Scripted Video From Bangladesh Viral With False Love Jihad Claim
New Age
Islam News Bureau
24 July 20123
Photo: Boom Live
----
South Asia
• Bangladesh Orders Nobel Laureate
Muhammad Yunus To Pay 1 Million Dollars Tax
• Flash Floods Kill 30 People in
Afghanistan
• Domestic Product Exports Have
Increased in Herat
• 31 Killed, 74 Wounded in Floods in
Past 72 Hours: IEA Ministry
• Annual Reporting of Government
Entities Begins
--------
Europe
• Key points from Putin’s Africa vision
• British company to cooperate with mobilization
in Russia
• Russia blames Ukraine for 'terrorist'
drone attack on Moscow
--------
Pakistan
• JUI-F Urges Muslim World To Recall
Envoys From Sweden
• In meeting with COAS, US Centcom chief
recognises Pakistan’s efforts for regional peace
• Pakistan Muslim League-N Considers
Proposing Ishaq Dar's Name For Pak Caretaker PM: Report
• PM urges masses to defeat PTI's
political masquerades in upcoming polls
• SC bars authorities from arresting PTI
chief in lawyer murder case till Aug 9
• PML-N to nominate Ishaq Dar as interim
PM
---------
Arab World
• Heritage Commission Concludes First
Phase Of Archaeological Excavations At Makkah’s Dhi Al-Majaz Market
• Saudi Graffiti Artist Steps Out Of The
ShadowsTransforming Blank Walls Into Captivating Bursts Of Colour Intertwined
With Arabic Typography
• Mawhiba launches ‘Talents of
Architecture and Design’ program in Riyadh
• Global Muslim Body Strips Status Of Swedish
Envoy Over Increasing Quran Burning Stunts
---------
India
• Kanwariya Procession Disrupted As
Stones Are Hurled Near Mosque In Bareilly
• Gyanvapi Case: SC Stays Varanasi
District Court Order Until 5 Pm On 26 July; Asks Mosque Committee To Move
Allahabad HC
• Muslim Coordination Committee Invites
CPM To Seminar On UCC
--------
Mideast
• As Palestinian Factions Seek
Reconciliation In Cairo, Islamic Jihad To Boycott Talks
• Muslim World League condemns
desecration of Quran in Denmark
• Events Committee calls for angry march
condemning crime of burning Holy Qur'an
• Palestinian Islamic Jihad sets
condition for attending Cairo meeting next week
--------
Southeast Asia
• Our Father Belonged To The People,
Says Salahuddin Ayub’s Son
• In Malaysia, more Muslim parents
turning to abducting kids in custody wars, SIS data shows
• IGP: Police tracing fingerprints found
on bomb under lawyer SitiKasim's car
• DPM Zahid: Payung Rahmah initiative
needs to be continued by Salahuddin’s successor
----------
Africa
• Steer Clear Of Politicians Instigating
Religious Crisis, Islamic Scholar Warns
• Prince Nakibinge breaks Muslim
principles to honour Hussein Kyanjo
• Controversial video: Apologise to
Muslims, Shehu Sani tells Davido
• Newlands East man shot and killed
while driving home from mosque
• Christians, Muslims warned to shun
divisive politicians
• Spirits of murdered EndSARS
protesters, members of Islamic Movement will continue to haunt Nigeria – Shehu
Sani
--------
North America
• US Congress kills bill to end
president's power for war on West Asia
• US commissions first navy warship in
Sydney amid China fears
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL:
https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/video-bangladesh-love-jihad/d/130292
------
Scripted Video From Bangladesh Viral
With False Love Jihad Claim
Photo: Boom Live
----
23 July 2023
A scripted video from Bangladesh showing
a group of men helping a woman elope is viral with false communal claims that
she is a Hindu who was trapped and lured by a Muslim man into marriage. The
video is circulating with a false 'love jihad' spin in India; Love Jihad refers
to an alleged conspiracy by Muslim men to lure Hindu women into converting to
Islam on the pretext of love or marriage. The video shows a man and a woman
clandestinely get into a moving car with the help of a friend. Later, the
friend along with others escape in an auto rickshaw; the entire video has been
filmed from a bike in motion. BOOM spoke to Mohammed Sohag, one of the actors
in the video, who confirmed that the video is scripted and was shot in
Bangladesh's Chandpur district. Additionally, he also refuted the communal
angle viral with the video. The video is being shared with a Hindi caption that
translates to, "In Love Jehad, this is how a Sanatani girl gets driven
away by coaxing her and making full preparations. An entire gang is engaged, so
that any situation can be dealt with."
Fact Check BOOM performed a reverse
image search on one of the keyframes from the viral video and found the same
video uploaded on YouTube on April 10, 2023.
The video has a clearer version of the
car's number plate that mentions "Dhaka Metro-GA 7-9335" in Bengali.
This number refers to the registration number of the car that belongs to Dhaka
Metro of Bangladesh. This establishes that the video is from Bangladesh. We
further spotted a contact number present on the auto rickshaw.
Taking a cue, BOOM Bangladesh reached
out to the auto rickshaw driver Mohammed Sohag, who confirmed that the video
was shot at his native village Noagaon of Bangladesh's Chandpur district few
months ago. Sohag told BOOM that the incident was a scripted one and shows a
sequence of how friends help a young couple elope and get married. He also
ruled out a communal spin to the video. "There is no communal angle to the
video and in the script, both belong to the same community." Sohag told
BOOM Bangladesh, "My neighbour Mohammed Jahid took my auto rickshaw few
months ago to shoot this video and upload it on his TikTok channel."
According to Sohag, Jahid is a popular TikToker from the area. BOOM however was
unable to find Jahid's TikTok handle on the platform. Sohag further told BOOM
that he was driving the auto rickshaw. "I can be seen driving the auto
rickshaw in the video. The woman, who got into the car from the auto rickshaw,
is Sumaiya Akhtar." Incidentally, Sumaiya is Jahid's wife in real life,
and they both belong to the Muslim community. BOOM was however unable to
independently verify where the video was uploaded first.
Source: boomlive.in
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.boomlive.in/fact-check/viral-video-love-jihad-hindu-girl-muslim-men-scripted-video-bangladesh-social-media-22583
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Radical UK Islamist Preacher Anjem
Choudary Charged With Three Terrorist Offenses
Radical
preacher Anjem Choudary
-----
JULY 24, 2023
British radical Islamist preacher Anjem
Choudary has been charged with three terrorism offenses after being arrested in
London last week, police said on Monday.
Choudary, 56, has been charged with
membership of a proscribed organization, directing a terrorist organization,
and addressing meetings to encourage support for a proscribed organization,
police said. He will appear in court in London on Monday.
Once Britain's most high-profile
Islamist preacher, Choudary was imprisoned in Britain in 2016 for encouraging
support for Islamic State before being released in 2018 after serving half of
his five-and-a-half-year sentence.
Choudary, former head of the now-banned
organization al-Muhajiroun, drew attention for praising the men responsible for
the 9/11 attacks on the United States and saying he wanted to convert
Buckingham Palace into a mosque.
His followers have been linked to
numerous plots across the world.
Others charged as well
A 28-year-old Canadian man, Khaled
Hussein, has also been charged with membership of a proscribed organization
after being arrested on the same day as Choudary when he arrived on a flight at
Heathrow Airport, police said.
Source: jpost.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-752222
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Anti-Ahmadi Drive In Pakistan Invites UN Bodies Ire
Office of
the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
-----
July 24, 2023
ISLAMABAD: The drive against the Ahmadi
community, which has become a regular feature in Punjab, is not only bringing a
bad name to the country, but also inviting the ire of UN bodies.
After a campaign last month to stop
Ahmadis from offering sacrifice on Eidul Azha, the latest drive launched
against the community involves demolition of the minarets of their places of
worship.
The drive is being spearheaded by the
Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP).
A poster floated by the social media
wing of the TLP in Sarai Alamgir, a town near Jhelum, said: “From Shaandar
Chowk to the Qadiani Centre, all minarets will be demolished.”
The drive, the poster said, will
commence at 10am on the 10th of Muharram (July 29) from the TLP’s office in
Sarai Alamgir.
TLP leading a campaign of demolishing
minarets of their places of worship
On July 14, the TLP pressured police
into demolishing minarets of an Ahmadi place of worship in Jhelum. The party’s
local chapter later announced that it would demolish minarets of all Ahmadi
places of worship in the entire Jhelum district.
Some of these sites are more than a
hundred years old.
Amir Mehmood, a spokesman for the Jamaat
Ahmadiyya in Pakistan, attributed the recent upsurge in anti-Ahmadi drive to
the coming elections.
“We have seen it in the past too that
political parties use the religious card to woo voters by whipping up
emotions,” Mr Mehmood said.
In the wake of social media complaints
to the Punjab government, the deputy commissioner of Jhelum, retired Captain
Samiullah Farooq, has recommended gagging Saad Rizvi of TLP during Muharram and
Safar.
The Jhelum police have lodged two FIRs
against the TLP chief for making provocative speeches.
When Dawn tried to contact TLP leaders,
no office-bearer responded to repeated phone calls.
When an attempt was made to get in touch
with a TLP spokesperson on the phone number given on the poster, the person who
answered the call said bluntly “wrong number”.
A similar campaign was launched by TLP
in the run-up to Eidul Azha when it filed as many as 23 complaints with police
to stop Ahmadis from sacrificing animals.
Police gave in to TLP pressure and tried
to stop the community from sacrificing animals at 89 places and booked 13
individuals in six cases. Seven of them were arrested in various districts.
A report released by Jamaat Ahmadiyya
said police had seized 10 animals and took possession of sacrificial meat from
houses of five members of the community.
UN concern
The Office of the High Commissioner for
Human Rights (OHCHR) has expressed concern over the treatment of Ahmadis in
Pakistan and asked the government to respond to allegations of violations of
international law.
The OHCHR said in its letter: “We would
like to bring to the attention of your Excellency’s Government the information
we have received concerning growing discrimination and rising incidents of hate
speech and incitement to violence against the Ahmadi religious minority in
Pakistan, including attacks against places of worship and other acts of
intimidation.”
The letter was submitted to Pakistan’s
Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland.
“We are deeply concerned about this
series of violent attacks against the Ahmadi minority, which we have previously
addressed in several communications that despite our requests for remedial
actions from authorities, the safety of the Ahmadiyya minority continues to
deteriorate.” the OHCHR letter said.
Source: dawn.com
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.dawn.com/news/1766457/anti-ahmadi-drive-invites-un-bodies-ire
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Iraqi Shia Cleric Muqtada Al-Sadr Lashes
Out At US Meddlesome Policies In Iraq
This file
photo shows prominent Iraqi Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.
