Kabul, the deputy foreign minister, Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, said that the Islamic Emirate will work with Pakistan regarding economic and security issues if needed.

Stanikzai called on Pakistani officials to behave with their language in gatherings and not harm the bilateral relations by making allegations against Afghans.

“We call on the politicians of Pakistan to behave with their language in gatherings or international conferences. Baseless and untrue accusations of its neighboring Muslims does not solve the problem, instead it deteriorates it,” he said.

Earlier, Pakistan’s interior minister, Sarfraz Bugti, claimed the Afghans are involved in 14 of 24 suicide bombings that happened this year in the country. The Islamic Emirate called this claim baseless.

Source: tolonews.com

Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original

https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-185413

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Afghanistan’s Embassy in New Delhi continues operations: India’s Foreign Ministry

By Fidel Rahmati

 October 5, 2023

Despite the recent announcement of the suspension of its operations, Afghanistan’s embassy in New Delhi remains operational, according to a statement from India’s foreign ministry on Thursday.

The spokesperson for the Indian Ministry of External Affairs stated on Thursday that they are in contact with Afghan diplomats in Delhi and Afghan consulates in Mumbai and Hyderabad.

Earlier, the Afghan Embassy in Delhi had stated that it would cease its operations due to a lack of diplomatic support from India and the absence of a recognized government in Kabul.

Arindam Bagchi, the spokesperson for the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, told reporters on Thursday that the ministry received an official letter from the Afghan Embassy last week stating that it would halt its activities from October 1.

The spokesperson for the Indian Ministry of External Affairs said that the Afghan Ambassador in Delhi had been “long absent,” and a significant number of diplomats from Afghanistan had left the country.

” We would hope that a substantial number of Afghan nationals in India, including students, can continue to receive necessary consular support. On our part, we will continue to assist the people of Afghanistan,” he added.

Meanwhile, Afghanistan’s Embassy in India has not commented on the statements made by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs.

The Afghan Embassy stated on Sunday in a statement that it will continue to provide emergency consular services to Afghan citizens.

India has not recognized the Taliban government, which forcibly took power in Afghanistan in August 2021. Two years ago, on the eve of the complete withdrawal of the United States from Afghanistan, India evacuated its embassy staff from Kabul. However, some diplomats returned to Kabul last year.

For the past two years, the Afghan Embassy in New Delhi has been operated by diplomats from the previous government with the permission of the Indian government.

India has stated it will follow the United Nations’ decision regarding recognizing the Taliban government.

According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, India is currently home to 40,000 registered refugees, among whom approximately one-third are Afghan migrants. Notably, this number excludes individuals not registered with the United Nations, indicating a potentially higher number of Afghan migrants residing in India.

Source: khaama.com

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https://www.khaama.com/afghanistans-embassy-in-new-delhi-continues-operations-indias-foreign-ministry/

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North America

 

How American Occupation Of Syria Enables Terrorist Attacks Like In Homs

06 October 2023

Shabbir Rizvi

On October 5, Takfiri terrorists launched a horrific drone attack on a Syrian military academy in the western city of Homs, killing more than a hundred attendees and wounding several others.

The attack, one of the worst in recent years, during the graduation ceremony comes as Syrian Arab Army forces have been conducting successful operations against terrorist strongholds in the country.

The Syrian Army has already delivered a response in some measure, vowing that the terrorists who planned and executed the attack “will pay dearly.”

In a statement, the Syrian military accused the terrorists who are "backed by known international forces" of the attack that took place as the graduation ceremony was about to conclude on Thursday.

For years, cities such as Aleppo and Idlib and the areas surrounding them have been infested with Takfiri terrorists, which the Syrian Arab Army and its allies have been clearing out.

It may be surprising to the uninitiated how these terrorists have held out for so long, especially against a force as battle-hardened as the Syrian Arab Army, which has been engaged in a multi-front conflict against multiple international foes since 2011.

American hand underneath the Takfiri glove

Behind every element causing chaos and instability in the Arab country is unsurprisingly the hand of Washington, who not only has the motive to aid Takfiri terrorists but also brazenly admits it.

In the early days of the outbreak of US-sponsored conflict in Syria, US foreign policy took advantage of the fog of war to train, fund, and arm terrorist groups within the country.

These proxy fighters would play an important role in creating a pretense for American invasion of the country.

An intense white-washing campaign was conducted in order to enable terrorists within Syria to effectively wage war against the Syrian public and attempt to overthrow President Bashar Al-Assad.

While these US-backed terrorists attacked Syria on one front, the US invaded and occupied swaths of Syrian land on another front. To no one’s shock, the US occupation was centered around the Syrian oil fields, which enabled them to steal billions of dollars worth of oil. The occupation of this land continues

A large part of this campaign to arm the terrorists was conducted through a CIA operation known as “Timber Sycamore.”

Timber Sycamore armed and trained what then Secretary of State Hillary Clinton infamously referred to as “moderate rebels.”

The moderate rebels, as Clinton claimed, were opposition forces that fought alongside the “Free Syrian Army,” (FSA) which the US was also arming and training. She did not mention their links to Takfiri extremist and terrorist groups.

Armaments within the Timber Sycamore operation included small arms, rocket launchers, explosives, and more unleashed on poor civilians.

This was also not a conservative supply of arms. Billions of dollars worth of arms were funneled into “opposition” hands, which were working hand in hand with various Takfiri terrorist groups.

Through sophisticated black market transactions, these arms continue to fall into the hands of various terrorist groups in the country (that they were not initially meant for) such as Daesh.

Kept for some time from the American public, the US intelligence agencies arming these terrorists did not mention that they weren’t just simply “moderate” elements fighting against the Syrian government.

In fact, they were not “moderate” at all. They actively allied with and fought alongside known terrorist outfits like Al-Nusra, an Al-Qaeda affiliate.

Al-Nusra carried out barbaric practices such as beheadings, sending suicide bombers to civilian areas, horrendous torture, and much more.

The CIA and the US government knew that their weapons were falling into the hands of Al-Qaeda adjacent terrorists like Al Nusra, the same elements they wanted to root out in Afghanistan - or pretended to. But the proliferation of arms continued.

The unholy alliance

The unholy alliance between the US State Department and the Takfiri alliance is further normalized by Western media’s framing of using Takfiri terrorists as a means to an end.

Let's suppose you are not willing to believe declassified CIA documents that affirm Timber Sycamore and the extent of its operation, including being on the same side as Takfiri terrorists.

You can take a look at this email leaked by Wikileaks that reveals US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan informing Hillary Clinton (then Secretary of State) that “AQ” (Al-Qaeda) was on their side.

The preferred strategy for the US in recent years has always been destabilization via proxy fighters. A destabilized region allows for a pretense of US invasion, and amidst that invasion destabilizing elements such as Takfiri terrorists can expend a state’s resources while the US ransacks billions of dollars worth of resources.

Despite having an official on-the-ground presence and occupation since 2014, US troops have been pulling their punches against Takfiri terrorist groups in comparison to the Syrian government and its allies.

The bulk of the fighting against terrorist threats is being taken up by Syrian forces alongside Russian and Iranian allies. A successful example of this would lead to an overthrow of the existing government, replacing it with a US-friendly comprador regime.

The US has the proven capability to arm, as we have seen for over a year now, Ukrainian soldiers with advanced technologies to fight a modern and far-superior Russian army.

If the US wanted to, it would be able to root out Al-Qaeda-linked terrorists. However, it is willingly choosing not to. The short-term goal has always been occupation and theft, and the long-term goal remains total control via a comprador regime.

The pretense of “terrorism” allows for the US to invade and steal 80% of Syria’s oil output. The ongoing theft deals a serious blow to Syrian society and economy and does nothing to stop the terrorist insurgency within the country.

Furthermore, the Caesar Act pushed by Washington sanctions and blocks key industries in Syria, including energy and defense, which allows for Takfiri terrorism to not only survive there but also thrive.

Washington’s multi-pronged approach to destabilizing Syria has intentionally empowered and emboldened terrorists, while US troops loot the majority of the country’s oil output.

It is a sophisticated plan to create a pretense of unwanted US occupation in the area. And the people who suffer the most are Syrians, much like the ones targeted in this week’s horrific and unprecedented UAV attacks on a Syrian military graduation ceremony.

US long-term goals thwarted?

The terrorist attack on the military academy comes amid rapid new developments in Syria. Looking at this terrorist attack in isolation, knowing full well the US hands in arming Takfiri terrorists and allowing for their proliferation, is ignoring the big picture.

Much to the dismay of Washington, Syria, through immense effort combined with military aid from Iran, has been able to reclaim significant swaths of its land, and stabilize much of the region.

Its key ally, the Islamic Republic of Iran, has entered into the BRICS alliance and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, which will undoubtedly benefit Syria as Iran has always held positive relations with Damascus.

This has forced many Arab governments, which had at first isolated Syria, to welcome it back into alliances like the Arab League and pursue Syrian normalization.

The straw that broke the (American) camel’s back may have been Bashar Al Assad’s recent visit to Beijing and expanding multi-pronged cooperation with China.

Syria could play a key role in China’s Belt and Road initiative not only because of its geographical location but also because of its oil production. China has many times questioned and condemned Washington’s marauding practices in Syria.

Syria’s reintegration into the region combined with powerful economic and defensive allies means not a question of “if” it will be able to expel the American occupation and thus end Takfiri terrorism, but rather “when?”

Washington will undoubtedly turn a blind eye to its already soft punches on terrorist threats and ramp up oil theft.

In the meantime, we can count on Syria to deliver a harsh retaliation against cowardly terrorists - especially the ones that inadvertently (or knowingly) serve imperialist interests.

Source: presstv.ir

Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original

https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2023/10/06/712162/How-American-occupation-of-Syria-enables-terrorist-attacks-like-in-Homs

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CAIR Applauds Introduction of Youth Voting Rights Act to Empower Young Voters

Ismail Allison

October 5, 2023

(Washington, D.C., 10/5/23) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations, the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today welcomed Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren’s introduction of the Youth Voting Rights Act in the Senate, which follows the August introduction of the same act by Georgia Representative Nikema Williams. CAIR joins over a 100 other civil rights, democracy and youth organizations in formally endorsing both U.S. House of Representatives and Senate versions of the act.

SEE: Senator Warren Reintroduces Youth Voting Rights Act to Empower Young People, Expand Access to Ballot Box | U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts (senate.gov)

SEE: Congresswoman Nikema Williams Introduces Comprehensive Voting Rights Legislation Package – Nikema Williams (house.gov)

In a statement, CAIR Director of Government Affairs Department Robert S. McCaw said:

“CAIR is proud to endorse the Youth Voting Rights Act of 2023 and we urge Congress to pass it quickly. Every young person deserves to have their voice heard in our elections. Young people are the future of our democracy, and we must do everything we can to ensure that they have the power to shape it.”

The Youth Voting Rights Act of 2023 is designed to alleviate several obstacles confronting young voters when it comes to exercising their right to vote. These challenges include the substantial occurrence of provisional ballot rejections, limited accessibility to polling locations, and stringent residency and voter ID prerequisites. Furthermore, the legislation guarantees that age-based restrictions on accessing vote-by-mail will not be a factor in federal elections.

CAIR notes that in August, marking the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington, it endorsed Congresswoman Williams’ comprehensive voting rights legislative package, which includes the Expanding the VOTE Act,  Sustaining Our Democracy Act, Voters on the Move Registration Act, Election Mail Act,  People Over Long Lines (POLL) Act,  Youth Voting Rights Act, and Time Off to Vote Act.