-----
Monday, 24 July 2023
Prominent Iraqi Shia cleric Muqtada
al-Sadr has strongly decried Washington over its malicious intentions
concerning Iraq and its nation, describing the United States as the enemy of
peace and democracy.
In a statement posted on Twitter on
Sunday, Muqtada al-Sadr hit out at the inappropriate role the US ambassador to
Baghdad, Alina Romanowski, plays in Iraq.
“We see the foolish US ambassador to
Iraq acts as she pleases and doesn’t care about anyone.”
He stressed “I swear to God, she and her
country harbor ill intentions towards us and our religion,” referring to the US
support for the repeated desecration of the Muslim holy book of Qur’an that
provokes Muslims across the world.
“Are we going to let the enemies of
peace, democracy, and God rule over [our country]?”
Sadr also noted that Romanowski seeks to
“turn Iraq into a subordinate to the US”, and subsequently “spreads obscenity”
in the Muslim country. He, however,
stressed that Baghdad will foil their plot.
“No, a thousand times No, the Iraqi
nation will be nothing but the nation of justice, and the nation of right,
righteousness, and virtue,” Sadr said.
Sadr said the US claims to be a
democracy, but Biden “did not give any importance to the [American] people and
their opinion.”
He added that the previous US
administrations also used to turn a blind eye to the American people’s demands,
noting that most Americans were opposing the occupation of Iraq that lasted
until 2011.
On March 20, 2003, the US and Britain
invaded Iraq in a blatant violation of international law and under the pretext
of finding weapons of mass destruction (WMDs); but no such weapons were ever
discovered in Iraq.
More than one million Iraqis were killed
as a result of the US-led invasion, and subsequent occupation of the country,
according to the California-based investigative organization Project Censored.
“Thus, the US is the enemy of democracy
and the enemy of peace as it is an occupying [country], and the enemy of sky
[God] as it supports obscenity.”
Last Wednesday, Baghdad announced that
the US ambassador will be summoned over remarks made by State Department
spokesman Matthew Miller about the removal of the head of the Christian Church
in Iraq. Miller had described the treatment of the US-backed Cardinal Louis
Sako as harassment.
Baghdad said Iraq’s President Abdul
Latif Rashid’s decision to revoke a decree recognizing the patriarch of the
Chaldean Catholic Church as head of the country’s Christian Church was “aimed
at correcting a constitutional anomaly.”
Rashid’s office said the president was
“disappointed by accusations leveled against the Iraqi government” by Miller.
Recently, hundreds of Iraqis have also
staged a protest demanding an end to the interventionist acts of the US
ambassador.
Source: presstv.ir
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2023/07/24/707625/Senior-cleric-Sadr-says-US-enemy-of-peace
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Uniform Civil Code: RSS-Affiliated
Muslim Rashtriya Manch Delegation Meets Law Commission Chairman, Submits
Suggestions
Uniform
Civil Code: Constitution of India
-------
23 JUL 2023
A delegation of the RSS-linked Muslim
Rashtriya Manch (MRM) on Sunday called on Law Commission Chairman Justice Ritu
Raj Awasthi and submitted its suggestions on the proposed Uniform Civil Code
(UCC).
The delegation, jointly led by the MRM's
functionary Shiraz Quraishi and its national media In-charge Shahid Saeed, met
Justice Awasthi at his residence here and submitted a memorandum, supporting
the move to bring a UCC in the country, the organisation said in a statement.
During the meeting, Justice Awasthi
noted that there is a lot of confusion among various sections of society with
regard to the drafting of a UCC but people need not worry for anything, the MRM
said.
“Law Commission Chairman Justice Awasthi
told the MRM delegation that there are many confusions but there is no threat
to the internal practice of any religion, community or class from the UCC,” it
said.
“Justice Awasthi also noted that there
is a rumour about the UCC that it will be brought in the next session of
Parliament but nothing like this is going to happen,” the MRM said.
He clarified that it will take a “long
time to complete the process”, the MRM said quoting Justice Awasthi.
“Justice Awasthi said that the UCC will
empower the people of the country irrespective of their religion,” MRM media
in-charge Saeed said after the meeting.
-With PTI Input
Source: outlookindia.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.outlookindia.com/national/uniform-civil-code-rss-affiliated-muslim-rashtriya-manch-delegation-meets-law-commission-chairman-submits-suggestions-news-305163
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South Asia
Bangladesh Orders Nobel Laureate
Muhammad Yunus To Pay 1 Million Dollars Tax
July 24, 2023
Dhaka: Bangladesh's top court has
ordered Nobel laureate and microfinance pioneer Muhammad Yunus to pay more than
$1 million in taxes on a $7 million donation made to three charitable trusts,
lawyers said Monday.
Yunus, 83, is credited with lifting
millions out of poverty with his pioneering micro-credit bank, but he has
fallen out with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who has said he is "sucking
blood" from the poor.
He was awarded the 2006 Nobel Peace
Prize for his work promoting economic development.
"The Supreme Court... dismissed our
petition," Yunus' lawyer SarderJinnat Ali told AFP.
The court, which upheld a decision by a
lower court, ruled on Sunday that Yunus must pay as the law does not support
tax exemptions for donations to trusts.
Yunus had donated 767 million taka ($7
million) to the Professor Muhammad Yunus Trust, the Yunus Family Trust and the
Yunus Centre between 2011 and 2014.
The court ordered he pay a total tax
bill of 150 million taka ($1.4 million), 30 million taka of which he has
already paid.
Yunus has been credited with helping
eradicate extreme poverty in Bangladesh by offering microfinance loans to tens
of millions of rural women through Grameen Bank, which he founded in the 1980s.
Bangladesh's anti-graft watchdog last
year ordered a wide-ranging probe into firms that Yunus chairs, and Hasina has
attacked him personally, blaming him for the World Bank pulling out from a
bridge project that was mired in corruption allegations.
When the bridge near Dhaka finally opened
in June last year, Hasina said Yunus should be "dipped in a river"
for jeopardising its completion.
Listen to the latest songs, only on
JioSaavn.com
In March, 40 global figures including
former UN chief Ban Ki-moon and former US secretary of state Hillary Clinton
published a joint letter calling on Bangladesh to stop "unfair"
attacks and harassment of Yunus.
Source: ndtv.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/bangladesh-orders-nobel-laureate-muhammad-yunus-to-pay-1-million-dollars-in-taxes-4235885
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Flash Floods Kill 30 People in
Afghanistan
July 23, 2023
The ministry’s spokesman, Mohammad Shafi
Rahimi, said that 26 deaths occurred in Jalrez district, 46 Km east of Kabul
after the rain washed away hundreds of dwellings, most of which were made of
mud and earth, Reuters reported.
“A total of 26 people were killed, 44
others injured, and 36 more people went missing in rainstorms and flooding that
swept through parts of eastern Wardak province late Saturday,” Rahimi told
reporters.
According to Rahimi, four more people
were killed in Kabul, 70 people were injured in both the district, and at least
40 other people were missing.
The injured people were taken to the
local hospital for medical treatment.
Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesman for the
Taliban, released a statement of condolence in which he urged relief
organizations and the Kabul administration to assist the grieving families.
The officials also said that at least
250 cattle had been killed, more than 400 residential houses had been
destroyed, and dozens of acres of agricultural land had been submerged in the
flood.
Last year’s seasonal flooding killed
several people in Afghanistan, destroying hundreds of residential houses and
livestock.
Source: khaama.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.khaama.com/flash-floods-kill-30-people-in-afghanistan/
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Domestic Product Exports Have Increased
in Herat
Industrial owners considered the
problems in the country's banking system and the challenge of transferring cash
a big obstacle to their exports.
Forty-five tons of non-alcoholic
beverages are supposed to be exported to California in the United States
through the port of Karachi, and most of these beverages are pomegranate juice.
“Afghanistan is a small country and
today has exports to the big economic country, the US, and it’s a big
achievement for industry owners and Afghanistan,” said Alladdin Bahadur, head
of the company.
Non-alcoholic beverages were exported
after the approval of the Ministry of Public Health of Afghanistan and the
government of the United States of America.
“Our product has been approved by the
World Health Organization (WHO) and after this approval, we were honored to
export our product abroad,” said Khir Ahmad Tahiri, head of the laboratory.
More than 600 people work in this
non-alcoholic beverage factory in Herat Industrial City.
“If there are large factories in
Afghanistan and people work, it is better than going to foreign countries and
drowning in the waters or immigrating to Iran and other neighboring countries,”
said Abdul Qadeer, an employee.
According to the statistics of the
Chamber of Commerce and Investment in Herat, currently, 15 products of Herat
Industrial City have been exported to various countries.
“In the industrial city of Herat
province, which is currently being exported, we have more than 15 items of
domestic products that are exported abroad,” said Mohammad Yosef Amin,
Executive Director of the Herat Chamber of Commerce and Investment.
This year, the amount of exports from
Herat has increased by eleven percent compared to last year, and the value of
these exported goods is $110 million.
Source: tolonews.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-184331
--------
31 Killed, 74 Wounded in Floods in Past
72 Hours: IEA Ministry
24 July 2023
Rahimi said that 250 livestock died
during this period and 600 residences as well hundreds of acres of lands have
been damaged.
“The floods began three days ago. At
least 13 people were killed and 74 were injured and more than 604 houses have
been damaged,” said Shafiullah Rahimi, a spokesman for the Ministry of State
for Natural Disaster Management.
Meanwhile, Faizullah Jalal, the head of
the Maidan Wardak Department of Natural Disaster Management, said that at least
30 people died and 15 others were injured in floods that hit several districts
of the province last Saturday night.
“So far we have found more than 30 dead
bodies and it is said that some others have disappeared. 15 people are injured
and have been taken to the hospital,” he said.
The people affected by the floods meanwhile called on
the interim government and humanitarian organizations to provide them with
shelter and other basic needs.
“Two of them are my own daughters and
one of them is my son… in total there are 16 people,” said Attiqullah, a resident
of Maidan Wardak.
“12 hours have passed but we don’t see
anything. The provincial governor arrived but a very weak team was with them.
The incident is big but it has not been addressed accordingly,” said Mohammad
Hassan, a resident of Maidan Wardak.
The provincial governor, Bakhtiar Maaz,
said that they are working on food and shelter assistance for the people
affected by floods.
"We have considered food and
shelter assistance for them for now. Our teams from the Ministry of Disaster
Management, Ministry of Public Work and Interior Ministry are on their way. We
will solve all problems,” he said.
Based on the statistics of the State
Ministry for Disaster Management, since the start of the current solar year,
more than 80,000 families who have been affected by floods in various provinces
have been provided with food and cash aid.