Last month, CAIR urged members of the Muslim community nationwide to register to vote on September 19, 2023, National Voter Registration Day, which is celebrated nationally on the third Tuesday of every September. If you have not yet registered to vote, CAIR encourages you to do so immediately.    

CAIR estimates there are well over 1 million registered American Muslim voters in the United States, with large communities residing in key swing states.    

This press release is part of CAIR’s ongoing Musims.Vote campaign to increase Muslim voter turnout nationwide. 

If you believe your voting rights have been violated, please contact CAIR at (202) 488-8787 or civilrights@cair.com.       

NOTE: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, CAIR does not endorse or oppose any candidate running for office.       

CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.            

La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertadesciviles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a losmusulmanesenlosEstados Unidos.     

Source: cair.com

Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original

https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-applauds-introduction-of-youth-voting-rights-act-to-empower-young-voters/

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U.S. Supreme Court to Hear CAIR, Law Office of Brandon Mayfield Case about Muslim Man Removed from No Fly List

Ismail Allison

October 5, 2023

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 10/5/23) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today announced that the U.S. Supreme Court will hear this term the case of Yonas Fikre, a Muslim man who the FBI attempted to pressure into becoming their informant, tortured and imprisoned in the United Arab Emirates at the behest of US officials, and then stranded in Sweden because of his status on the No Fly List.  

CAIR and co-counsel Brandon Mayfield sued in 2012, and after four years of litigation, the FBI removed Fikre from the No Fly List without explanation. The FBI now seeks a decision from the Supreme Court that would, in effect, permanently insulate the FBI’s secret list from judicial scrutiny.

SEE Bloomberg Law: Supreme Court Takes FBI’s Fight Against No Fly List Lawsuit  

[NOTE: The question before the Supreme Court, available in full here, is whether Yonas’s lawsuit against the No Fly List can continue, even after the government has removed him from it. Brandon Mayfield, Jenner and Block, and CAIR represent Fikre at the Supreme Court.]  

CAIR has represented dozens of Muslims whose watchlist status the FBI altered after being sued, in what CAIR believes is an obvious attempt to avoid federal courts that have, at times, threatened the FBI’s authority to maintain their secret lists.  

SEE Washington Post: Muslims Suing Over Watchlist Status Say US Tactics Block Scrutiny  

SEE Associated Press: US Judge: Terror Watchlist Violates Constitutional Rights   

A recently leaked copy of the watchlist reviewed by CAIR demonstrated that the FBI’s secret list is basically just a list of Muslim names. CAIR estimates that Muslim names fill over 98 percent of entries on the FBI’s lists—almost 1.5 million total entries.  

SEE Arab American News: FBI’s Secret Watchlist Revealed 98 Percent of Names are Muslim   

“The government should not be allowed to duck responsibility for their unconstitutional actions,” said CAIR Attorney Hannah Mullen. “As the Ninth Circuit correctly held, Mr. Fikre deserves his day in court.”  

“This case will have reverberations for all who challenge government conduct,” said CAIR Attorney Justin Sadowsky. “If the government prevails, then all government actors will have a roadmap to avoid judicial scrutiny of their actions.”  

“The Biden administration can stop using the FBI’s secret list today, if it wanted to,” said CAIR Attorney Gadeir Abbas. “Rather than wait for the Supreme Court, the Biden administration ought to stop using the FBI’s secret list of Muslims for any purpose.”  

Last month, CAIR filed a lawsuit in Boston on behalf of a dozen Muslims placed on the watchlist, including New Jersey Mayor Mohamed Khairullah, who has been an elected official in New Jersey for more than a decade.  

The federal government denied Mayor Khairullah entry to the White House earlier this year, despite having been invited by the Biden Administration to attend a dinner to mark the end of Ramadan, because of a watchlist status the FBI previously assigned him, demonstrating that some of the effects of the FBI’s decision to assign someone a secret watchlist status are intended to be permanent.   

SEE: Lawsuit by Islamic Rights Group Says US Terror Watchlist Woes Continue Even After Names Removed  

In June, CAIR released a report, titled “Twenty Years Too Many, A Call to Stop the FBI’s Secret Watchlist,” which details the FBI’s use of the Terrorism Screening Database to target Muslims, and found that all of the top 50 most frequently appearing names on the FBI’s watchlists were Muslim names.    

READ THE FULL REPORT  

CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims. 

La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertadesciviles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a losmusulmanesenlosEstados Unidos.  

Source: cair.com

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https://www.cair.com/press_releases/u-s-supreme-court-to-hear-cair-law-office-of-brandon-mayfield-case-about-muslim-man-removed-from-no-fly-list/

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Muslim parents seek a path forward after protests over LGBTQ rights in school

Oct 05, 2023

When Iftekhar Ahmed's child came out as transgender four years ago, the situation was difficult for him to comprehend. Raised in Pakistan in a Muslim household, Ahmed had little experience with the concept.

But after about a year of conversations with his son, Mani, and of lot of learning about his identity, Ahmed was able to understand.

"He's my child," said Ahmed, who lives in Montreal. "How you express yourself, how you dress, how you look, those are important. But it's not everything."

So when Ahmed saw the protests last month across Canada over sex ed and LGBTQ rights, he worried for the safety of children like Mani. He says the rhetoric of parental rights doesn't make sense, as it's the children who are vulnerable.

"This is personal for me," he said. "I always think of my child and how he will face these kinds of situations. And I do have friends who have queer children who are vulnerable."

Little space for dialogue

Leading up to the "1 Million March 4 Children" protest in Montreal, Siddiqa Sadiq also had trouble understanding why so many fellow members of her Muslim community were planning to attend.

"What exactly is the issue here?" Sadiq asked. She says she was met with frustration instead of answers.

At the Montreal demonstration, protesters held up signs saying "Parents know best" and "Leave our kids alone." CBC spoke with protesters who said they didn't want gender identity discussed in school.

Sadiq, a mother herself, wondered why her community was focusing on this issue, and why they felt so strongly that many had pulled their kids out of school to attend.

"Schools are supposed to teach us how to communicate better," she said. "We go to schools to learn how to debate, how to converse."

But instead of a conversation, she saw people yelling at each other in the street. She feels the situation was poorly handled by both the protesters and counter protesters.

"Nobody is happy in this situation," said Sadiq.

Struggling to find community

Mubeenah Mughal attended the Montreal counter protest and agreed there was no place for any productive discussion.

"I just kind of degenerated to being like, 'Well, you're trash," Mughal said.

That anger and frustration comes from a life of wanting to engage in her religion while having her faith questioned because of her queerness.

"I try so hard to be part of this community that kind of hates me," Mughal said.

For Mughal, a practising Muslim and a mother, thinking about how Islam can be used to push homophobia and transphobia brings her to tears.

"[Islam] is something so beautiful that people can make so ugly," Mughal said. "This religion was meant to be universal."

'This is personal'

Ahmed says racialized children who may be queer face more danger and a higher risk of discrimination.

This is why he works to hold intergenerational conversations within the community. He does so through the Rang Collective, a Montreal-based group that encourages dialogue and awareness on social issues affecting South Asian communities.

"One of our objectives is to provide this different narrative, especially on young queer people, and how they are part of the community," Ahmed said.

"There is nothing in the religious or the cultural traditions that goes against them."

Through those conversations, Ahmed hopes relationships between Muslim and queer communities — and between the faithful no matter their gender identity — can be normalized.

Source: cbc.ca

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https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/muslim-parents-lgbtq-school-sex-ed-protest-1.6986553

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Tupac Shakur murder suspect Duane 'Keffe D' Davis appears in court

5 Oct, 2023

Duane "Keffe D" Davis, a self-described gangster who police and prosecutors say masterminded the shooting death of Tupac Shakur in Las Vegas in 1996 made his first appearance Wednesday before a Nevada judge.

“Well, it's a cold case. It's been lingering for 27 years. But I felt there was sufficient, legally admissible evidence to move forward. That's why we presented it to a grand jury. The grand jury agreed that there was probable cause to return an indictment. But this case is like no other case. In a court of law, we have to present sufficient legal evidence to hopefully prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Any case that’s 27 years old, sometimes it presents some challenges, but we feel very confident that the criminal justice system will work in this case,” said Steve Wolfson, District Attorney.

Davis, 60, was arrested Friday during an early-morning walk near his home in suburban Henderson. A few hours later, a grand jury indictment was unsealed in Clark County District Court charging him with murder.

Grand jurors also voted to add sentencing enhancements for the use of a deadly weapon and alleged gang activity. If Davis is convicted, that could add decades to his sentence.

Duane Davis had been a suspect in the case, and publicly admitted his role in the killing in interviews ahead of his 2019 tell-all memoir, "Compton Street Legend."

"There's one thing that's for sure when living that gangster lifestyle," he wrote. "You already know that the stuff you put out is going to come back; you never know how or when, but there's never a doubt that it's coming."

Davis' own comments revived the police investigation that led to the indictment, police and prosecutors said. In mid-July, Las Vegas police raided Davis' home, drawing renewed attention to one of hip-hop music's most enduring mysteries.

Prosecutors allege Shakur's killing stemmed from a rivalry and competition for dominance in a musical genre that, at the time, was dubbed "gangsta rap." It pitted East Coast members of a Bloods gang sect associated with rap music mogul Marion "Suge" Knight against West Coast members of a Crips sect that Davis has said he led in Compton, California.

Source: africanews.com

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https://www.africanews.com/2023/10/05/tupac-shakur-murder-suspect-duane-keffe-d-davis-appears-in-court/

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Washington Post: Biden plans November meeting with China’s Xi

06 Oct 2023

WASHINGTON, Oct 6 — The White House is making plans for a face-to-face meeting between US President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping in San Francisco next month as the two countries seek to stabilise troubled relations, the Washington Post reported yesterday.

Ties between the world’s two largest economies have been strained in recent years due to a number of issues including Taiwan, the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic, allegations of spying, human rights issues and trade tariffs, among others.

The newspaper, which cited senior unnamed US officials, quoted one of them saying the possibility of a meeting was “pretty firm”.

“We’re beginning the process” of planning, the official was quoted as saying by the newspaper.

The meeting would follow other high-level engagements between the two countries in recent months that have seen visits from US officials to China like Secretary of State Antony Blinken in June, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen in July and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo in August.

More recently, Blinken met Chinese Vice President Han Zheng in New York and US national security adviser Jake Sullivan met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Malta.

The Chinese embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the Washington Post report. The White House did not have an immediate comment.

Biden and Xi’s last meeting was on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Indonesia in November 2022, which was their first in person meeting since Biden became president. They previously had five exchanges by phone and video conference after Biden took office.

China’s top security agency hinted last month any meeting between Xi and Biden will depend on the United States “showing sufficient sincerity.”

US officials like Raimondo and Yellen have recently said the United States did not want to decouple from China but Beijing has expressed concern over US approval of arms sales and military financing to Taiwan.

San Francisco will host an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in November that Xi may attend. Xi recently skipped the G20 summit in New Delhi that Biden attended. — Reuters

Source: malaymail.com

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https://www.malaymail.com/news/world/2023/10/06/washington-post-biden-plans-november-meeting-with-chinas-xi/94694

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Europe

 

European Parliament Condemns Taliban with ‘Gender Aparthied’ Resolution

Fidel Rahmati

October 5, 2023

 The European Union Parliament has condemned the severe violation of human rights in Afghanistan and the “gender apartheid policy of the Taliban” by issuing a resolution.

The European Parliament has expressed deep concern that since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, there has been a marked increase in the suppression of women, civil society, human rights defenders, and human rights violations.

In a resolution passed on Thursday, the European Parliament has called on the Taliban to honour their commitments regarding amnesty. The resolution received overwhelming support, with 519 votes in favour, 15 members voted against it, and 18 abstained.

This Parliament has also condemned Afghanistan’s increased human rights violations, particularly arbitrary detentions, extrajudicial killings, forced disappearances, and torture by former security forces.

European country representatives have also demanded in their resolution the cancellation of severe restrictions on the rights of women and girls in line with Afghanistan’s international commitments, condemning the Taliban’s gender apartheid policy.

The European Parliament has strongly denounced the Taliban for their egregious human rights violations, specifically citing the “brutal persecution of Christians” and religious minorities. This condemnation is part of their campaign to eliminate religious and ideological diversity in Afghanistan. Additionally, members of the European Parliament is urging the European Union and its member nations to support Afghan civil society.

They call for increased funding and protective initiatives for human rights defenders in the region.

In the last two years, the Taliban has issued over fifty directives targeting women, a concerning trend highlighted by human rights organizations. These directives have had a profound impact, effectively marginalizing women from Afghan society through the enforcement of stringent policies.

The Taliban’s actions have raised alarm among human rights advocates who emphasize the group’s systematic efforts to isolate and restrict women’s freedoms in Afghanistan.

Human rights defenders have said that the Taliban has established “gender apartheid” in Afghanistan by segregating genders and depriving women of fundamental human rights.

Human rights activists called on the global community to officially recognize gender apartheid in Afghanistan.

Source: khaama.com

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https://www.khaama.com/european-parliament-condemns-taliban-with-gender-aparthied-resolution/

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EU member states forge crucial accord to tackle illegal immigration crisis

Fidel Rahmati

October 5, 2023

 The member countries of the European Union have reached a new agreement regarding revising their laws to address the issue of illegal immigration.

This agreement aims to reduce the pressure from the influx of migrants and refugees in countries like Italy and Greece.

Under this new agreement, countries such as Italy and Greece, facing crises, can request assistance from other European countries.

However, countries that oppose hosting refugees, including Poland and Hungary, must financially support the countries receiving refugees and migrants.

This financial support is aimed at assisting the nations that bear the burden of hosting and accommodating refugees, even if certain countries within the EU are reluctant to accept them directly. This provision represents an effort to distribute the responsibility for managing the refugee crisis more evenly across the European Union and promote solidarity among member states.

One primary reason for the new agreement is the significant increase in asylum seekers entering Europe through the Mediterranean this year.

According to United Nations statistics, approximately 190,000 people have made their way to Southern Europe, including Italy, this year. However, at least 2,500 people have died while attempting to reach Europe.

Source: khaama.com

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https://www.khaama.com/eu-member-states-forge-crucial-accord-to-tackle-illegal-immigration-crisis/

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France forced to leave Niger

05 October 2023

France has announced that it would begin withdrawing its troops from Niger this week after a falling-out with the post-coup regime.

Does this mean that this would be the end of France's involvement in Niger, a former colony? What about other countries that were former colonies of France?

In this edition of the Spotlight, we will look at those two issues, exploring how Niger, along with other African countries, has gravitated more towards countries like Russia and China rather than Western countries like France, or even the US.

Source: presstv.ir

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https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2023/10/05/712148/FRANCE-FORCED-TO-LEAVE-NIGER

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Putin weighs in on Canadian parliament Nazi scandal

5 Oct, 2023

The now-former speaker of Canada’s parliament  is either an “idiot” or a “scoundrel,” Russian President Vladimir Putin has suggested. Anthony Rota arranged for a Waffen SS veteran to be commemorated at the legislature during the visit of Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky.

Putin made the remarks on Thursday as he spoke during the plenary session of the 20th meeting of the Valdai International Discussion Club in Sochi. The recent scandal over the celebration of 98-year-old SS Galicia Division veteran Yaroslav Hunka was either a deliberate malicious act or a result of remarkable ignorance on the part of the legislature’s ex-speaker, Anthony Rota, Putin suggested.

“If [Rota] says that he [the veteran] fought against the Russians, he cannot help but understand that he fought on the side of Hitler or was a fascist collaborator. If a person does not know that Hitler fought against Russia during the war, then he is an idiot or did not study too well in school. And if he knows and at the same time calls an SS veteran a hero, then he is a scoundrel,” Putin explained.

Canada mulls releasing names of Ukrainian NazisREAD MORE: Canada mulls releasing names of Ukrainian Nazis

The scandal erupted in late September, when the Waffen SS veteran was lauded at the Canadian legislature as a Ukrainian and Canadian “hero,” who fought “for Ukrainian independence against the Russians” during World War II. Hunka served with the notorious 14th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS, also known as the 1st Galician Division, formed by Nazi Germany from mostly western Ukrainians and known to have committed atrocities against Jews and Poles. He received a standing ovation at the legislature with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Zelensky in attendance.

The now-former House Speaker Rota took responsibility for the affair, resigning and expressing “profound regret” for his “error.” Hosting Hunka at the legislature triggered a major international scandal, while footage posted online by his granddaughter suggested the veteran may have also personally met with Trudeau at his office.

Source: rt.com

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https://www.rt.com/russia/584120-putin-canada-nazi-scandal/

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EU parliament backs sanctions against Azerbaijan

6 Oct, 2023

The European Parliament on Thursday adopted a resolution calling for sanctions on Azerbaijan’s political and military leadership, citing the “ethnic cleansing” of Armenians in Nagorno Karabakh.

Adopted with 491 votes in favor and only nine against, the resolution called for the EU and its member states to “adopt targeted sanctions against the individuals in the Azerbaijani Government” responsible for human rights violations in Nagorno-Karabakh and demanded investigations into “the abuses committed by Azerbaijani forces that could constitute war crimes.”

The resolution also expressed solidarity with the ethnic Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh “who have been forced to flee their homes and ancestral lands” and “considers that the current situation amounts to ethnic cleansing.”

Azerbaijan’s lightning military operation last month in the disputed region was described as “a pre-planned, unjustified military attack… leading to significant loss of life,” which represented “a gross violation of human rights and international law, and a clear infringement of the trilateral ceasefire statement of 9 November 2020.”

The MEPs demanded that the EU suspend all imports of oil and gas from Azerbaijan “in the event of military aggression against Armenian territorial integrity” or “attacks against Armenia’s constitutional order and democratic institutions.”

The resolution also called for the EU to reassess its energy partnership with Baku. Last year, the bloc signed an agreement to double natural gas imports from Azerbaijan by 2027, to make up for the shortages caused by the Western embargo against Russia.

During the debate on the resolution earlier this week, Fabio Massimo Castaldo of Italy’s Five Star Movement denounced the EU’s “silence, which sacrificed the Armenian population in the name of realpolitik,” while the head of France’s National Rally, Jordan Bardella, argued that the EU “prefers gas to Armenian blood.”

More than 100,000 ethnic Armenians have fled Nagorno-Karabakh since the local militia surrendered to Azerbaijani troops on September 20, after a day of fighting. Baku has pointed to Yerevan explicitly recognizing the former breakaway region as sovereign Azerbaijani territory on multiple occasions, including last October’s talks in Prague hosted by the EU.

Baku described its offensive as a “counterterrorism” action against what it said were illegal armed groups. The self-proclaimed Nagorno-Karabakh Republic was not recognized by any country, including Armenia.

The EU had scheduled peace talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan for Thursday in the Spanish city of Granada. The government in Baku canceled its participation on Wednesday, however, saying that the absence of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan would result in an “anti-Azerbaijani atmosphere.”

Source: rt.com

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https://www.rt.com/news/584133-european-parliament-azerbaijan-sanctions/

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Mideast

 

Top Iranian, Saudi diplomats stress need to boost mutual cooperation in several fields

 06 October 2023

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and his Saudi counterpart have underlined the need to accelerate the development of bilateral cooperation in various fields, including economy and tourism.

During a telephone conversation on Thursday night, Amir-Abdollahian and Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud exchanged viewpoints on multiple areas of common interest, highlighting that relations between the two countries are improving in all areas.

They emphasized the need to speed up joint cooperation in various fields, including economy, commerce, investment and tourism.

The two top diplomats went on to point to the meeting between Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Iran's foreign minister on August 18 in the Red Sea port city of Jeddah, stressing that necessary steps should be taken on the path towards enhancement of political ties between Tehran and Riyadh.

Iran’s ambassador to Riyadh says the Islamic Republic is determined to boost its bilateral ties with Saudi Arabia.

Amir-Abdollahian and his Saudi counterpart also noted the significance of bilateral cultural and sports cooperation in order to improve the atmosphere of friendship between the two nations.

Resolving Sepahan, Al Ittihad dispute through 'mutual respect'

The two foreign ministers agreed to advise their respective sports institutions to resolve the dispute over the recent cancellation of the AFC Champions League 2023/24 Group C match between Saudi professional football club Al Ittihad and Iran’s Sepahan through mutual respect, dialogue, and understanding.

They underscored the importance of continued football matches between the two countries in order to strengthen all-out cooperation.

Slated to be held on Monday in Isfahan's Naghsh-e-Jahan Stadium, the match was called off after the Saudi squad refused to take the field over unspecified reasons. The team left Iran hours later.

Sepahan Sport Club then issued a statement, saying they have prepared an official complaint, which will be filed with the AFC. They added that the pitch had been inspected time and again by the AFC, the Iranian Football Federation and other relevant authorities, and had received their approval.

In a statement, the AFC said the match was canceled due to "unanticipated and unforeseen circumstances."

"The AFC reiterates its commitment towards ensuring the safety and security of the players, match officials, spectators, and all stakeholders involved. This matter will now be referred to the relevant committees," it added.

Invitation to Saudi Arabia

Elsewhere in the conversation, the Saudi foreign minister invited his Iranian counterpart to attend the first football match between Iranian and Saudi football clubs in Saudi Arabia.

In March, Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed under a Chinese-brokered deal to revive diplomatic relations severed after seven years of tension.

Iran officially reopened its embassy in Riyadh in June, followed by its consulate in Jeddah and its representative office with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. The Saudi embassy in Tehran and its consulate in Mashhad have also resumed operations.

Source: presstv.ir

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https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2023/10/06/712159/Top-Iranian-Saudi-diplomats-stress-need-to-boost-mutual-cooperation

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UAE strongly condemns ongoing storming of Al-Aqsa mosque courtyard by settlers

 05-10-2023

ABU DHABI, 5th October, 2023 (WAM) -- The UAE has strongly condemned the ongoing storming of Al-Aqsa mosque courtyard by settlers under the protection of the Israeli police.

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), reaffirmed the UAE's firm position on the need to provide full protection for Al-Aqsa Mosque, and halt serious and provocative violations taking place there.

The Ministry underscored the need to protect the custodial role of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan over the holy sites in accordance with international law and the historical context at hand, and not to

compromise the authority of the Jerusalem Endowment Administration that manages the affairs of Al-Aqsa Mosque.

The Ministry called upon Israeli authorities to halt escalation and avoid exacerbating tension and instability in the region, affirming the UAE's rejection of all practices that violate resolutions on international legitimacy and threaten further escalation.

Moreover, the Ministry stressed the need to support all regional and international efforts to advance the peace process in the Middle East, end illegal practices that threaten the two-state solution and establish an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Source: wam.ae

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https://www.wam.ae/en/details/1395303206005

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Iran, Syria FMs call for regional coop. on fighting terrorism

Oct 6, 2023

TEHRAN, Oct. 06 (MNA) – The top diplomats of Iran and Syria, in a phone conversation, called for regional cooperation to combat terrorism.

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and his Syrian counterpart Faisal Mekdad held a phone conversation on Thursday night over the deadly terrorist attack on Syria's Homs.

The top Iranian diplomat offered condolences to the Syrian president, army, and nation.