Source: tolonews.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-184325
--------
Annual Reporting of Government Entities
Begins
The head of the office of the Prime
Minister, Abdul Wasi, said that the governmental entities are obliged to
provide the details of annual activities transparently to the government.
“The departments of the Islamic Emirate
and its officials will come to the Government Media and Information Center.
They will share their one-year long details with you,” he said.
Speaking at the same press conference,
the deputy spokesman for the Islamic Emirate, Bilal Karimi, said that the
Islamic Emirate supports freedom of speech and media based on laws and if the
media acts in accordance with the laws and guidelines, the Islamic Emirate will
support them.
The deputy minister of Economy, Abdul
Latif Nazari, told the press conference that the Islamic Emirate is not dependent
on humanitarian assistance but is willing to engage with the international
community.
However, he acknowledged that the
ongoing poverty in Afghanistan is due to the suspension of international aid.
“The aiding countries, the organizations
which are providing assistance, should not be political. The provision of
assistance is the right of the people of Afghanistan,” he said.
The spokesman for the Ministry of
Economy (MoE), Abdul Rahman Habib, said that the coordinating and monitoring of
NGOs’ activities, the formation of an economic outlook, and assessment of the
private sector, as well as increasing the capacity of employees have been the
main achievements of the MoE in the 1401 solar year.
Meanwhile, the coordinator of
Non-Governmental Organizations, Abdul Salam Ashrafi, said that efforts are
underway to address the issue of women working in governmental departments.
“The women are working at the airport.
They work in the National Statistics and Information Authority, they work in
the banks and education ministry and they also continue their normal work,” he
said.
According to the Islamic Emirate’s
officials, the process of sharing activities of the government departments will
continue for one month.
Former President Hamid Karzai said on
Twitter that he met with RaffaellaIodice, the chargéed’Affairesa.i. -Delegation
of the European Union to Afghanistan, and thanked the EU for providing
assistance to Afghanistan and urged the EU to provide serious and comprehensive
assistance to improve the education of Afghan girls and boys.
Source: tolonews.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-184322
--------
Europe
Key points from Putin’s Africa vision
24 Jul, 2023
President Vladimir Putin has shared his
views on how Russia and Africa should unite their efforts in pushing for global
“peace, progress, and a successful future,” in an article released ahead of the
Russia-Africa Summit in St. Petersburg.
Africa has “rightful place” in deciding
the world’s fate
The Russian president said that Moscow’s
relations with African states have “strong, deep roots and have always been
distinguished by stability, trust and goodwill.” Moscow has “consistently
supported African peoples in their struggle for liberation from colonial
oppression” and “provided assistance in developing statehood, strengthening
their sovereignty and defense capability,” he wrote. “We are sure that a new
multipolar world order, the contours of which are already seen, will be more
just and democratic.”
West hampers Russia’s supplies of food
and fertilizers to Africa
Under the Black Sea grain deal, not only
were none of the promises to exempt Russian grain exports from sanctions
fulfilled, European countries even blocked Russia’s attempts to send
fertilizers to African countries free of charge. According to Putin, more than
200,000 tonnes of fertilizers are “still unscrupulously held by the Europeans.”
Moscow can substitute Ukrainian grain
Over 70% of Kiev’s exports ended up in
high-income countries, while the poorest nations received less than 3% of
Ukrainian grain, according to Putin. Despite Western pressure, Moscow will
continue to supply grain, food products, fertilizers, and other goods to
Africa, “both on a commercial and free-of-charge basis, especially as we expect
another record harvest this year,” Putin said. In 2022 alone, Russia exported
11.5 million tonnes of grain to Africa, and almost 10 million more tonnes were
delivered in the first half of 2023.
Developing full spectrum of ties with
Africa
Moscow highly values and will continue
to develop economic relations with Africa – both with individual states and
regional organizations. Russia also wants to take humanitarian, cultural,
sports, and mass media cooperation to a “whole new level to serve our common
interests.” In the sphere of education, Putin noted that Russia is helping
African states to build their human resources capacity, noting that out of
35,000 African students in the country “more than 6,000 receive Russian
government scholarships.”
Importance of the Russia-Africa Summit
The second Russia-Africa Summit is
scheduled for July 27-28, taking place alongside the Economic and Humanitarian
Forum, which is expected to provide a platform for business meetings and panel
sessions. Forty-nine countries have confirmed their participation, and the
Russian president expects that the participants will approve the Russia-Africa
Partnership Forum Action Plan. “We are working to prepare an impressive package
of intergovernmental and inter‑agency agreements and memoranda with
individual states as well as regional associations of the continent,” Putin
said.
Source: rt.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.rt.com/africa/580183-putin-africa-relations-recap/
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British company to cooperate with
mobilization in Russia
23 Jul, 2023
Unilever will allow its Russian
employees to be called up for military service if required, the British
consumer goods giant recently stated. The company has already been condemned by
the Ukrainian government for continuing to operate in Russia.
In a letter to a collective of Ukrainian
and Western NGOs earlier this month, Unilever said that it would fully comply
with a Russian law requiring all companies operating in the country to permit
the conscription of employees, should they be called for military service.
“We always comply with all the laws of
the countries we operate in,” Unilever said in the letter, which was published
by the BBC on Sunday.
Unilever stopped exports and imports to
and from Russia last March, and halted investment, advertising, and further
projects in the country. However, it continued to manufacture and sell what it
described as “vital food and hygiene products” in Russia, a decision that saw
it branded “an international sponsor of war” by the Ukrainian government
earlier this month.
In the letter explaining its stance on
mobilization, Unilever stated that while it “condemns the war in Ukraine as a
brutal, senseless act by the Russian state,” the company chose not to withdraw
and see its operations nationalized, or to sell its Russian division and see
Moscow take a cut of the proceeds from the sale.
Unilever – which manufactures Domestos
cleaning products, Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, Dove soap, and some 400 other
brands of food and household chemicals – employs around 3,000 people in Russia.
Russia announced a partial mobilization
last September, calling to arms some 300,000 reservists. Russian President
Vladimir Putin said in June that there is currently no need for another
mobilization drive. However, the Russian military continues to recruit around
1,300 contract soldiers every day, Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said last
month.
Source: rt.com
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Russia blames Ukraine for 'terrorist'
drone attack on Moscow
Monday, 24 July 2023
Russia has blamed Ukraine for a fresh
"terrorist" drone attack against targets in the Russian capital.
The Mayor of Moscow Sergei Sobyanin said
in the early hours of Monday morning that at about 4:00 am local time (01:00
GMT), drone strikes on two non-residential buildings were recorded in the
Russian capital.
The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed
on Monday a Ukrainian drone attack damaged at least two buildings in the
capital city Moscow. There were no casualties.
The Ministry said two Ukrainian drones
were suppressed and crashed in the early hours of the morning.
"A Kiev regime attempt to carry out
a terrorist act using two drones on objects on the territory of the city of
Moscow was stopped," the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement
posted to Telegram.
"On the morning of July 24, an
attempt by the Kiev regime to carry out a terrorist attack using two unmanned
aerial vehicles [UAVs] on objects in the city of Moscow was thwarted.
"Two Ukrainian UAVs were suppressed
by means of electronic warfare and crashed," the Russian Defense Ministry
said.
The Ministry added that "as a
result of the suppressed terrorist attack of the Kiev regime, there were no
victims."
The Russian military’s Zvezda TV channel
released footage showing missing windows at the top of the building.
Tass news agency reported that drone
debris was also found along the city's Komsomolsky Avenue.
Moscow's Transport Department wrote on
Telegram that traffic along the route was blocked and photos showed emergency
services working at the scene.
Ukraine has launched numerous drone
attacks against Russian targets in recent months.
In May, Kiev denied carrying out a drone
attack on the Kremlin, which Russia said amounted to an attempt on President
Vladimir Putin's life.
Meanwhile, Ukraine's southern military
command claimed on Monday that a Russian overnight drone strike on port
infrastructure in Ukraine’s Odesa region
port infrastructure of the Danube had destroyed a grain hangar.
Ukraine’s southern military command said
on Telegram, “As a result of the strikes, a grain hangar was destroyed, tanks
for storing other types of cargo were damaged.”
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky
has vowed to retaliate Russian attacks.
Source: presstv.ir
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https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2023/07/24/707619/Russia-blames-Ukraine-terrorist-drone-attack-Moscow
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Pakistan
JUI-F urges Muslim world to recall
envoys from Sweden
July 24, 2023
Desecration of Holy Quran
KARACHI
- Jamiat Ulema e Islam -Fazl
(JUI-F) chairman Maulana Fazlur Rehman urged the Muslim World to withdraw
ambassadors from Sweden over desecration of Holy Quran.
JUI-F chief was addressing a protest
rally against the desecration of the holy Quran here on Sunday. He said that
such nefarious actions cannot be tolerated by Muslims across the world as
Muslims respect the holy scriptures of every religion. Fazl said Muslims across
the world were agitating against desecration of holy Quran as they consider it
as an attack on Islam.
“The heinous conduct had been repeated
more than once in Sweden. This despicable act is seen as a war against Muslim
world,” he said. He stated that Muslims have a broad perspective and consider
Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH), Hazrat Isa (AS), and Hazrat Musa (AS) as true prophets
and believe in the heavenly books, including the Bible and the Torah.
He vowed that JUI-F will continue its
effort until the Muslim world withdraws its ambassadors from Sweden. We will
protest on Friday if the Muslim world does not withdraw its envoys from Sweden,
Fazl warned. He said that this heinous act appears to be an attempt to
undermine efforts to uphold international peace. Fazl also called for
country-wide protests against the desecration of the Holy Quran in Sweden .
Source: nation.com.pk
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https://www.nation.com.pk/24-Jul-2023/jui-f-urges-muslim-world-to-recall-envoys-from-sweden
--------
In meeting with COAS, US Centcom chief
recognises Pakistan’s efforts for regional peace
July 24, 2023
US Central Command (Centcom) chief
General Michael Erik Kurilla, in a meeting with Chief of Army Staff (COAS)
General Asim Munir on Monday, recognised Pakistan’s “continued efforts” for
bringing peace and stability to the region.
According to the Inter-Service Public
Relations (ISPR), Gen Kurilla called on Gen Munir in Rawalpindi today.
“The visiting dignitary acknowledged and
appreciated Pakistan Army’s successes in [the] fight against terrorism and
Pakistan’s continued efforts for bringing peace and stability in the region,”
the statement said.
“During the meeting, matters of mutual
interest, [the] regional security situation and defence cooperation were
discussed,” the ISPR added.
It stated that both sides reiterated the
desire to further enhance bilateral relations in all fields.
The meeting comes days after both
countries called on the interim Afghan government to prevent their soil from
being used as a safe haven for terrorist attacks.
In a press briefing last week, US State
Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said the Afghan Taliban
administration bore the responsibility to control terror activities originating
from their territory.
“I will say we have made very clear that
we believe the Taliban has the responsibility to prevent Afghanistan from being
used as a safe haven for launching terrorist attacks,” he said in response to a
question.
The statement came after the Pakistan
Army blamed Kabul for the uptick in militancy, saying that “safe havens and
liberty of action”, along with the latest weapons available to militants from
Afghanistan enabled them to carry out attacks inside Pakistan.
Source: dawn.com
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https://www.dawn.com/news/1766552/in-meeting-with-coas-us-centcom-chief-recognises-pakistans-efforts-for-regional-peace
---------
Pakistan Muslim League-N considers
proposing Ishaq Dar's name for Pak caretaker PM: Report
Jul 23, 2023
Ishaq Dar (/topic/ishaq-dar)'s name
gained traction as Pakistan
(/topic/pakistan) Democratic Movement
(PDM)-led government was considering amending the Elections Act 2017 to empower
the upcoming caretaker set-up to take decisions
beyond its constitutional mandate with a view to ensure continuity of
the recently announced economic plan and expedite the procedure aimed at
receiving foreign investment in state-owned entities, The Express Tribune
reported.
According to PML-N sources, the Pakistan
(/topic/pakistan) government was mulling amending Section 230 of the Elections
Act 2017, enabling the caretaker set-up to take economic decisions. They said
the amendments to the elections might be rolled out in the National Assembly
next week, according to The Express Tribune.
The amendments will enable Pakistan
(/topic/pakistan)'s caretaker government to take the decisions required to
revive the economy. According to Section 230, the caretaker government shall
only perform its functions to address day-to-day matters, which are required to
run the affairs of the government.
The caretaker government will
assist the Election
Commission of Pakistan
(/topic/pakistan) in conducting the general elections according to the law and
restrict itself to activities that are of routine, non- controversial and
urgent nature in the public interest and can be reversed by a future elected
government. The present law bans the caretaker government from making major
policy decisions, except on urgent matters, the report said.
The caretaker government cannot sign a
major contract or undertaking if it is detrimental to public interest, it also
cannot enter into major international negotiation with any foreign country or
an international agency or sign any international binding instrument, except in
an exceptional case. According to sources, the proposal was to amend both the
sub-sections of Section 230 that deal with the authority given under the
interim setup.
Earlier, in July 2018, Pakistan
(/topic/pakistan)'s then-caretaker government wanted to enter into programme
negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), The Express Tribune
reported.
However, Pakistan (/topic/pakistan)'s
then-law minister did not agree to the decision on the grounds that the interim
setup did not have such powers.
According to sources, the implementation
of all the steps will require continuation of the current economic team. It was
because of this reason, the PML-N top leadership intended to appoint Ishaq Dar
(/topic/ishaq-dar) as Pakistan
(/topic/pakistan)'s caretaker Prime Minister, The Express Tribune reported.
Special assistant to Pakistan
(/topic/pakistan) PM on Finance, Tariq Bajwa, might continue working on his
current post. However,
the Pakistan (/topic/pakistan) Peoples Party's (PPP) support was
required for the arrangement.
There could be objections on the
political affiliation of Ishaq Dar (/topic/ishaq-dar), the report stated.
If Dar takes up the position of Pakistan
(/topic/pakistan)'s caretaker Prime Minister, he might not return in the next
government as finance minister provided the current political setup returns to
power, the report said. Pakistan (/topic/pakistan)'s former Finance Minister
Hafeez Shaikh's name has also been coming up for the post of caretaker PM.
(ANI)
Source: aninews.in
Please
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https://www.aninews.in/news/world/asia/pakistan-muslim-league-n-considers-proposing-ishaq-dars-name-for-pak-caretaker-pm-report20230723185705/
--------
PM urges masses to defeat PTI's
political masquerades in upcoming polls
July 23, 2023
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday
urged the people to avenge the rigging of the 2018 general elections with the
power of their mandate during the upcoming general elections and defeat the
political masquerade of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
He said during the 2018 rigged polls,
former prime minister Imran Khan and his group were brought to power but the
people of Faisalabad would defeat them in the general elections by massively
supporting the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) candidates.
Addressing a ceremony after laying the
foundation stone of development projects, including the Faisalabad Satyana
bypass linking Motorway-3, the prime minister said during the PTI’s four years
rule, not a single brick was laid on the projects initiated by the PML-N
government but a barrage of baseless allegations were levelled against the
opposition.
“Imran Khan was made the prime minister
through rigged polls (Jhurloo elections), with malfunctioning of RTS and the
PML-N was deprived of its seats”, he added.
The prime minister sneered that contrary
to Khan's claims for a vast network of public welfare projects, nothing
tangible could be witnessed.
He castigated the PTI chairman for his
claims against seeking financial support from the International Monetary Fund
(IMF) and said rather he reneged on the agreement and conspired and burdened
the coalition government.
The prime minister said if the people
give a mandate to the PML-N in the next general elections, Nawaz Sharif would
be the prime minister and under his guidance, he would work as an ordinary
worker.
“We, all along with our coalition
partners in the government, shall set the country on the path of progress and
prosperity,” he declared.
If the people decided to bring Nawaz
Sharif to power in the upcoming elections, within a decade, the former prime
minister would transform the country to compete with India on the economic
fronts, he added.
He assured that if given a chance, his
party promises "to fight for Pakistan and secure its lost place among the
comity of nations", adding that such achievement would not be possible
with witchcraft but by hard work, sincerity and devotion.
The prime minister also said that his
government had distributed Rs100 billion across Pakistan after the last year’s
devastating floods that had affected millions of people.
He said they had steered the country out
of default due to the joint efforts of a coalition government.
The prime minister also announced to
give millions of laptops to the young people if came to power besides,
developing agriculture, natural resources and minerals sectors.
Speaking about the hike in the prices of
electricity, PM Shehbaz maintained that it was not applicable to those
consumers using up to 200 units.
Earlier, Interior Minister Rana
Sanaullah, in his address, said the two development projects would cost Rs10
billion and help save fuel and time and spur economic activities in the
district.
He said that due to the personal
interest of the prime minister during his tenure as chief minister of Punjab
had completed different mega uplift projects in Faisalabad, adding serving the
masses was practically proved by the Sharif brothers.
The minister berated the PTI’s
government and its leadership for their failure to initiate any development
project in the country, adding the PML-N government was removed through a
conspiracy which badly affected the country’s economy and politics.
“Whenever Pakistan is mired into crises,
it was always Mian Nawaz Sharif and the PML-N that steered the country out of
challenges,” he said while commending Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for his
relentless efforts for the country during the last fourteen months of the
government.
Source: thenews.com.pk
Please
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https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1093371-pm-urges-masses-to-defeat-ptis-political-masquerades-in-upcoming-polls
---------
SC bars authorities from arresting PTI
chief in lawyer murder case till Aug 9
July 24, 2023
The Supreme Court (SC) on Monday barred
authorities from arresting PTI Chairman Imran Khan till August 9 in a case
pertaining to the murder of lawyer Abdul Razzaq Shar in Quetta.
A three-member bench led by Justice
Yahya Afridi and comprising Justice SayyedMazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi and Justice
Mussarat Hilali issued the directives while hearing Imran’s plea seeking to
quash the case.
On June 6, Shar was fatally shot by
unidentified assailants near Alamo Chowk on Airport Road. According to the
police, the attack occurred while he was en route to the Balochistan High Court
(BHC), targeted by unknown individuals wielding automatic weapons.
The government and the PTI had traded
blame over the incident, with both sides accusing the other of having a role in
the killing. Prime minister’s aide Attaullah Tarar had alleged that the lawyer
was killed at the behest of Imran to allegedly evade accountability in a
treason case while PTI spokesperson Raoof Hassan had accused Prime Minister
Shehbaz Sharif and Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah of being behind the murder.
It may be recalled that Shar had filed a
constitutional petition against the PTI chief in the Balochistan High Court,
seeking proceedings against the ex-premier under Article 6 that pertained to
high treason.
Subsequently, a first information report
(FIR) was registered on the complaint of Shar’s son, Advocate Siraj Ahmed, at
Quetta’s Shaheed Jamil police station against Imran.
An anti-terrorism court (ATC) had
subsequently issued Imran’s arrest warrants in the case, which were later
upheld by the BHC. Imran had then approached the apex court to quash the FIR
registered against him.
During the previous hearing on July 20,
the bench had directed the ex-premier to submit before it in person before
asking for the annulment of the FIR and warrants of arrest.
The hearing
Imran appeared before the SC during
today’s hearing alongside his lawyers. At the outset of the hearing, the
Balochistan advocate general urged the SC to instruct the petitioner to appear
before the joint investigation team (JIT) tasked with probing the murder.
In response, Justice Afridi stated that
the court would not issue such an order at this stage. “On what grounds do you
wish to include the PTI chairman in the investigation?” asked Justice Naqvi.
The advocate general said that the FIR
justified the PTI chief’s inclusion in the probe.
While rejecting the Balochistan
government’s request, the court also rejected Imran’s plea for adjourning the
hearing to a later date. Justice Afridi remarked that the investigation report
in the case had been submitted and the court had to examine the facts.
The court directed the PTI chief to
appear at the next hearing scheduled for August 9.
IG submits investigation report
Prior to today’s hearing, the lawyer for
Balochistan Inspector General (IG) Abdul Khalique Shaikh submitted the
investigation report in the case with the apex court.
The report gave a synopsis of the case,
saying that the slain lawyer’s son believed that Imran and his party workers
had killed his father because of the petition he had filed with the BHC. It
added that the son was told by Shar a day before the incident took place that
he had been receiving “threats of dire consequences” after filing the petition.
The report further said that three others
— Asghar Ali, Najab Ali and Sardar Khan — were also nominated in the case
later.
The report said that the investigation
officer then carried out all legal formalities of the initial probe, and also
collected evidence which was later sent for analysis. The statements of the eye
witness and the circumstantial witness were also recorded, it said.
“Geo-fencing was also carried out and
the call detail record (CDR) of the phone number of the eye witness and the
deceased were obtained. The CCTV footage of the nearby places of the crime
scene was also obtained and sent for analysis to Punjab Forensic Science Agency
(PFSA),” it said.
The report further noted that a
seven-member joint investigation team (JIT) was formed in the case and its
first meeting was held on June 12 where the case record was scrutinised.
The report said that the seventh meeting
of the JIT was held on July 17. It said accused Asghar and Najab were not found
in their homes and notices were again displayed on their doors but they failed
to appear. It said that the PTI chief was also told to appear at the next
meeting, which was scheduled for July 21.