Mekdad, for his part, considered the US-backed terrorist groups to be behind such actions.

The two sides also emphasized the need for the international community to have serious determination to fight against the sinister phenomenon of terrorism decisively and effectively.

At least 100 people were killed on Thursday in a drone attack on a military academy in Syria. 

Civilians and military personnel were killed in the attack on the military academy in the central province of Homs, Syria's defense ministry said, adding that "terrorist" groups had used drones.

Syria's defense and foreign ministries vowed to respond "with full force".

Source: mehrnews.com

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https://en.mehrnews.com/news/206782/Iran-Syria-FMs-call-for-regional-coop-on-fighting-terrorism

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Palestinian youth killed during settler assault on West Bank town

06 October, 2023

 A 19-year-old Palestinian was killed on Friday by Israeli settlers, Palestinian authorities said. The Israeli settlers converged on the occupied West Bank town of Huwara after reports of an Israeli family being fired upon in their car there.

However, accounts differed whether the victim was shot by an Israeli settler or by soldiers.

The official Palestinian news agency WAFA, citing what it described as local sources, said a group of settlers entered the town and damaged homes and other property. One of the settlers shot the 19-year-old, who died of his wounds in hospital.

The Israeli military said dozens of settlers and townspeople threw rocks at each other. A Palestinian threw a brick at soldiers and they fired in return.

"A hit was identified," the military statement said, meaning a person was struck by the soldiers' gunfire. The statement did not identify the individual.

On Thursday, a suspected Palestinian gunman shot an Israeli vehicle in Huwara carrying three members of an Israeli family. Israeli security forces tracked him down and killed him. The family was unharmed.

This came hours after two Palestinians and five Israeli soldiers were wounded in separate clashes.

The West Bank, among the territories where Palestinians seek statehood, has experienced a surge of Israeli violence in recent months amid an almost decade-old impasse in U.S.-sponsored peacemaking.

Huwara has been the scene of numerous attacks by Israeli settlers in recent months.

Source: newarab.com

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https://www.newarab.com/news/palestinian-killed-during-settler-assault-west-bank-town

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Turkiye threat to Kurdish militants a ‘shot across the bow’ to US, analysts say

October 05, 2023

ANKARA: Turkiye’s threat to strike Kurdish militant sites across its border is a “shot across the bow” to the US and other actors in the Syrian conflict, analysts have told Arab News.

The warning on Wednesday — that all PKK and YPG sites are “legitimate military targets” — is viewed as a precursor to a high-level cross-border Turkish operation.

With normalization between Ankara and Damascus “already losing momentum,” a new offensive could involve “jets, drones and howitzers” striking specific targets, said Oytun Orhan, coordinator of Syria studies at the ORSAM think tank.

And Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan’s vague warning for “third parties” to “steer clear” of Turkish targets is also a show of force by Ankara to the US, Damascus, Iran and Russia, Orhan added.

Fidan said on Wednesday that all infrastructure and energy facilities belonging to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party or PKK, and its Syrian Kurdish affiliate, People’s Protection Units YPG in Syria and Iraq, are now legitimate military targets.

The bombing outside the Interior Ministry in Ankara on Sunday was claimed by the HPG, a faction associated with the PKK, according to Turkish authorities.

“I recommend that third parties steer clear of these targeted facilities,” Fidan — former head of the country’s National Intelligence Organization — warned on Wednesday, without specifying the identity of any “third parties.”

The ambiguity surrounding the statement has sparked vigorous debate over Fidan’s warning to the US and other actors in the Syrian conflict.

Turkish officials have confirmed that the two attackers responsible for the Sunday bombing were PKK members who entered Turkiye from Syria, potentially from Tal Rifaat or Manbij.

The PKK has led a decades-long insurgency in Turkiye and is considered a terror organization by the US, the EU, and Turkiye.

One of the assailants detonated an explosive device, while the other was killed in a subsequent gunfight with police.

Two police officers were injured.

The two attackers had stolen their vehicle from a veterinarian, who they killed in the Central Anatolian province of Kayseri, a city located southeast of Ankara.

In response to the Sunday attack in northern Iraq, Turkish jets have carried out several cross-border airstrikes against PKK bases in caves, shelters and depots.

Unmanned armed drones belonging to Turkiye’s National Intelligence Agency also hit several targets in Hasakah city in northern Syria on Wednesday evening and Thursday, destroying critical YPG bases.

Earlier this week in Hasakah, the Turkish National Intelligence Organization also killed Nabo Kele Hayri, code-named Mazlum Afrin, the figure believed to be behind last year’s bloody bomb attack on Istanbul’s famous Istiklal Street.

Amid tension following the airstrikes, Iraqi Defense Minister Thabit Mohammed Al-Abbasi will visit Ankara on Thursday to meet his Turkish counterpart Yasar Guler.

Rich Outzen, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council and Jamestown Foundation, told Arab News: “The public statements by Foreign Minister Fidan, coupled with high-level security meetings being held in Ankara, indicate that a high-profile operation will likely be conducted in the next day or so.”

According to Outzen, on one level, any operation would be a direct response to the PKK attack, while on another level, it would also serve as a shot across the bow to the US and its anti-Daesh coalition partners that the continued — and in some cases increasing — proximity of Western forces to PKK-linked strategy contravenes Turkish security red lines.

For example, the presence of US advisers in Iraq with SDF/YPG leader Mazloom Abdi in Sulaymaniya earlier this year “indicates an apparent erosion in carefully delimiting support to Daesh in Iraq,” he said.

But Outzen added that Fidan’s latest warning does not appear to be a threat or demand for US withdrawal from northeast Syria.

He said that the statement concerns the when, where and why of US-YPG operations.

“There is low risk in the eyes of the Turks for the known US operating locations or in the field during Daesh operations. But there is a higher risk with YPG fighters in convoys, Iraq, or areas of Syria near the Turkish border,” he said.

“Especially given that the Turks believe the YPG facilitated the entry of the terrorists in this week’s attack from Syria into Turkiye, they view all PKK/YPG locations in northern Syria as potential terror launching points and, therefore, legitimate targets,” Outzen said.

He added that US forces “will almost certainly have to adjust their rules of engagement to account for this.”

Outzen believes that Washington’s response to Fidan’s statement will be to discretely, via diplomatic and defense channels, strongly reiterate its red line of safeguarding the US presence in the region.

“It would be well advised to also communicate at the same time clear rules of engagement about when and where US forces will travel with SDF/YPG personnel, and which locations likely have US presence,” he said.

Outzen added that this will be necessary from a force protection point of view.

“There may be some public push back from Congress or commentators about implied or veiled threat, but I don’t think that’s the real story here.”

Speaking at the opening session of the Legislative Year of the 28th Term of the Turkish parliament, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan highlighted the country’s strategy to protect its southern border with a security zone at least 30 km deep.

“The new steps we will take are just a matter of preparation, time and the right conditions. That is why the saying ‘we may turn up suddenly one night’ should never fall on deaf ears,” he said.

Orhan of the ORSAM think tank said that recent military maneuvers by Turkiye, along with statements made by prominent figures such as Fidan and Erdogan, may signal an impending offensive in the region.

“The normalization process between Ankara and Damascus has already lost momentum due to Syria’s uncompromising demands for a complete Turkish military withdrawal from the northern regions of the war-torn country,” said Orhan.

Ankara “had initially advocated for dialogue with the Syrian regime, expecting cooperation against the presence of PKK/YPG forces on Syrian soil. However, no substantial progress has been achieved in this regard,” he told Arab News.

Orhan said that Fidan’s warning to third parties conveyed a message to all factions engaged in the Syrian conflict.

This message extended not only to the US, but also to Damascus, Russia and Iran, he added.

“Previously, Turkish drones hit energy facilities belonging to the PKK/YPG several times. This time, a new offensive along the borders could involve jets, drones and howitzers to strike specific targets,” he said.

However, Orhan added that a full Turkish ground offensive appears unlikely.

Instead, he suggested that any potential operation would be tactical, primarily intended to communicate Turkiye’s security priorities to all actors in the region.

The military maneuvers coincide with the restart of work on a crude oil pipeline from Iraq this week after the February earthquakes suspended operations.

Source: arabnews.com

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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2386101/middle-east

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Nearly 4 million people in Lebanon need humanitarian help but less than half receive aid, UN says

October 06, 2023

UNITED NATIONS: Lebanon faces one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, with nearly 4 million people in need of food and other assistance, but less than half getting aid because of a lack of funding, a UN official said Thursday.

Imran Riza, the UN humanitarian chief for Lebanon, adds that the amount of assistance the world body is giving out is “much less than the minimum survival level” that it normally distributes.

Over the past four years, he said, Lebanon has faced a “compounding set of multiple crises ” that the World Bank describes as one of the 10 worst financial and economic crises since the mid-19th century. This has led to the humanitarian needs of people across all population sectors increasing dramatically, he said.

Since the financial meltdown began in October 2019, the country’s political class — blamed for decades of corruption and mismanagement — has been resisting economic and financial reforms requested by the international community.

Lebanon started talks with the International Monetary Fund in 2020 to try to secure a bailout, but since reaching a preliminary agreement last year, the country’s leaders have been reluctant to implement needed changes.

Riza noted Lebanon has been without a president for almost a year and a lot of its institutions aren’t working, and there is still no political solution in Syria.

The UN estimates about 3.9 million people need humanitarian help in Lebanon, including 2.1 million Lebanese, 1.5 million Syrians, 180,000 Palestinian refugees, over 31,000 Palestinians from Syria, and 81,500 migrants.

Last year, Riza said, the UN provided aid to about a million Syrians and slightly less than 950,000 Lebanese.

“So everything is on a negative track,” Riza said. In 2022, the UN received more or less 40 percent of funding it needed and the trend so far this year is similar, “but overall the resources are really going down and the needs are increasing.”

“In a situation like Lebanon, it doesn’t have the attention that some other situations have, and so we are extremely concerned about it,” he said.

According to the UN humanitarian office, more than 12 years since the start of the conflict in Syria, Lebanon hosts “the highest number of displaced persons per capita and per square kilometer in the world.”

“And instead what we’re seeing is a more tense situation within Lebanon,” Riza said. There is a lot of “very negative rhetoric” and disinformation in Lebanon about Syrian refugees that “raises tensions, and, of course, it raises worries among the Syrian refugees,” he said.

With some Lebanese politicians calling Syrian refugees “an existential threat,” Riza said he has been talking to journalists to get the facts out on the overall needs in Lebanon and what the UN is trying to do to help all those on the basis of need — “not of status or a population.”

Source: arabnews.com

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3 Palestinians killed as fresh violence erupt in flashpoint town of Hawara

October 06, 2023

JERUSALEM: Israeli troops killed three Palestinian gunmen in West Bank violence on Thursday, Palestinian health officials said, in the latest deaths in a monthslong surge of violence in the occupied territory.

In video circulated on social media, a lone gunman opened fire at an Israeli car in broad daylight on a busy street in Hawara, a flashpoint town in the northern West Bank. The gunman fired at least 10 shots, pursuing the car as it tried to escape by driving over a barrier in the middle of the street.

No one in the car was injured, the army said. It said troops hunted him after the attack and shot him. The identity of the gunman, whose death was confirmed by Palestinian officials, wasn’t immediately known.

Hawara has seen repeated attacks, including a deadly shooting early this year that triggered a rampage by Jewish West Bank settlers who torched Palestinian property.

Early Friday, dozens of Israeli settlers entered Hawara, and clashes erupted with Palestinian residents, the Israeli military said. Both sides threw stones at one another before troops moved in to disperse the crowds.