“So far, arrest of the accused and
further investigation is under way. All resources are being used for the said
purpose,” the report said.
Source: dawn.com
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https://www.dawn.com/news/1766555/sc-bars-authorities-from-arresting-pti-chief-in-lawyer-murder-case-till-aug-9
--------
PML-N to nominate Ishaq Dar as interim
PM
July 23, 2023
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)
has decided to nominate Finance Minister Senator Ishaq Dar as the interim prime
minister, sources told Geo News on Sunday.
Sources told Geo News that the
government committee formed on the matter is taking all other political parties
in confidence on Dar’s appointment as caretaker PM.
Earlier today, The News reported that
PML-N and Pakistan Peoples Party's (PPP) top leadership were in the United Arab
Emirates (UAE) for a huddle.
The report stated that it was likely that
the PML-N and PPP leaderships will consult on who the caretaker prime minister
will be once the government dissolves the National Assembly at the start of
August.
Kundi says PPP leadership to decide on
interim setup
On the other hand, Central PPP Secretary
Information Faisal Karim Kundi clarified that his party has not received Dar’s
name for the interim PM slot.
“If Ishaq Dar’s name comes in the future
then there can be consultations,” Kundi told Geo News. He added that the PPP
leadership will decide on the interim setup.
“Like PML-N other parties have to also
hold consultations on interim setup. There is consultation going on within the
party on interim PM but no name has been finalsied,” said the PPP leader, who
is also an special assistant to prime minister. He added that they will make an
announcement as soon as a name is finalised.
Dar could be appointed if there is
consensus: Iqbal
Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Planning
and Development Ahsan Iqbal stated during Geo News show “Naya Pakistan”, that
if there is agreement on Dar’s name across the board then he could be appointed
the caretaker PM.
However, he had said that no decision
has been taken yet, in front of him, on the appointment of an interim PM.
“Whatever decision is taken, the cabinet
will be taken into confidence,” said Iqbal. However, he assured that there will
be an agreement on a caretaker prime minister’s appointment in the last week of
the government's tenure as the standby agreement with the International
Monetary Fund (IMF) needs to be implemented.
As per the planning minister, a
three-year program will have to be made with the IMF in the future and there is
a need for a stable government that has a five-year mandate.
“My personal opinion is that we should
go through the elections as soon as possible so that a stable government comes
and takes the country out of the economic difficulties,” said Iqbal.
Earlier this week, Prime Minister
Shehbaz Sharif had constituted a five-member committee of the PML-N to hold
consultations on the selection of a caretaker premier and dissolution of the
National Assembly, The News reported.
Though the provincial assemblies of
Sindh and Balochistan will also be dissolved along with the National Assembly
next month, the panel has no members from outside Punjab.
The committee comprising federal
ministers Ishaq Dar, Ahsan Iqbal, Khawaja Saad Rafiq, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq and
Khawaja Muhammad Asif, has been tasked to undertake consultations with the
political parties and groups which constitute the incumbent government.
With the formation of the committee, the
consultation process has gained full swing for the immediate future setup of
administration in the country.
According to constitutional provisions,
the PM, as leader of the House, and the leader of the Opposition in the
National Assembly were to initiate consultations. Their failure could refer the
matter to a parliamentary committee, which is supposed to be constituted by the
NA speaker.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission of
Pakistan (ECP) will be the final authority to pick the caretaker prime minister
if the parliamentary committee too fails in selecting a caretaker PM.
Interestingly, the political parties and
groups outside the parliament have not been taken on board for any such
consideration by the government. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Vice Chairman
leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi urged the other day that his party should also be
taken into the loop for the upcoming elections and relevant arrangements,
claiming to be a major stakeholder, but the government ignored his plea.
Leader of the Opposition in the National
Assembly Raja Riaz Ahmad had planned a meeting with the premier on August 1 for
initial consultations for selecting the caretaker PM.
Source: thenews.com.pk
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https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1093394-ppp-pml-n-give-green-light-to-ishaq-dars-nomination-as-interim-pm
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Arab World
Heritage commission concludes first
phase of archaeological excavations at Makkah’s Dhi Al-Majaz market
July 24, 2023
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Heritage
Commission concluded the first season of archaeological surveys and excavations
at Dhi Al-Majaz market site in Makkah with participation of a group of Saudi
experts.
Located 20 kilometers east of Makkah
city, the site constitute a historical, cultural, and archeological
significance as one of the most well known Arab markets in the Arabian
Peninsula dating back to pre-Islamic times.
The commission work revealed a number of
architectural units of different sizes and characters that were likely shops
with service facilities.
The site plans showed several structures
situated by a long stretch that could potentially serve as a main passage that
might represent a commercial market.
The findings also included Islamic
inscriptions, pottery shards and ceramic fragments from different vessels.
The market, alongside Souk Okaz and
Majanah, were known as Hajj markets because they took place during the Hajj
season.
Pilgrims and merchants flocked to the
market where deals took place and cultural events were held.
The project is a part of the
commission’s efforts to discover scientific and historical evidence tied to the
site.
Source: arabnews.com
Please
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2342926/saudi-arabia
---------
Saudi Graffiti Artist Steps Out Of The
ShadowsTransforming Blank Walls Into Captivating Bursts Of Colour Intertwined
With Arabic Typography
July 23, 2023
RIYADH: Saudi graffiti artist Maajed
Ahmed has a gift — transforming blank walls into captivating bursts of colour
intertwined with Arabic typography that invariably have passers-by stopping to
look.
While graffiti artists in pop culture
are often depicted as working in the shadows, Ahmed proudly presented his
artistry at the second MDLBeast, the largest music festival in the Middle East
that inspires Saudi youth with its eclectic blend of music, art and culture.
His graffiti art on shipping containers
greeted thousands of fans as they arrived at the festival for a weekend filled
with performances from world-renowned DJs and musicians.
Speaking about the experience, Ahmed
said: “Working in MDLBeast was a very enjoyable experience. I did something for
the homeland, and the responses were very nice from the Ministry of Culture
team, as well as the MDLBeast team.”
He was thrilled to showcase his style at
an event that did not shy from international cultural influences. His striking
work captured the contrasts between local and modern aesthetic, and became a
popular photo backdrop for festivalgoers.
Ahmed believes graffiti is a way to
share his culture and roots with international audiences, and is conscious of
the responsibility his work carries.
He was born and raised in the culturally
rich city of Makkah, and discovered his passion for art and graffiti during his
teenage years.
Ahmed said he was inspired by the street
culture in his city, but brought his own flair to the artform.
“I developed my drawing and illustration
talent after being inspired by the thriving street art scene in my hometown.
“Over time, I created a distinctive
style that I called ‘calligraffiti’ by merging conventional Arabic calligraphy
with modern graffiti.”
Looking to push the boundaries of his
artistic expression, he broadened his artistic toolset to incorporate freehand
digital illustration, which allowed him to produce flexible and cutting-edge
graffiti and street art pieces.
As a young Saudi artist, Ahmed is
dedicated to artistic growth, and works on developing his style and adopting
new techniques.
He embarked on a cultural trip to
Vietnam earlier this year and attended art events including Nam Jam Da Nang
Street Art Festival, an event for graffiti artists and street artists from all
over the world. Ahmed painted more than nine murals in three Vietnamese cities
during his visit.
He is currently based in Dubai, and most
of his projects have emerged there.
Ahmed took part in the Zayed Murals
project, organized by Ajman Municipality and Planning Department, which
celebrated the “Year of Zayed.” One of his murals was located on the Sheikh
Khalifa Bridge intersection and carried elements of the color green to
symbolize Sheikh Zayed’s reforestation efforts.
“Although I now reside in the UAE and do
most of my work there, I have intentions to move back to my native country to
continue my artistic endeavors and spread awareness of Saudi or Arabic hip-hop
culture,” he said.
Ahmed said that he is working future
projects with NEOM “in addition to some classified ones that I can’t discuss.”
The artist’s use of local and Arabic
motifs not only display pride in his heritage, but also serves to correct the
narrative about graffiti and graffiti artists.
“I aim to reinvent the art form with my
clever blend of Arabic calligraphy and street expressiveness, and I’m doing it
with my work by challenging the stigma associated with graffiti as a criminal
activity.”
For a long time, graffiti art has been
associated with vandalism, but artists such as Ahmed hope to highlight its
value in beautifying the urban landscape with splashes of color and culture.
He also believes that producing graffiti
art helps his mental health, and also keeps him physically active and fit.
“Graffiti practice makes me more
physically fit because I can move more quickly, and my mind works at the same
time. In this case, I combine a mental workout from my imagination with
physical fitness, and most graffiti artists are in excellent mental and
physical health,” he said.
According to the Ahmed, Saudi graffiti
artists are among the dominant art groups in Middle East and North Africa.
“Because most of the Saudi artists have
their own artistic style and techniques, they also have sufficient experience
in the field of street style and more.
“Emerging artists are working hard, and
I am happy to see the graffiti community growing and developing because the
development of technology has made everything easy, so this is positive
news.”
The Saudi Ministry of Culture has
launched initiatives and programs to support graffiti art. The ministry has
also designated specific venues where “street performers” can express
themselves.
Source: arabnews.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2342781/saudi-arabia
---------
Mawhiba launches ‘Talents of
Architecture and Design’ program in Riyadh
July 23, 2023
RIYADH: The King Abdulaziz and His
Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity, known as Mawhiba, launched
the “Talents of Architecture and Design” program in Riyadh on Sunday.
Mawhiba aims through this to set the
foundations of architecture and design for gifted intermediate and secondary
school students.
The event is implemented in partnership
with the Architecture and Design Commission, and under the umbrella of the
Ministry of Culture.
“For us, a partnership with Mawhiba is
something really significant because, with Mawhiba, we are going to be able to
deliver a program for architecture and design that is specialized to a group of
talented young individuals,” said SumayaAlsulaiman, CEO of the Architecture and
Design Commission.
“One of King Abdulaziz and His
Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity’s objectives is to build
partnerships to strengthen and enable the talents of its members,” said Khalid
Al-Sharif, director general of Mawhiba’sCenter for Excellence.
He added: “This program is the starting
point, or as we call it, the fundamental seed, to enhance talents in
architecture and design. We expect it to promote creative designs in the
future.”
One of the objectives of the program is
to establish the principles to embark on an integrated journey of establishing,
developing and sharpening architecture and design skills through creative
thinking, and introduce them to a number of vocabularies related to planning,
urban design, architecture, interior design, sustainability and environmental
design.
The foundation is also set to implement
the program with the academic programs during the summer. It will be presented
among the units offered in academic programs, as more than 130 male and female
students will benefit from the program. Students will be divided into six
groups in three cities: Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam.
The program begins on Sunday and will
last for three weeks. It will be carried out in partnership with a number of
leading universities in the Kingdom such as King Saud University, Prince Sultan
University, Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University and King Abdulaziz
University.
Source: arabnews.com
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2342696/saudi-arabia
----------
Global Muslim body strips status of
Swedish envoy over increasing Quran burning stunts
July 24, 2023
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation
(OIC) suspended the status of Sweden’s special envoy to the bloc on Sunday in
response to the latest Quran burning incidents in Stockholm.
The OIC said in a statement that its
decision came “in line with the recommendations of the Final Communique” issued
by an emergency meeting on 2 July, which was held in response to a Quran
burning stunt in Sweden.
Last month, Iraqi migrant Salwan Momika
staged a provocative move in Sweden with the permission of Swedish authorities,
triggering outrage among Muslim countries for desecrating and burning the holy
book.
Momika then carried out a similar move
on Thursday outside Baghdad’s embassy in Stockholm, where he stepped on another
copy of the Quran.
“The Secretary-General [HisseinBrahim
Taha] conveyed this decision in a letter addressed to the Minister of Foreign
Affairs of the Kingdom of Sweden,” the OIC said in a statement.
The OIC meeting also asked Taha “to
consider possible steps to review the official framework linking the General
Secretariat to any country in which copies of the Holy Quran or other Islamic
values and symbols are desecrated with the consent of the authorities
concerned.”
“He [Taha] called on all Member States
to take the sovereign decisions they deem appropriate to express their position
condemning the granting by the Swedish authorities of licenses that enabled the
repeated abuse of the sanctity of the Holy Quran and Islamic symbols,” the
statement added.
Iraq announces emergency OIC meeting as
Denmark slams latest Quran burning as ‘stupidity’
The OIC’s chief also stressed the need to
take “the necessary legislative measures to criminalise such attacks, bearing
in mind that the exercise of freedom of expression entailed special duties and
responsibilities.”
“He also emphasised that acts of
desecration of copies of the Holy Quran and insulting the Holy Prophet
Muhammad, may Allah’s prayers and peace be upon him, and Islamic symbols, were
not just ordinary Islamophobia incidents,” the statement read.
The OIC said it is preparing to hold
another meeting on the matter, though it has yet to announce the date and the
venue.
‘Dangerous escalation’
Europe has come under fire for the
latest growing wave of Islamophobia that involve desecrating or insulting
copies of the holy Quran. On Friday, a man set a copy of the holy scripture on
fire across from the Iraqi Embassy in Copenhagen while live-streaming the stunt
on a Facebook page that called itself the “Danish Patriots”.
The move was condemned by Danish Foreign
Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen, who described it as an act of “stupidity”.
“It is a disgraceful act to insult the
religion of others,” Rasmussen added.
‘Dissatisfied’: Qatar summons Swedish
envoy for repeated attacks on Quran
Iraq had also summoned the Danish
ambassador to protest the move amid global outrage on the repetition of such acts
in Europe.
Qatar joined the international community
on Sunday in condemning the incident in the Danish capital, describing it as
“an act of incitement and a serious provocation to the feelings of more than
two billion Muslims in the world.”
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs warns
that allowing repeated infringement of the Holy Quran under the pretext of
freedom of expression fuels hatred and violence, threatens the value of
peaceful coexistence, and reveals abhorrent double standards,” the Qatari foreign
ministry said in a statement.
The Gulf state warned “that hate
campaigns against Islam and the discourse of Islamophobia have witnessed a
dangerous escalation with the continued systematic calls for the repeated
targeting of Muslims in the world.”
Meanwhile, Qatar summoned the Swedish
ambassador to Doha, Gautam Bhattacharyya, on Friday to protest the repeated
attacks on the Quran in Sweden.
The Qatari foreign ministry expressed
“its strong dissatisfaction and denunciation of the repeated permission” to burn
the holy book in Sweden and “the failure of the authorities there to stop these
practices”.
Qatar was also among a list of countries
that voted in favour of a United Nations’ motion that called on nations to step
up their efforts to combat religious hatred.
The vote drew 12 rejections, the
majority of which were European states, all of which were accused by activists
of taking a double-standard approach in addressing hate speech.
Since the start of the year, far-right
leaders in Europe – Denmark, the Netherlands and Sweden – have launched
provocative Quran burning stunts that have triggered global outrage and drew
condemnation from Muslim countries, including Qatar.
‘Stop Islamophobia’
In May, Qatar’s Minister of State for
International Cooperation Lolwah Al Khater said that the consequences of
ongoing Islamophobia “threaten the whole world”.
“The consequences of this phenomenon
[Islamophobia] are not limited to Muslim countries and societies only. They
also threaten the whole world, as a result of its long-term and cross-border
repercussions,” Al Khater said in a video shared by the Gulf state’s foreign
ministry at the time.
Al-Khater’s remarks came during a
roundtable on Islamophobia that was held in Qatar with the attendance of more
than 30 experts and policy makers from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), the
United States, Europe, and Asia.
During her speech, Al Khater warned that
the “malign Islamophobic discourse has reached dangerous levels”
“The deliberate targeting of Islam and
Muslims is on the rise around the world. Instead of stopping it, prejudice and
deliberate discrimination against Muslims are being encouraged and fueled,” the
top Qatari official said.
More recently, Al Khater an impassioned
speech at the UN Human Rights Council’s urgent debate on public acts of
incitement to religious hatred, in which she pointed towards the “puzzling”
lack of accountability regarding religion-based hate speech, especially against
Muslims, despite legislations in favour of other minorities being easily approved.
“We remain puzzled by the opposition
that some countries expressed to stopping religion-based hate speech especially
against Muslims, while they themselves introduce new legislations and
statements every day defending new self-defined minorities,” maintained Qatar’s
Minister of State for International Cooperation Lolwah Al Khater.
“By the same token STOP ISLAMOPHOBIA.”
Source: dohanews.co
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https://dohanews.co/global-muslim-body-strips-status-of-swedish-envoy-over-increasing-quran-burning-stunts/
----------
India
Kanwariya Procession Disrupted As Stones
Are Hurled Near Mosque In Bareilly
23 JUL 2023
In a heartening display of interfaith
cooperation, tension that erupted during a kanwariya procession in Bareilly's
Jogi Nawada area was swiftly diffused by the local police, avoiding any major
casualties. The incident occurred when the procession, comprising a dozen
kanwariyas, approached a mosque, resulting in a dispute over something thrown
near a religious spot.
According to police sources, minor
injuries were reported, but the injured kanwariyas were promptly treated and
discharged. Surprisingly, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Prabhakar
Chaudhary stated that, as per available information, there were no reports of
anyone being injured, pointing towards the success of the police intervention
in mitigating the situation, as reported by PTI.
The tension-deescalation measures were
further bolstered by the examination of CCTV footage, which revealed that
stones were thrown from both sides. Consequently, the police are now in the
process of identifying the individuals involved and are committed to taking
strict action against them.
The kanwariyas, who were en route to
Budaun to fetch water from the Ganga River, expressed their concerns and
demands for action against the perpetrators by staging a brief protest.
However, with the support of the police, they were persuaded to move forward.
Additional District Magistrate (City) R
D Pandey assured that the situation is under control, and as a precautionary
measure, additional police forces have been deployed in the area to maintain
peace and harmony.
State Minister Arun Kumar, who also
represents Bareilly as an MLA, emphasized the significance of an impartial
investigation, ensuring that those found guilty will face strict punishment.
His commitment to justice and maintaining communal harmony resonates with the
local populace.
Pavan Arora, an office bearer of the
Vishwa Hindu Parishad, played a crucial role in pacifying the situation and
encouraging the kanwariyas to continue their journey to Budaun.
Source: outlookindia.com
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https://www.outlookindia.com/national/kanwariya-procession-disrupted-as-stones-are-hurled-near-mosque-in-bareilly-news-305147
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Gyanvapi case: SC stays Varanasi
district court order until 5 pm on 26 July; asks Mosque committee to move
Allahabad HC
24 Jul 2023
Gyanvapi Mosque Case: The Supreme Court
has put stay on Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) survey to determine
whether the Gyanvapi mosque located next to the Kashi Vishwanath temple in
Varanasi was built upon a temple. The top court has put a stay on ASI survey of Gyanvapi mosque complex till 5 pm on 26
July.
The apex court said that Allahabad High
Court order shall not be enforced till July 26. In the meantime, SC directed
the mosque committee to move to Allahabad High Court.
A bench headed by Chief Justice D Y
Chandrachud took note of the submissions made by senior advocate Huzefa Ahmadi,
who appeared in the court on behalf of the mosque committee, stayed the
operation of the order till Wednesday evening and asked the committee to file
an appeal in the meantime.
Gyanvapi Mosque LIVE
On Supreme Court's order, Vishnu Shankar
Jain, representing the Hindu side in the Gyanvapi mosque case, says "The
SC has passed a stay on the execution of the order of the Varanasi court on
survey of the Mosque complex to allow the Anjum to challenge the same before
the High Court...Our legal team is reaching High Court and we will oppose this.
The truth of Gyanvapi will only come out after the survey of ASI. The High
Court will decide the matter unaffected by any observations of the Supreme
Court, Allahabad HC will decide the matter on its own merit"
"We will abide by the court
order," says DM Varanasi said after Supreme Court's order.
Earlier, SC asked ASI not to do any
excavation till 11.15 am today. SG Tushar Mehta has been asked to come back at
11.15 to inform about ASI's methods of survey. The top court asked Solicitor
General Tushar Mehta, who was representing the Uttar Pradesh government, to
inform the ASI team that there should not be any "invasive work" or
excavation at the site, as per PTI reports. To which, SG said, "not a
brick has been removed nor is it planned to be removed. Right now what is going
on is measurement, photography, and radar, which will not affect the
structure."
Today morning, ASI team had reached the
Gyanvapi Mosque in Varanasi to conduct a scientific survey of the mosque
complex, adjacent to Kashi Vishwanath temple.
Varanasi Court on Friday gave directions
to conduct an ASI survey of the Gyanvapi mosque complex, excluding the
'Wazukhana' area which has been sealed.
Source: livemint.com
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https://www.livemint.com/news/india/gyanvapi-case-supreme-court-stays-varanasi-district-court-order-until-5-pm-on-26-july-11690181027987.html
--------
Muslim Coordination Committee invites
CPM to seminar on UCC
24th July 2023
MALAPPURAM: Even though the IUML had
turned down CPM’s invite to take part in a seminar on Uniform Civil Code (UCC),
the Muslim Coordination Committee, headed by Muslim League state president
PanakkadSadik Ali ShihabThangal, has invited the Left party to its seminar on
the issue. And, the CPM has decided to take part in the programme to be held in
Kozhikode on Wednesday.