The army said it opened fire at a man who threw a block at an Israeli vehicle. Palestinian health officials said a 19 year old Palestinian man was shot in the chest and killed. The army said Israeli settlers also vandalized Palestinian property. No further details were immediately released.

Source: arabnews.com

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Arab World

 

Major find points to 6,000-year-old human settlement in Saudi Arabia’s Hail region

October 05, 2023

RIYADH: An international team of researchers has found evidence of what is thought to have been a major prehistoric human settlement near Irf Mountain in the Kingdom’s northwestern Hail region.

The Saudi Heritage Commission, working in cooperation with the German Max Planck Institute on the Green Arabia project, revealed the findings in a study published in PLOS ONE journal.

Researchers and specialists from Saudi Arabia, Australia, UK, Italy and the US are studying archaeological material from several locations dating back to the middle and late Holocene eras between 6,000 and 4,500 years ago.

The site includes a rock shelter, as well as evidence of settlements and seasonal human activity.

Among the findings are mills and stone pestles used in daily activities even after being broken due to frequent use.

Some of the items were found inside fire stoves covered with small stones and fragments of broken pestles.

Microscopic examination of a number of items is being used to determine the methods of use and dietary habits of people in the period.

Researchers believe evidence from the site may reveal people’s transition from hunting to cultivation and the beginnings of an economic transformation.

Pestles were commonly used to extract marrow from animal bones, an important dietary source in the Neolithic period.

Source: arabnews.com

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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2386016/saudi-arabia

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Saudi Arabia condemns Israeli official for storming courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque

October 05, 2023

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia condemned on Thursday the provocative practices carried out by an Israeli official who stormed the courtyards of the Al-Aqsa Mosque under high Israeli security.

The Kingdom’s foreign ministry expressed regret at Israeli practices that undermine international peace efforts and contradict international principles and norms on respecting religious sanctities. It stressed that such practices are offensive to Muslims all around the world.

The ministry held Israeli forces fully responsible for the repercussions of the continuation of these violations.

It called on the international community to assume its responsibilities to end the escalation of the Israeli occupation, provide the necessary protection for civilians, and make all efforts to end the conflict.

Source: arabnews.com

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QatarDebate discusses bridging gaps between govts, Muslims

06 Oct 2023

Doha, Qatar: Researchers have underlined true political representation as key to bridging the gap between Muslim societies and their governments during an ‘Oasis of Dialogue’ session organised by the QatarDebate Center in Washington. Participants explained that Muslim communities have sought democracy and diversity within Islamic societies while pursuing answers to challenge Islamophobia.

This was disclosed during a panel discussion held by the Center under “Bridging the Gap: Muslim Communities and Governments”. The meeting brought together experts, researchers, and academics collaborating with the “Islam and Muslims” initiative, the Center’s strategic partner.

The session is the sixth in a series launched by QatarDebate to disseminate knowledge and bridge the gap between Muslim communities and their governments by delving deeper into contemporary issues. It was moderated by the Center’s Qatari Ambassador, A. Mohammed Al Lakhan Al Marri, a Qatar University faculty member and a political science doctoral candidate at the University of California - Riverside.

Discussions touched on several sub-themes, namely Islamic public opinion, understanding the relationship between Islamic governments and their citizens, the compatibility of government resolutions with public opinion, and cases in which governments’ actions conflict with the aspirations of Muslim societies.

Linda Sarsour, former Executive Director of the Arab American Association in New York, noted the importance of supporting Arab communities and others around the world to better plan the democratic transformation gradually, overcome potential negatives and work on developing solutions. Participants also discussed the challenges facing Muslims in the US, especially those relating to identity and religion, and policies that mainly affect them, such as immigration.

Dr. Trita Parsi, an expert in Iranian affairs and professor of international politics at Johns Hopkins University, stressed the importance that communities demand their full rights and have the political awareness to make their voices heard.

Source: thepeninsulaqatar.com

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https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/06/10/2023/qatardebate-discusses-bridging-gaps-between-govts-muslims

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Qatar strongly condemns settlers' storming of Al Aqsa Mosque

05 Oct 2023

Doha: The State of Qatar strongly condemned the storming of hundreds of settlers into the courtyards of the blessed Al Aqsa Mosque under the protection of the Israeli occupation police, and considered it a blatant violation of international law and international legitimacy resolutions, and a dangerous provocation to the feelings of Muslims around the world.

In a statement today, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs warned against harming the historical and legal status of Al Aqsa Mosque, Jerusalem and its holy sites, and introducing any changes to it.

The Ministry held the Israeli occupation authorities alone responsible for the cycle of violence that will result from this systematic escalatory policy against the Palestinian people, their lands, and their sanctities, and urged the international community to take urgent action to stop these attacks and oblige Israel to provide the necessary protection for these sanctities.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated the State of Qatar's firm position on the justice of the Palestinian issue and the legitimate rights of the brotherly Palestinian people, including the full right to practice their religious rituals without restrictions, and establish their independent state on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Source: thepeninsulaqatar.com

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https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/05/10/2023/qatar-strongly-condemns-settlers-storming-of-al-aqsa-mosque-4

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Tree-mendous: Green Riyadh Project arrives in Al-Nakheel

October 05, 2023

RIYADH: Work is underway to plant 50,000 trees and shrubs in Al-Nakheel neighborhood as part of the Green Riyadh Project.

The trees will be planted in areas close to four schools, 30 mosques and 14 parking lots, as well as along 52 km of roads. The scheme will also include the construction of 17 parks.

“The design of the urban greening project in the Al-Nakheel neighborhood took about a year and the implementation will take 30 months,” said Turki Bin Oudah, deputy executive director of the Green Riyadh Project.

The trees and shrubs being planted include several varieties of acacia, including the mulga, desert oak and salt wattle, and the Balanites aegyptiaca, or Egyptian balsam, all of which are well suited to the city’s high temperatures.

“The types of trees planted will depend on the area,” said Abdulaziz Al-Moqbel, another of the project's directors.

“For schools, trees that have spikes will be avoided and overall, the main focus is to plant trees that provide the most shade.”

An exhibition about the greening project, including the time scale for the planting operation, opened in Al-Nakheel on Thursday and will run until Oct. 14. It includes a space for children to learn about the importance of planting trees and the role they can play in planting events across the city.

The Green Riyadh Project is expected to have several benefits, including improving air quality, reducing temperatures by up to 2 degrees Celsius and promoting biological diversity.

It will also provide investment and job opportunities, while strengthening community bonds and encouraging people to engage in more outdoor activities and exercise.

Besides the planting of 7.5 million trees, once completed the project will result in a 17-fold increase in the amount of green space available per citizen.

The Green Riyadh Project is one of four megaprojects launched by the Kingdom in 2019 to help achieve the goals of the Saudi Green Initiative and Vision 2030.

Source: arabnews.com

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Saudi FM meets with Italian counterpart

October 05, 2023

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan received his Italian counterpart in Riyadh on Thursday.

Prince Faisal and Antonio Tajani discussed ways to strengthen and develop relations between their countries in various fields and discussed aspects of intensifying bilateral coordination on issues of common concern.

They also reviewed development and economic cooperation opportunities in light of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.

The officials exchanged views on regional and international developments and efforts made in this regard.

Source: arabnews.com

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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2386036/saudi-arabia

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Saudi Arabia condemns terrorist attack that killed 29 soldiers in Tabatol

October 05, 2023

RIYADH — Saudi Arabia strongly condemned the terrorist attack in the northwest of Tabatol, Niger.

The deadly attack on October 2 targeting security forces resulted in the death of 29 soldiers and serious injury to several others.

In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Saudi Arabia expressed deep sorrow and sympathy to the families of the victims and the government and people of Niger.

The ministry confirmed Saudi Arabia's solidarity with Niger and its total rejection of all forms of terrorism, violence, and extremism regardless of their motives.

Source: saudigazette.com.sa

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Southeast Asia

 

Indonesian President receives Secretary-General of Muslim Council of Elders and delegation

 05-10-2023

JAKARTA, 5th October, 2023 (WAM) -- President Joko Widodo of Indonesia received Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam, the Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders, along with a delegation of council members, at the Merdeka Palace on Thursday.

He congratulated the Muslim Council of Elders on the official opening of its office in Indonesia and commended the council for organising the 'Religions and Climate Change' conference for the countries of Southeast Asia.

President Widodo also expressed his support for COP28, which will be hosted by the United Arab Emirates at the end of the year.

During the meeting, President Widodo praised the efforts of the Muslim Council of Elders, under the chairmanship of His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, in promoting peace and coexistence. He also recognised the significant initiative of the council in formulating a common vision for the leaders and symbols of religions regarding the issue of climate change and emphasised his strong belief in the importance of interfaith dialogue and expressed his intention to visit the Faith Pavilion at COP28.

President Widodo also expressed his nation's great appreciation for the efforts of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in promoting coexistence and human fraternity. He further praised the historical Abu Dhabi Document of Human Fraternity, which was co-signed by His Eminence the Grand Imam and His Holiness Pope Francis in Abu Dhabi in 2019.

He also expressed his delight in the collaboration between the Muslim Council of Elders’ branch in Indonesia and academic and religious institutions in the country to disseminate and enhance the values of fraternity and coexistence regionally and globally.

The Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders, Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam, and the council’s delegation conveyed their appreciation on behalf of the Muslim Council of Elders, under the chairmanship of His Eminence Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, to the nation of Indonesia, its leadership, and people.

The delegation affirmed that Indonesia holds a special place in the hearts of all Muslims, not only due to its vast land and population, but also because of its rich history, unique civilisation, and inspiring tale of stability, development, and coexistence.

The Secretary-General and the council’s delegation also expressed their gratitude to President Widodo for embracing the regional branch of the Muslim Council of Elders, which will serve as an effective channel of communication with other Southeast Asian nations.

They also praised Indonesia for hosting the ‘Religions and Climate Change’ conference and for its leading efforts in addressing climate change.

They further emphasised that the Muslim Council of Elders will closely work with Indonesian governmental, international, and civil institutions, including Nahdlatul Ulama and Muhammadiyah, among others, to fulfil its mission of promoting peace and spreading the values of dialogue, coexistence, and fraternity.

The delegation of council members included Dr. Muhammad Quraish Shihab, member of the Muslim Council of Elders and former Minister of Religious Affairs of Indonesia, Dr. Ahmed Al-Haddad, member of the Muslim Council of Elders and head of the Fatwa Department in Dubai, Dr. Muhammad Zainul-Majdi, member of the Executive Office of the Muslim Council of Elders, and Dr. Mukhlis Hanafi, Director of the Indonesian branch of the Muslim Council of Elders.

Source: wam.ae

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https://www.wam.ae/en/details/1395303205999

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Claims of political talk in Rawang mosque: High Court orders preacher Ahmad Dusuki to file defence in Fahmi Fadzil’s suit by October 20

05 Oct 2023

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 5 — The High Court today ordered freelance preacher Ahmad Dusuki Abd Rani to file his statement of defence by October 20 to a lawsuit brought by Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil.

The Lembah Pantai Member of Parliament, as the plaintiff, filed a suit against Ahmad Dusuki on September 5 for allegedly accusing him of giving a political talk in a mosque in Rawang, Selangor.

Lawyer Asheeq Ali Sethi Alivi, representing Fahmi, said the court also ordered the plaintiff to file a reply to defence before or on November 17 and fixed November 27 for next case management.

“The writ and statement of claim have been served on the defendant (Ahmad Dusuki), and a memorandum of appearance has been filed by the defendant through his lawyer from MessrsSrihana Mohamad & Partners,” said Asheeq Ali when contacted after the case management via e-review before senior assistant registrar Nur Shasha Hidayah Nor Azahar today.