IUML state general secretary P M A Salam
told reporters on Sunday that the coordination committee — a collective of
Muslim organisations — has invited all major political parties, including CPM
and Congress, and religious organisations to the seminar.
Salam clarified it’s not the IUML, but
the Muslim Coordination Committee that has extended the invitation to all. “The
coordination committee informed us that they would invite the CPM, Congress and
IUML,” said Salam.
The IUML had earlier turned down the
CPM’s invitation to participate in the latter’s seminar held on July 15, citing
that they would not take part as the Congress was not invited to the programme.
Meanwhile, CPM Kozhikode district
secretary P Mohanan told TNIE that the Muslim Coordination Committee has
officially invited them to the seminar and the party has decided to
participate. Party district committee member K T Kunjikannan will take part in
the seminar representing CPM.
Cong confirms participation
Malappuram: CPM politburo member A
Vijayaraghavan told TNIE that there is no issue in participating in the seminar
on the UCC organised by groups other than communal organisations. “Communal
organisations may have hidden agendas in conducting such seminars. If it is a
seminar intended to unite people, a representative of the CPM will
participate,” he said.
Meanwhile, K Praveen Kumar, the president
of Kozhikode District Congress Committee (DCC), has confirmed the participation
of a Congress representative in the seminar. He mentioned that the identity of
the designated attendee will be disclosed after consultation with the KPCC
leadership.
The seminar aims to provide a common
platform in Kerala for major political parties in the LDF and UDF, including
the CPM, Congress, and the IUML, to voice their opposition against the
implementation of UCC.
Source: newindianexpress.com
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2023/jul/24/muslim-coordination-committeeinvites-cpm-to-seminar-on-ucc-2597914.html
--------
Mideast
As Palestinian factions seek
reconciliation in Cairo, Islamic Jihad to boycott talks
By GIANLUCA PACCHIANI
23 July 2023
Ziyad al-Nakhala, Secretary-General of
the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror group, announced on Sunday that the
movement will boycott a meeting of Palestinian factions scheduled to take place
in Cairo on July 30.
Al-Nakhala said in a statement that the
boycott is motivated by the arrest of a number of PIJ members by the
Palestinian Authority. “We will not go to the meeting as long as our mujahideen
brothers are detained in the prisons of the Palestinian Authority,” he said.
The meeting of the general secretaries
was announced on July 3 by PA President Mahmoud Abbas, in response to the
latest Israeli operation in Jenin, and it is scheduled to include 14
Palestinian factions, most notably Fatah, Hamas, Islamic Jihad, the Popular and
Democratic Fronts for the Liberation of Palestine, and the Palestinian People’s
Party, according to a report in al-Quds news.
For its part, Hamas responded positively
to Abbas’s invitation. During a public meeting held in Gaza on Sunday, Khalil
al-Hayya, a prominent member of the Hamas political bureau, said that the group
intends to take part in the Cairo talks and will do “everything it can for the
success of the meeting.” The talks will explore the possibility of forming a
new Palestinian National Council through elections, or to find an agreement for
the formation of a transitional national council and a joint government with
Fatah.
The stated goal of the upcoming round of
Cairo talks between Palestinian factions, like numerous previous failed
iterations, is to find reconciliation and end the internal rifts that have
plagued the Palestinian leadership since Hamas took over the Gaza Strip in
2007. There are however doubts as to the efficacy of the talks, and concerns
that they will only deepen the disagreements and divisions among different
Palestinian groups and exacerbate popular discontent and loss of confidence.
Hamas confirmed its participation after
the release of one of its leaders in the northern West Bank last Thursday.
Mustafa Abu Arra (63) was detained last Thursday in his home village of Tubas,
between Jenin and Nablus, on charges of slandering PA officials, and was
released on Sunday following calls from Hamas activists and a deterioration of
his health condition, according to Palestinian news website Palinfo. Hamas had
qualified Abu Arra’s arrest as “political.”
Relations have been tense between the
Fatah-run Palestinian Authority on one side and Hamas and the Palestinian
Islamic Jihad on the other in the weeks following the IDF Jenin operation. The
PA arrested a number of members of both terror groups, which have been eroding
Ramallah’s authority in the northern West Bank for the past two years.
On Tuesday, PA security forces carried
out a raid against the PIJ in a village near Jenin, arresting five. In
response, the terror group organized a mass demonstration in the Jenin refugee
camp against the PA, accusing it of doing “the work of the Israeli occupation.”
Tensions also seem to be escalating
between the PIJ and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, after Hamas-controlled police
swarmed a PIJ mosque in Rafah last week and arrested a prominent religious
figure affiliated with the rival terror group.
The boycott by the PIJ signals a change
of course for the group, after its Secretary General Ziyad Al-Nakhala declared
on July 11 that it intended to participate, even though it already had
reservations following the first waves of arrests by the PA.
Mahmoud Abbas’ crackdown on opponents
and his perceived failure to protect Jenin residents from the latest Israeli
army invasion have prompted various Palestinian commentators to renew calls for
the leader to “exit the stage.” In an editorial, Palestinian author and journalist
RamzyBaroud argued that even “ordinary Palestinians” today feel “emboldened by
a new generation of [armed] resistance which has succeeded in reclaiming a
degree of Palestinian unity, amid factional politics and PA corruption.”
If the PA continues its arrests against
members of rival Palestinian factions, the author claims, “civil war in the
West Bank is a real possibility.”
Source: timesofisrael.com
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https://www.timesofisrael.com/as-palestinian-factions-seek-reconciliation-in-cairo-islamic-jihad-to-boycott-talks/
--------
Muslim World League condemns desecration
of Quran in Denmark
An international Islamic organization on
Sunday condemned the desecration of the holy Quran in Denmark.
“The Muslim World League condemns in the
strongest possible terms the crime of desecrating a copy of the Holy Quran,
committed by an extremist in Copenhagen, Denmark, in a repeated disgraceful act
that is provocative to the feelings of Muslims,” the Mecca-based
non-governmental organization said in a statement.
The organization’s Secretary-General,
Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, said such “absurd and heinous acts” violate
all religious and human norms and principles.
Al-Issa said these actions, which clash
with the values of the international community, are the manifestations of
"Islamophobia," incitement and hatred against Islam and Muslims.
He warned against the dangers of
practices that provoke hatred and religious feelings as they only serve the
agendas of extremism under the excuse of freedom of expression.
“This extremist concept of freedom is
becoming a haven for those who stir up hatred and religious and intellectual
conflict,” he added.
On July 21, members of the Islamophobic
and far-right nationalist group called "Danske Patrioter” (Danish
Patriots) burned a copy of the Quran in front of Iraq's Embassy in Copenhagen.
They displayed anti-Islamic banners and
shouted insulting slogans while disrespectfully handling the Iraqi flag and the
Quran.
Source: aa.com.tr
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https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/muslim-world-league-condemns-desecration-of-quran-in-denmark/2952671
--------
Events Committee calls for angry march
condemning crime of burning Holy Qur'an
[23/July/2023]
SANA'A July 23. 2023 (Saba)-The Events
Organizing Committee called for mass exit and wide participation tomorrow
afternoon, Monday, in an angry march to denounce the crime of burning copies of
the Noble Qur’an.
The organizing committee, in a statement
received by the Yemeni News Agency (Saba), identified Bab Al-Yemen Square in
the capital, Sana'a, as a place for mass outings to condemn this crime, which
the West intends to provoke the feelings of Muslims around the world.
Source: saba.ye
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https://www.saba.ye/en/news3253457.htm
-------
Palestinian Islamic Jihad sets condition
for attending Cairo meeting next week
23.07.2023
GAZA, Palestine
The Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) on
Sunday set a condition for attending a meeting in Egypt's capital of Cairo next
week, saying unless its members imprisoned by the Palestinian Authority in the
West Bank are released, the movement will not attend the extraordinary meeting.
The Palestinian authorities, however,
have made no statement on the latest development.
On July 10, Palestinian President
Mahmoud Abbas announced the extraordinary meeting of Palestinian groups’
general secretaries in Egypt.
The meeting in Cairo on July 30 is
expected to address the dangers and challenges facing the Palestinian cause
following the 48-hour attack by Israel on the Jenin refugee camp in the
occupied West Bank earlier this month.
However, the day after President Abbas'
announcement, PIJ leader Ziyad al-Nakhalah expressed his objection to the
Palestinian Authority's arrests of movement members in the West Bank, saying
these arrests hindered the success of the general secretaries meeting to be
held in Cairo.
*Writing by EsraTekin in Istanbul
Source: aa.com.tr
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https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/palestinian-islamic-jihad-sets-condition-for-attending-cairo-meeting-next-week/2952539
---------
Southeast Asia
Our Father Belonged To The People, Says
Salahuddin Ayub’s Son
Monday, 24 Jul 2023
PONTIAN, July 24 — To Datuk Seri
Salahuddin Ayub’s children, their father had always belonged to the people and
they have accepted that deep down in his heart, his conviction was to serve the
rakyat.
“We have never stopped him and are happy
that he had fulfilled his wish, said Salahuddin’s son, Iskandar Zulkarnain, 37.
He added that ever since they were
little, the six of them had often been told that he would not always be around
for them.
He said his father had also advised him
and his siblings not to interfere in his work affairs and they were taught from
an early age to be independent and not to rely on him too much.
“It was his wish to be of service to
others until his last breath.
“We have no regrets, letting him follow
his passion and dedicating his life to helping others.
“Our family urge that everyone will make
the best prayers for him, remember him for his good deeds and forgive him if he
has wronged or hurt anyone of you,” he told reporters when met at Dato’ Haji
Noh Gadot Jamel Mosque in Serkat, near here, today.
Iskandar Zulkarnain also thanked
everyone for their help and prayers including the staff and management of
SultanahBahiyah Hospital, AlorSetar, Kedah for providing the best service to
his father.
Meanwhile, Salahuddin’s wife Datin Seri
Fatimah Taha said her husband was in high spirits and had always taken care of
his health and food but had complained he was exhausted due to work.
She said she was grateful to be by her
husband’s side from the beginning until his final breath.
“Before this, whenever he leaves for
work or attend some programme, I know he will be coming home to be with me, but
now it is different and he is never coming back,” she said tearfully.
Salahuddin’s younger sibling, Ghazaley
Ayub, 56, said his eldest brother was a cheerful person and loving towards his
family. He had worked hard since he entered politics until he became a
minister.
“No matter how busy he was he will
always find time for the family, especially our mother. Salahuddin took over as
our household head after our father died in 2009,” said Ghazaley who is the
second of three siblings.