Regarding another lawsuit filed against the owner of the Facebook account “N13 Kuang”, Mohd FauzanMadzlan, involving the same issue, Asheeq Ali said the court fixed October 31 for further case management.

“We are still in the process of submitting the writ and statement of claim against the defendant (Mohd Fauzan),” said the lawyer.

Based on the statement of claim, Fahmi said the two defendants had published defamatory words by accusing him of abusing a place of worship, which is a mosque, to campaign for an election and had acted contrary to the orders of the Sultan of Selangor.

Fahmi claimed that the defamatory words were posted on Mohd Fauzan’s Facebook account and Ahmad Dusuki’s Facebook and Instagram accounts on July 31.

According to Fahmi, the slanderous statements were baseless and the Selangor Islamic Religious Council had confirmed that he did not give any political speech as accused by the defendants.

He also claimed that the defamatory statements were made with the aim of defaming his good name in order to gain cheap publicity or create a sensation in the national political arena, as well as to tarnish his reputation as a member of parliament and a Cabinet minister. — Bernama

Source: malaymail.com

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https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2023/10/05/claims-of-political-talk-in-rawang-mosque-high-court-orders-preacher-ahmad-dusuki-to-file-defence-in-fahmi-fadzils-suit-by-october-20/94573

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Bartender sentenced to 18 months' jail for splashing paint, damaging cars

Zahratulhayat Mat Arif

 October 6, 2023

IPOH: A bartender was sentenced to a year and a half in jail for committing mischief and damaging properties.

Magistrate Siti Nora Sharif meted out the sentence on Shaz Erfan Adril Abdul Jalil, 22, after he pleaded guilty to the offences.

On the first charge, Shaz Erfan Adril was accused of intentionally splashed red paint, pasted a notice and broken a Honda City car window that was parked outside a house.

The offence was committed in Jalan MenglembuImpiana 9, Taman MenglembuImpiana Adril on Aug 19, between 2am and 3am.

On the second charge, he was accused of committed a similar offence at the same address on a Honda HRV and Perodua Alza and also caused RM1,000 in damages on Aug 26.

Both charges were framed under Section 427 of the Penal Code which provides for a jail term of between one year and five years and a fine, or both, if convicted.

In seeking a lenient sentence, National Legal Aid Foundation counsel M. Kanthan said the accused was single and stays alone.

Deputy public prosecutor Noor Nabilah Norzam suggested that the court mete out a fair punishment on the accused.

Source: nst.com.my

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https://www.nst.com.my/news/crime-courts/2023/10/963724/bartender-sentenced-18-months-jail-splashing-paint-damaging-cars

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Three killed in crash involving six motorcycles at coastal highway in Terengganu

 06 Oct 2023

DUNGUN – Three motorcyclists were killed while three others sustained injuries in a tragic accident involving six motorcycles at Kilometer 333.1, East Coast Highway 2 (LPT2), heading towards Kuantan near the Paka exit, early this morning.

Dungun district police chief, Supt Maizura Abdul Kadir said the dead victims were Muhammad Shah Run Nizam Jaafar, 20, Muhammad Fitri Hanif Rohami, 18, and Ahmad Osama Ramadhan Laidin, 20.

All of them succumbed to severe head and body injuries at the scene.

The three injured motorcyclists were Muhammad Firzani Hilman Ariffadhillah, 20, Muhammad Haziq Haikal Ismail, 17, and Muhammad Afiq Kamal, 19, who suffered severe injuries to his right leg.

Maizura said the incident is believed to have occurred when the motorcycle ridden by Muhammad Firzani was hit from behind by another motorcycle while travelling from Paka to Kemaman, causing the victim to overturn on the road.

"A group of motorcycles coming from behind is believed to have initially attempted to avoid each other, but failed, resulting in the collision. The impact caused three of the motorcycles to crash into the road divider, and victims were thrown onto the road," she told Bernama.

It is believed that all the individuals involved were heading home in Kemaman after enjoying nasi lemak at the Paka Rest and Recreation (R&R) area, Maizura said, adding that the bodies of all the victims were sent to the Dungun Hospital Forensic Unit while the injured victims were taken to the same hospital for further treatment.

The case is being investigated under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987, which relates to causing death by reckless or dangerous driving, and the police are requesting witnesses of the incident to contact the nearby police station to assist in the investigation. – Bernama, October 6, 2023

Source: thevibes.com

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https://www.thevibes.com/articles/news/99224/three-killed-in-crash-involving-six-motorcycles-at-coastal-highway-in-terengganu

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Africa

 

Muslim Muslim Ticket Not Best For Nigeria, Atiku Insists 

October 5, 2023

Ignatius Igwe

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on Thursday insisted that the Muslim-Muslim ticket is not right for Nigeria.

In the build-up to the presidential election, Bola Tinubu – the then-presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) – named former Borno State Governor, Senator Kashim Shettima, as his running mate.

Both Tinubu and Shettima are Muslims. The prospect of a Muslim/Muslim ticket generated outrage from some quarters, even within the ruling party. However, he denied allegations of Islamising Nigeria, saying his wife is a pastor with the Redeemed Christian Church of God and has been practising her Christian faith.

But speaking at a press conference in Abuja, Atiku faulted the idea of a Muslim-Muslim ticket, describing it as wrong for a heterogeneous country like Nigeria.

“Till today, I will not do Muslim-Muslim ticket. I don’t have to be President because I don’t believe it is right for this country,” he said.

“It is not right; (it) is absolutely wrong. We are multi-ethnic and multi-religious and our government should reflect our diversity and our composition.”

‘Task For Everyone’

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate also called on Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP)’s Rabiu Kwankwaso to join his quest for “justice” in the certificate saga involving President Tinubu.

He had requested the release of President Tinubu’s certificate from the Chicago State University over the suspicion that the former Lagos State governor submitted forged credentials to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

While the school had released the certificate to Atiku’s team, the former vice president who is challenging Tinubu’s election, called on Obi, Kwankwaso, and other Nigerians to join his quest for “justice” over the matter.

“Let me call on all well-meaning Nigerians, leaders of thoughts, our religious, traditional, community and political leaders and in particular, Governor Peter Obi of the Labour Party and Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso of the NNPP and the leaders of every political party in Nigeria and indeed every single person who loves this country as I do and who wishes nothing but the best for this country as I do, to join me in this campaign to enshrine probity, accountability and the basic principles of justice, morality, and uprightness in our country and in our government,” he said. “This is a task for everyone of us.”

Source: channelstv.com

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https://www.channelstv.com/2023/10/05/muslim-muslim-ticket-not-best-for-nigeria-atiku-insists/

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Uganda: Opposition leader arrested upon landing at national airport

October 5, 2023

The leader of Uganda's main opposition party, Bobi Wine, was arrested on Thursday on his return to the country, his party's secretary general announced.

Bobi Wine was arrested by agents of the regime as soon as he landed at Entebbe airport, David Lewis Rubongoya, secretary general of the National Unity Platform, wrote on X, ex-Twitter, with a photo showing the opposition leader surrounded by two people.

Former singer, Bobi Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, was the main rival of President Yoweri Museveni, who has ruled the East African country since 1986 in the 2021 presidential election.

The head of state was re-elected for a sixth term with 58% of the vote, according to the official results, ahead of Bobi Wine (35%), who denounced the election as a farce.

Bobi Wine has been arrested several times in recent years, and his supporters' rallies are regularly dispersed, sometimes violently.

Bobi Wine’s supporters had planned to accompany him en masse to his home north of the capital, Kampala, to welcome him back, but police had said such gatherings were illegal.

Ugandan authorities have a long history of using so-called “preventative arrest” to detain opposition leaders, often holding them for several hours before returning them to their homes to stymie mass demonstrations.

In September, the Ugandan police announced that they were suspending a national mobilization campaign launched by the NUP because of public order disturbances.

Source: africanews.com

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https://www.africanews.com/2023/10/05/uganda-opposition-leader-arrested-upon-landing-at-national-airport/

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Burundi: Former PM bail release denied by Supreme Court

October 5, 2023

Alain-Guillaume Bunyoni, Burundi's former prime minister, accused of undermining national security and whose trial opened late in September, has been kept in pre-trial detention, according to sources close to the case.

During his trial held in prison before the Supreme Court, Bunyoni denounced the terrible conditions of his detention and asked to be released on bail.

A request denied by the judicial authority on Monday.

Arrested last April in the economic capital Bujumbura, on the eve of his 51st birthday, Bunyoni, who had been Prime Minister since June 2020, was dismissed in September 2022, a few days after President Evariste Ndayishimiye had denounced plans for a coup.

Mr. Bunyoni had long been regarded as the regime's real number two and the leader of the hardliners among the generals working behind the scenes.

He is accused of undermining the internal security of the State, undermining the smooth running of the national economy, and personal enrichment.

He is also accused of illegal possession of weapons and insulting the President.

A close ally of former president Pierre Nkurunziza, Mr. Bunyoni was an influential figure in the ruling CNDD-FDD party.

While the international community has welcomed a certain opening-up of the country since Evariste Ndayishimiye came to power in June 2020 following the sudden death of Pierre Nkurunziza, a UN commission of inquiry stated in September 2021 that the human rights situation in Burundi remained "disastrous".

Landlocked in the Great Lakes region, Burundi is the world's poorest country in terms of GDP per capita, according to the World Bank.

Source: africanews.com

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https://www.africanews.com/2023/10/05/burundi-former-pm-bail-release-denied-by-supreme-court/

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Mauritius repeals colonial-era anti-same-sex law

October 5, 2023

Mauritius has overturned a longstanding colonial-era law criminalizing same-sex relationships.

The country's Supreme Court, in a landmark ruling on Wednesday, declared Section 250 of the Mauritian Criminal Code, which dates back to 1898, unconstitutional.

This abolished law had previously threatened individuals with up to five years in prison for engaging in same-sex relations.

The Supreme Court's decision emphasized that this law did not align with the values of indigenous Mauritians but was a vestige of the nation's colonial history from Britain.

The journey toward this historic repeal began in October 2019 when four young Mauritians, members of the rights group Young Queer Alliance, filed a legal challenge against the anti-homosexuality law, citing its violation of their fundamental rights and freedoms.

This decision has received praise from the United Nations and numerous human rights organizations. UNAids, in a statement, welcomed Mauritius into the expanding list of African countries that are embracing human rights, including those of LGBTQI+ individuals.

Notably, Mauritius now joins other African nations such as Angola, Botswana, Seychelles, and Mozambique in either decriminalizing or legalizing same-sex relationships.

Source: africanews.com

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https://www.africanews.com/2023/10/05/mauritius-repeals-colonial-era-anti-same-sex-law/

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Niger: Algerian mediation “welcome”, says Nigerian diplomacy

October 5, 2023

Algeria's mediation with the military in Niger is "welcome", declared the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria, recalling that diplomacy was always the route favoured by ECOWAS which however maintains its threat of intervention, in an interview with France 24 broadcast on Thursday.

“We welcome all parties seeking to find a peaceful solution to this imbroglio, including Algeria,” said Minister Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, whose country, Nigeria, holds the rotating presidency of the Economic Community of States. West Africa (ECOWAS ), which threatens Niger with military intervention to restore constitutional order.

“The position of ECOWAS, however, remains the same. We are against this military takeover in Niger, and we insist that President Bazoum, who is the elected president of Niger, be released,” he said.

The military option, "which does not necessarily result in a war as has been misinterpreted", is "not excluded", the minister clarified. “It remains relevant, but it is not the preferred option either, which is why many diplomatic efforts are still underway,” continued the minister.

ECOWAS has been threatening the perpetrators of the putsch with military intervention since July 30 to reinstate elected President Mohamed Bazoum in office, prioritizing the diplomatic route.

Algeria, which shares nearly 1,000 km of borders with Niger, has said it is opposed to any armed intervention in its neighbour. She thus proposed mediation with the military in Niamey “aimed at promoting a political solution to the crisis”.

Niamey said on Monday that it accepted the mediation offer from its Algerian neighbour, recalling however that the duration of the transition to a civilian regime would only be set by an inclusive national forum. The terms of this offer have not been made public.

ECOWAS, for its part, was careful not to comment on the possibility of accepting a transitional period during which the military would remain in power before returning it to civilians.

Niger is also subject to very heavy sanctions, particularly economic, from ECOWAS, which suspended Niamey from its governing bodies, just like Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso, since they have been ruled by them. also by putschist soldiers.

Source: africanews.com

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https://www.africanews.com/2023/10/05/niger-algerian-mediation-welcome-says-nigerian-diplomacy/

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How Abuja’s ‘one chance’ victim was attacked before her death – Co-passenger

Emmanuel Agbo 

October 6, 2023

Kike Okere, co-passenger of Greatness Olorunfemi, who died from the injuries sustained from the attack by ‘one chance’ operators in Abuja last week, has given a vivid account of the attack.

Ms Olorunfemi, a community developer, died at the Maitama General Hospital in the federal capital, where she was rushed to after the attack along the Katampe-Kubwa road.

She was reportedly thrown out of a fast-moving vehicle by her attackers on 26 September while on her way from work.

Ms Okere, a journalist, said they were both beaten up by members of the syndicate who demanded their ATM cards and mobile phones shortly after they boarded the vehicle.

She narrated at a press conference convened by Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), of which Ms Olorunfemi was a member, that when they got close to the bridge linking Maitama and Katampe, one of the operators moved and sat down between the two women.

She said one of the operators, a male, opened the door after moving around the town and pushed Ms Olorunfemi as she (Olorunfemi) was trying to get her balance, she fell from the vehicle.

Ms Okere further said after Ms Olorunfemi fell and was lying on the ground, the ‘one chance’ operator still ran over her with their car.

She said, “On that fateful day, I closed from work around 5 p.m. and it was raining. I had to enter a Total Filling Station. After that, everybody started looking for a vehicle to their destination. Getting to NNPC tower, the bridge is where we normally get a vehicle to Kubwa.”

“There was no vehicle on the ground, it was just Dutse. Then, a vehicle came calling Kubwa. Already, there was somebody inside, there was a guy in front and one at the back. Because the rain was still threatening to come down, we just entered the vehicle.

“Immediately the vehicle moved. On getting to the Masalachi (Mosque) junction, Greatness now noticed that the door was not locked properly. She was now telling the driver to stop the vehicle so that she could lock the door because I entered before her and she was seated beside me. Immediately she turned, she noticed that the handle wasn’t there. The thing caught my attention.

“By the time we turned to face the driver, the glasses were already wound up and they were tinted glasses. The guy in front just pushed his chair backward and brought out a long gun while the one beside me brought out a short gun. They started beating the two of us. They immediately collected our bags, phones and ATMs.

“As they were beating me because they saw a security pass, Greatness was crying, pleading for help. They were just hitting her. The one in front doesn’t have pity at all. He was just hitting her. It’s her ATM they first collected though they collected all the ATMs. They asked her for the pin of her ATM and she told them the pin. They asked me, too. We complied with whatever they told us. I don’t know if there was any money in her account. I don’t know what really happened. They just said ‘no be you we dey find.”

Ms Okere said thereafter the operators were moving around the town looking for more victims even with her and Ms Olorunfemi in the vehicle.

“We were just moving around the town as they were looking for more victims. On getting to that Maitama bridge linking to Secretariat, Aso Drive that connected to Kubwa, they now slowed down a bit and now opened the door.

“The guy beside me moved in between me and Greatness. I never knew what he wanted to do. I thought he wanted to have access to the two of us. I never knew he wanted to open the door for her to get out. The car was still in motion he just pushed down- telling her to get out. So she was trying to hold the door so that she could get her balance to be able to stand down. The guy used the door to hit her and said get out, leave this place. Immediately she fell on the floor, he now told her to ‘stand up na, stand up na.’ Before you know it, they just ran over the girl and moved. Immediately I shouted, and they started hitting me.”

She explained that the treatment the operators gave to Ms Olorunfemi was somewhat different from hers because they could not find money in the deceased’s account when they went to the ATM.

Hospital shuns police invitation

Meanwhile, YALI has frowned at the attitude of the management of Maitama General Hospital towards the investigation into the death of their member.

It said the hospital has yet to respond to the invitation by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command, Abuja.

Miss Olorunfemi was allegedly abandoned at the Emergency Unit of the hospital where she was rushed to.

According to viral videos and audio recordings, the staff on duty allegedly demanded a police report before they could render any care service to her thus leading to her untimely demise.

YALI Network Coordinator, Moyosoluwa Oladayo, said the organisation was at the Police Headquarters Mabushi as early as 8:30 a.m. on 2 October to support the police in this case but discovered that the hospital management had yet to respond to the invitation by the force.

“We found out that the Management of Maitama General Hospital had not responded to police summons, no statement was written by them. Instead, we heard that they said an investigative panel was created and that the FCT minister is the head of the team.

“I am sure it is all over the news now. We worked closely with the police to ensure that the case was transferred to SCID FCT Command the same day.”

“YALI Network wrote a statement at the SCID FCT Command alongside the representative of the deceased family. Then the CID officer said we should come the next day to go to Maitama General Hospital. In his words ‘f Mountain no come to Mohammed, Mohammed go go to mountain’.

“We believe no one is above the law and we are calling out to Maitama General Hospital to respect the law and respond to the calls made by the Nigeria Police Force.”

Ms Oladayo said the organisation wants the collaboration of the FCT administration and the FCT Police Command in unravelling the death of Ms Olorunfemi at the hospital as well as the arrest of the syndicate.

She also called, among other things, “for thorough and independent investigation regarding Greatness’ death” and “a thorough and independent investigation into the allegation against Maitama General Hospital.”

Advocacy

Ms Oladayo said Nigeria must be salvaged by Nigerians despite the decadence within the society.

She said the organisation has the technical know-how to solve the perennial problems bedevilling the country.

She stated, “As a network building young leaders, we are sure that Nigeria will be fixed by Nigerians. We are convinced that we have the prerequisite to build a functional society.

“We are optimistic that the people-first approach will rule where the citizens will be at the centre of our developmental strategy. Where citizens will not be classified as only beneficiaries of laws and services but primary actors to plan, implement and evaluate our developmental strategy and we will show that people matter to building a sustainable and inclusive Nigeria.”

She said YALI has commenced “a two-week campaign to see that this sad incident of our dear Greatness birth our desired Nigeria.”

Meanwhile, the Senate also on Thursday demanded a thorough investigation into the death of Ms Olorunfemi.

Also on Thursday, the FCTA inaugurated a nine-member panel to probe the incident.

Source: premiumtimesng.com

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https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/631218-how-abujas-one-chance-victim-was-attacked-before-her-death-co-passenger.html

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Nigeria’s president faces new challenge to election victory as opposition claims he forged diploma

October 06, 2023

ABUJA: Nigeria’s main opposition said Thursday it will present new evidence to support its court challenge seeking to overturn this year’s presidential election, saying it can show the declared winner provided faked academic credentials to authorities.

President Bola Tinubu forged a diploma from an American university that he presented to Nigeria’s election commission before the February vote and should be removed from office, first runner-up Atiku Abubakar and his lawyer alleged in a briefing with reporters. They cited records obtained from the university in a US court hearing and shared with The Associated Press.

Abubakar previously has argued Tinubu should not be president because the election commission did not follow due process in announcing the winner and Tinubu was not qualified to run, citing allegations of dual citizenship and of a criminal indictment in the United States.

Tinubu has denied those claims. He did not comment on the new allegation, but his spokesman denied it. “A man cannot forge the academic records he possesses,” Temitope Ajayi, Tinubu’s media aide, wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

The challenge is being closely watched by many Nigerians following a divisive election that saw Tinubu win with less than 50 percent of the votes, a first in Nigeria’s history.

Abubakar is one of three candidates who are in court seeking to void Tinubu’s election victory.

Kalu Kalu, Abubakar’s lawyer, said they are set to present “fresh evidence” in the case pending before Nigeria’s Supreme Court.

“A party at fault cannot be allowed to enjoy the fruit of his illegality,” Kalu said.

No presidential election in Nigeria has ever been voided.

In advancing his court challenge, Abubakar secured an order from the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois directing Chicago State University, which Tinubu attended, to release his academic records.

In a transcript of a deposition this week given to AP by Abubakar’s lawyers, and which has not been made available by the court, Caleb Westberg, registrar of the university, confirmed the school “has the original record of Bola Tinubu.” But he said he could not confirm the authenticity of the diploma that the Nigerian leader presented to the election commission indicating he graduated in 1979.

“We’re not qualified to verify whether this document (the diploma) is authentic, given that it is not in our possession,” Westberg said.

Asked to confirm that the school “has no record of issuing” the diploma in question, Westberg responded, “Correct.”

Alexandre de Gramont, who represented Abubakar in US court, said in a statement that the team got “virtually everything we sought” after a “hard-fought battle to obtain the educational records … which Mr. Tinubu’s lawyers vigorously opposed at every step.”

It is not the first time that a Nigerian leader has been accused of forgery. Muhammadu Buhari, Tinubu’s predecessor, faced similar allegations though they were never proven to be true.

Source: arabnews.com

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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2386256/world

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Pakistan

 

Imran transferred to Adiala jail without his consent, claims lawyer

Malik Asad

 October 6, 2023

ISLAMABAD: A lawyer for Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan claimed on Thursday that the former prime minister was transferred from Attock Jail to Adiala Jail without seeking his consent.

Advocate Shiraz Ranjha, a counsel for Mr Khan, informed the Judge of Special Court (Official Secrets Act) that he and other lawyers could easily meet Mr Khan at Attock jail, but at Adiala, the situation is different.

Advocate Ranjha was arguing on an application submitted before the Special Court, seeking directions to Adiala jail superintendent to provide telephone facility to the ex-premier, enabling him to call his sons.

It may be mentioned that the Attock jail administration had rejected a similar request, saying that convicts in cases under the Official Secrets Act were not allowed to avail the phone facility.

IHC issues notice over plea on former PM’s security; amendment application filed in Toshakhana conviction appeal

During his exchange with the judge, the counsel said that the environment in Attock jail was far better than the crowded Adiala jail.

He contended that the jail rules restricted communication with a convict, whereas Mr Khan has not yet been convicted and is an under-trial prisoner.

He further requested Judge Abual Hasnat Zulqarnain to issue a directive allowing telephone facility to Mr Khan, besides other facilities he is entitled to being former PM.

Earlier, on Sept 26, during a hearing of the special court conducted in Attock jail, Mr Khan had said he did not want to be moved to Adiala since he had adjusted to life in Attock jail. The ex-PM had informed the judge that he would ask his lawyers to withdraw the plea seeking his transfer to Adiala.

Following the hearing, the PTI chief’s counsel, Latif Khosa, said that the PTI chairman did not want to be moved to Adiala Jail because of the inordinate delay in the case proceedings.

The lawyer said as per the ex-PM, he had applied for the transfer to another facility two months ago, but he was not aware that the court would take so long to decide on his plea.

IHC issues notices

Separately, Chief Justice of Islamabad High Court (IHC) Justice Aamer Farooq on Thursday issued a notice to Adiala Jail administration on a petition seeking proper security and facilities for Mr Khan.

Mr Khan’s wife Bushra Bibi filed the petition through his counsel Sardar Latif Khan Khosa.

Advocate Khosa argued before the court that Mr Khan has been detained in a dingy cell where he can hardly offer prayers. He requested the court to allow homemade food for Mr Khan.

Mr Khan’s wife has expressed apprehension that the jail administration may poison the meal of ex-premier. She claimed that the jail administration is not providing the facilities for which Mr Khan is entitled to under the jail manual

The petition requested the court to direct the jail administration to permit Mr Khan to exercise and walk within the jail premises.

Appeal against conviction

Separately, Mr Khan’s counsel Mr Khosa filed an application to amend the appeal against the former’s conviction in Toshakhana case.

He requested the court to implead the state as a respondent in the appeal.

During the course of arguments, the ECP’s lawyer Amjad Pervaiz pointed out that the appellant has to implead the state as respondent in the appeal.

Subsequently, the counsel for ex-premier sought to implead the ECP as a party in the case.

The appellant requested the court to set aside the conviction awarded in Toshakhana case by the trial court on August 5. He also sought to set aside his disqualification for being a convict.

The appeal further requested the court to suspend the verdict of Mr Khan till the final adjudication of the appeal.

Source: dawn.com

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https://www.dawn.com/news/1779554/imran-transferred-to-adiala-jail-without-his-consent-claims-lawyer

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Police let 623 refugees go over valid documents

Munawer Azeem

 October 6, 2023

ISLAMABAD: Out of 1126 foreign nationals detained by the police during an ongoing drive against undocumented immigrants, more than 600 people were able to produce their valid documents, after which the police officials allowed them to go home.

A statement issued by the Islamabad police also asked the public not to link undocumented foreign nationals with criminal activities.

“Those who produced their legal documents were released,” the police said, adding that at least 503 immigrants failed to produce the documents and were sent on judicial remand.

The police said that the foreigners were taken into custody during separate operations in residential areas of the capital as well as informal settlements across the city.

The police officials asked them to show their documents, including visas, but 503 people failed to produce documentation and were subsequently detained, said the statement.

Police also registered cases against them at different police stations under Section 14 of the Foreigners Act, the statement said, adding that so far at least 67 cases have been registered at different police stations, including Sabzi Mandi and Bhara Kahu, against ‘illegal immigrants’. The police said further legal action, including deportation, would be taken in light of court orders.

During an operation by the Sanzi Mandi police, 33 “illegal immigrants” residing in different areas were arrested, and a case was registered against them.

The Barakahu police on Wednesday also arrested five “illegal immigrants” from Simly Dam Road and registered a case against them, the police said, adding that the Koral police arrested four “illegal immigrants” from Ghouri Town and registered a case against them on Wednesday.

Giving details about operations, the police said the activity went smoothly and no unpleasant incident was reported. Police also requested the public not to link refugees residing in the country with criminal elements. According to the police, the operations were conducted based on tip-offs as well as during random checking.

“A targeted operation in commercial areas, like Sabzi Mandi, was conducted in response to the information about the presence of foreigners there,” they said, adding that during the operations, the foreigners were asked to produce identity documents and upon failure, they were taken into custody.

On Tuesday, the federal government gave an ultimatum to all undocumented immigrants, including Afghan nationals, to leave Pakistan by October 31, or risk imprisonment and deportation to their respective countries.

The government decided to take strict action against the businesses and properties owned by “illegal immigrants”, while a taskforce was also constituted to scrutinise “fake identity cards illegally issued to foreign nationals as well as their businesses and properties”.

Source: dawn.com

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https://www.dawn.com/news/1779506/police-let-623-refugees-go-over-valid-documents

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PM reaffirms Pakistan's unwavering support to Kashmiris

October 05, 2023

Pakistan will continue extending its political, moral and diplomatic support to Kashmiri brethren till the resolution of Kashmir dispute as per will of Kashmiris in light of UN Security Council Resolutions.

Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar reiterated this resolve during his meeting with Azad Kashmir Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwaar-ul-Haq in Islamabad on Thursday.

The Pakistan Prime Minister said Kashmir is an unfinished agenda of the partition of the united India and Pakistan is standing by Kashmiri brothers and sisters in their struggle for right to self-determination.

Chaudhry Anwaar-ul-Haq, on the occasion, offered rich tribute to the Pakistan Prime Minister for raising the voice for Kashmiris at the UN General Assembly. He said Kashmiri people are thankful to Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar for exposing the Indian atrocities being committed in the Occupied Kashmir before the world.

Source: radio.gov.pk

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https://www.radio.gov.pk/05-10-2023/pm-kakar-reaffirms-pakistans-unwavering-support-to-kashmiri-peoples-just-struggle

 

 

Petition against Elahi’s arrest: SC asks which law prevents arrest of an accused

October 06, 2023

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court, while hearing a petition against the arrest of former chief minister Punjab Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, questioned on Thursday where does the law mention that an accused should not be arrested in any case.

A three-member SC bench, headed by Justice Sardar Tariq Masood, heard the case. Justice Tariq remarked that judges had taken oath for the protection of law. He asked if the police should seek permission first for arresting an accused.

A court in Islamabad had issued the order that the accused would be arrested only after approval of the court. The SC bench remarked whether the courts were giving license to accused to commit crimes.

Sardar Latif Khosa, counsel for Elahi, stated that it was also ridiculous that a person was arrested again and again after being released.

Justice Sardar Tariq asked what the law said about it. The lawyer prayed to the court to grant some time for case preparation, which was accepted by the bench. The apex court then adjourned the hearing for an indefinite period of time.

Separately, an accountability court in Lahore initiated the process of declaring Moonis Elahi, the son of former Punjab chief minister Pervaiz Elahi, a proclaimed offender. The court ordered publication of a proclamation in newspapers for the appearance of Moonis Elahi. Accountability Court Judge Naseem Ahmad Virk passed the orders on an application filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

Earlier, during the proceedings, NAB presented a report about the arrest warrants of Moonis Elahi. The NAB said the court had issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Moonis Elahi on September 26, but it failed to arrest him despite efforts.

It submitted that Moonis Elahi had gone underground to avoid arrest and requested initiating proceedings to declare him a proclaimed offender.

NAB is probing a case against Elahi and his son Moonis Elahi for receiving Rs1 billion kickback in more than 200 development projects in the Gujrat district.

Source: thenews.com.pk

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https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1116416-petition-against-elahi-s-arrest-sc-asks-which-law-prevents-arrest-of-an-accused

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To get ECP disqualification overturned: PTI chief moves IHC for suspension of Toshakhana verdict

October 06, 2023

Awais Yousafzai

ISLAMABAD: In a bid to overturn his disqualification by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Thursday challenged the trial court verdict in the Toshakhana case in the Islamabad High Court (IHC).

In the plea, the PTI chief’s lawyers contended that they had requested the IHC to completely suspend the trial court verdict that had convicted their client in the Toshakhana case. However, it added that the IHC in its August 28 verdict only suspended the sentence of the PTI chief and not the trial court order.

The petition further contends that Khan’s “rights” faced “serious prejudice” because of the non-suspension of the trial court verdict as ECP had barred him from contesting elections.

The petition further states that the disqualification order by the ECP was issued in “haste” despite the conviction not attaining “finality”.

The petition urged the court to suspend the verdict in the “interest of justice”.

In August of this year, the ECP disqualified the PTI chairman for five years following his conviction in the Toshakhana case.

In a notification, the electoral watchdog stated that the PTI chief was disqualified after being found guilty of corrupt practices under Section 167 of the Elections Act, 2017 and his sentencing for three years. The ECP also de-notified Khan as the “returned candidate” from NA-45 Kurram-I.

However, the same month, IHC suspended Khan’s sentence but his conviction and disqualification remained intact until the court decides on the main appeal.

The IHC in the short verdict had also directed the authorities to release the PTI chief on bail. However, he was not released as the authorities booked him in the cipher case.

Meanwhile, PTI Chairman Imran Khan filed a new petition in Official Secrets Act court in the matter of arranging his telephonic talks with his sons.

The court summoned report from superintendent Adiala Jail on this matter. Counsel for PTI chairman appeared in the court of Judge Abual Hasnat Zulqarnain.

Imran requested the court to issue new orders to superintendent Adiala Jail for arranging telephonic conversation of his sons Qasim and Suleman with him.

Judge Abual Hasnat Zulqarnain remarked the previous application regarding telephonic conversation became ineffective because the former prime minister was shifted to the Adiala Jail.

The counsel, Sheeraz Ranjha, informed the court that superintendent Attock Jail had said last time that he cannot arrange telephonic conversation of criminals. Superintendent Adiala Jail should be given fresh instructions for arranging telephonic talks.

The court sought a report from superintendent Adiala Jail till October 10 regarding chairman PTI telephonic talks with his sons.

Meanwhile, IHC served notices on respondents in a petition filed by Bushra Bibi seeking security for chairman PTI in jail.

Chief Justice Aamer Farooq, hearing the case, remarked that the court would pass an order as per its provision only.

The petitioner’s lawyer, Sardar Latif Khosa, said that the provision of home food should be allowed to chairman PTI in jail. The lawyer said that it was difficult for chairman PTI to offer prayer in a jail cell. The court served notices on respondents and adjourned the hearing for one week.

Source: thenews.com.pk

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https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1116417-to-get-ecp-disqualification-overturned-pti-chief-moves-ihc-for-suspension-of-toshakhana-verdict

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Pakistani, Afghan FMs meet amid growing tensions over deportation of refugees

 05 October 2023

The foreign ministers of Pakistan and Afghanistan have met in Tibet at a time when relations between the two countries have hit a new low.

The meeting took place on Thursday amid escalating diplomatic tensions between the two neighbors over Pakistan’s ultimatum to undocumented Afghan immigrants to leave the country or face the risk of imprisonment and deportation.

Pakistan's caretaker Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani and his acting Afghan counterpart Amir Khan Muttaqi met in Tibet's Xizang city on the sidelines of the third Trans-Himalaya Forum for International Cooperation in China's autonomous region.

According to a statement from Pakistan's Foreign Ministry on X, Jilani reaffirmed Islamabad's "commitment to further strengthening bilateral ties with Afghanistan."

The foreign minister underscored that the "challenges confronting regional peace and stability be addressed in collaborative spirit through collective strategies."

Islamabad has set November 1 as the deadline for all undocumented immigrants, mainly Afghans, to leave the country, warning of arrests and deportations after the deadline.

The move has further strained the relations between the two countries.

The decision has drawn a response from Afghan authorities, with Afghan Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid calling it “unacceptable” and urging authorities to revisit the policy.

According to the UNCHR, the UN refugee agency, 2.18 million Afghan refugees are currently living in Pakistan.

With the hurried withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan and the return of the Taliban to power in August 2021, a new wave of approximately 600,000 to 800,000 Afghan immigrants crossed over to neighboring Pakistan.  

As per the UN Office of Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, a record 28.3 million people currently depend on humanitarian and protection assistance in Afghanistan, up from 24.4 million in 2022 and 18.4 million in 2021.

Pakistan has accused the Taliban of supporting terrorists loyal to the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terror group which has claimed responsibility for several deadly attacks in the country. Islamabad alleges that some Afghan refugees have been involved in "funding and facilitating" terrorist activities.

Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers deny the charges, saying they have launched a crackdown on the TTP in the eastern Afghan provinces of Kunar and Nuristan and arrested hundreds of terrorists.

Source: presstv.ir

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https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2023/10/05/712141/Pakistan-and-Afghanistan-FM-s-meet-in-Tibet-amid-growing-tensions-over-deportation-of-Afghan-refugees

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