Earlier, thousands of family members and
friends gathered at the mosque to pay their last respects to the domestic trade
and cost of living minister. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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-----------
In Malaysia, more Muslim parents turning
to abducting kids in custody wars, SIS data shows
By Ida Lim
Monday, 24 Jul 2023
KUALA LUMPUR, July 24 — Muslim parents
in Malaysia were more concerned about their child being abducted and taken away
by the other parent in 2021 and 2022 compared to previous years, the latest
data from Sisters in Islam (SIS) shows.
In its 2022 report on its free legal
advice service Telenisa on Islamic family law, SIS said Muslim parents who
looked for help on child custody issues usually mention custody disputes in
court, visitation rights and child abduction.
But of the parents facing child custody
issues, SIS noted that the percentage who mentioned custody disputes
drastically went down from 52 per cent in 2020 to just one per cent in 2021 and
zero per cent in 2022.
Instead, the percentage of parents who
mentioned child abduction issues shot up from nine per cent in 2020 to 29 per
cent (2021) and to 24 per cent (2022).
Even in previous years, lower percentage
of child abduction issues were also recorded at 14.7 per cent (2017), 11 per
cent (2018), and 10 per cent (2019), Telenisa’s records show.
This means concerns about child
abduction in 2021 and 2022 is the highest-ever in these six years.
Based on the data for the years 2020 to
2022, SIS executive director Rozana Isa said parents “are risking to take a
more desperate approach, eventually engaging in the violation of rights and
laws”.
“The authorities should manage such
phenomenon equipped with more awareness and wisdom about why parents make such
decisions. There is a need to identify the most suitable actions to ensure the
welfare of the child is protected. It is always the welfare and the rights of
the child that will be affected in the long run,” she said in the Telenisa
Statistics and Findings 2022 report released on June 22.
What is child abduction and why do
parents do it?
In Telenisa’s 2022 report, it described
child abduction as removing a child with the intention to separate them from
either the mother or father who has custody of the child.
Telenisa said there has been an
increasing phenomenon of parents abducting their own children into another
country.
Apart from the risk of parents abducting
their own child increasing when there is a custody dispute, SIS said the other
possible contributing factors are: domestic violence; a parent’s
dissatisfaction with the court’s decision on child custody; the other parent
threatens to run away with the child; the ensuing response due to threats by
the other parent; or the other country’s custody order that is inconclusive.
SIS said the parent who has custody of
the child should make a police report as soon as possible, if there is a
possibility that the other parent had abducted the child.
“The police will try to find and save
the child, including apprehending the abductor,” it said in its 2022 report.
In previous Telenisa reports, the change
in annual trends on parents’ top concerns on child custody issues could be
caused by various factors, such as more child custody disputes in 2020 as the
ban on interstate travel during the Covid-19 pandemic had prevented the parent
with visitation rights from visiting their children and also the other parent’s
reluctance to allow visits due to the risk of Covid-19 infections.
As for the worrying spike of child
abduction issues from nine per cent in 2020 to 29 per cent in 2021, SIS had
previously said that “many parents are desperate for immediate action when it
comes to their children” due to the financial burden and time constraints to
take custody disputes to court.
“They often take matters into their own
hands by resorting to abducting their own child and separating them completely
from the other parent. Desperation like this affects visitation by cutting off
communication between the child and the opposing parent,” SIS had said in its
2021 Telenisa report, adding that such behaviour severely affects the child’s
upbringing and emotional growth.
“Shared parenting should be learned and
understood by both parents to avoid children becoming victims of adults’
unresolved issues,” SIS had said.
In its 2017 and 2018 Telenisa reports,
SIS observed that custody disputes “brings out the worse” in some parents who
end up abducting the child from the parent who has custody, adding that they
either abduct the children when they are at school or do not send the children
back home to the custodians after their time with the children.
How will the abducted child be affected?
In the 2022 report, SIS said child
abduction will affect not only the parent who is suddenly left behind, but will
mostly affect the child who was taken away from their home and forced to severe
contact with their family and friends.
It said children abducted by their own
parents would be like a “refugee” and may not receive proper education due to
the need to be in hiding, and are also more likely to encounter economic,
social, political and legal hardships.
SIS said abducted children are “forced
into a new life in a new environment, especially when they are taken away to a
foreign country with its own challenges of cultural, religious and language
barriers. This hardship may deeply traumatise the child”.
“The abducted children may suffer major
psychological problems that are otherwise minimal if they are left to stay with
the stable parent. This act of desperation only brings more harm than good to
the child,” it said, adding that separation anxiety and being disconnected from
the other parent may leave a stain in that child’s life.
SIS said legal action should be taken on
cases of parental child abduction, especially those that involve taking the
child out of Malaysia.
Since 2003, SIS has been providing free
legal advice through Telenisa to Muslim women and men on their legal rights
under Islamic family law and laws on Shariah offences. Such Islamic family law
matters include divorce, polygamy, maintenance of wife and children,
matrimonial property and child custody.
Telenisa can be reached at 012-812 3424
from Monday to Friday from 10am to 5pm via phone calls, video calls and WhatsApp,
with face-to-face consultations available by making appointments.
Over the years, Malaysia has seen
several high-profile cases of parents abducting and absconding children from
their estranged spouse when the marriage breaks down and after one of the spouse
converts to Islam, including Ipoh-based Hindu mother M. Indira Gandhi whose
daughter was taken away in 2009 by her Muslim convert husband; Hindu mother S.
Deepa whose son was snatched away in 2014 by her Muslim convert ex-husband two
days after she won legal custody of her two children in a Seremban civil court;
and Hindu mother Loh Siew Hong whose Muslim convert ex-husband took off in 2019
with her three children and left her separated from them for years before she
reunited with them in 2022.
Indira is still hoping to be reunited
with her daughter who is believed to have been taken out of Malaysia by the
ex-husband, while the Federal Court in 2016 decided to split custody of the two
children between Deepa and her ex-husband while both of them later agreed to
allow access to both the children in regular joint meetings.
A Malaysian non-Muslim mother,
identified only as W, was able to reunite in September 2022 with her four
children which her Malaysian and Muslim convert ex-husband had secretly taken
away to Indonesia in 2019. W’s four-year forcible separation from her children
was despite court orders which gave her full custody over the children and
which stopped the father from taking the children out of Malaysia, with the
ex-husband having slipped across the border to Thailand before going to
Indonesia.
Thai national Anna Leelertwongpakdee
recently also expressed concern over how her estranged husband managed to
allegedly smuggle their four-year-old daughter across the national borders of
Thailand into Malaysia without proper documentation. She claimed that the child
was abducted after the ex-husband did not return the toddler to her after the
end of his two-day visitation period in April.
Source: malaymail.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2023/07/24/in-malaysia-more-muslim-parents-turning-to-abducting-kids-in-custody-wars-sis-data-shows/81343
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IGP: Police tracing fingerprints found
on bomb under lawyer SitiKasim's car
By ShathanaKasinathan
Monday, 24 Jul 2023
KUALA LUMPUR, July 24 —
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain said that police are
meticulously analysing fingerprints and other related evidence obtained from
the bomb found under lawyer and activist SitiKasim’s car last week to trace the
suspects behind the heinous act.
Malay daily Harian Metro today reported
that police are intensifying their search for the culprits responsible for
placing a bomb under SitiKasim’s car as it is suspected of being an
assassination attempt.
“The discovery of the bomb object is a
serious crime and the threat involved is like an attempted murder.
“Further investigations are being
carried out by the Kuala Lumpur police headquarters,” he was quoted as saying.
Razarudin asserted that the police
responded proactively to the investigation and were determined to prevent any
reckless individuals from committing such criminal acts.
He also urged the public not to engage
in speculations or discussions that could potentially hinder the ongoing
investigation.
On July 21, it was reported that
Brickfields District Police Chief Assistant Commissioner Amihizam Abdul Shukor
confirmed that two objects found under the car of SitiKasim were an improvised
explosive device (IED) — a term commonly used to refer to bombs.
He was reported to have said that it was
based on an investigation carried out by the Bomb Disposal Unit.
According to the news portal, last
Friday, SitiKasim claimed in a Facebook live broadcast that an object
resembling a bomb had been placed in her car.
SitiKasim said she noticed the object
placed on the tire when she sent her vehicle to the service centre at 12 noon
at JalanMaarof at Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur.
Source: malaymail.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2023/07/24/igp-police-tracing-fingerprints-found-on-bomb-under-lawyer-siti-kasims-car/81443
---------
DPM Zahid: Payung Rahmah initiative
needs to be continued by Salahuddin’s successor
Monday, 24 Jul 2023
PONTIAN, July 24 — Deputy Prime Minister
Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi wants the Payung Rahmah initiative to be
continued by the successor of the late Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub at the
Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN).
Ahmad Zahid said the people, especially
the low-income group (B40) and the hardcore poor, certainly hope that the initiative
can be continued in the face of the current increase in the cost of living.
“He was a very good person and very
hardworking. He was very dedicated in carrying out his duties especially the
Payung Rahmah initiative.
“It should be continued because the
people will definitely remember his contribution to the country through the
Payung Rahmah scheme,” he told reporters after paying his last respects to
Salahuddin at JalanSulong Muslim cemetery in Serkat here today.
During his tenure, Salahuddin implemented
various initiatives under the Payung Rahmah brand in helping people face
various challenges related to the rising cost of living, especially when the
country and the economy were recovering from the effects of the Covid-19
pandemic.
Meanwhile, Deputy Domestic Trade and
Cost of Living Minister Senator FuziahSalleh who also paid her last respects
said, KPDN would continue the legacy of the Payung Rahmah initiative.
Fuziah said the initiative was
introduced by Salahuddin to reduce the cost of living for the lower-income
group and the hardcore poor.
“This initiative is a translation of his
love and affection for people in need. Please pray that we can continue the
legacy of the Payung Rahmah initiative for the people of this country.
“The country has lost a hardworking,
committed and caring leader. May Allah SWT forgive all his sins and place him
among the righteous,” she added. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2023/07/24/dpm-zahid-payung-rahmah-initiative-needs-to-be-continued-by-salahuddins-successor/81449
----------
Africa
Steer Clear Of Politicians Instigating
Religious Crisis, Islamic Scholar Warns
Islamic scholar and secretary of the
Kaduna Sultan Bello mosque, Sheikh HamisuYa’u, has urged Nigerians to beware of
politicians who create religious
dichotomy between Muslims and Christians for political gains.
He therefore urged Christians and
Muslims to unite and refuse to be divided on religious grounds by selfish
politicians who, after achieving their political aspirations, abandon them.
Sheikh Ya’u stated this at a friend’s
day church service at the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) gospel church,
Lemu road, Kaduna South local government of Kaduna State where no fewer than 50
Muslims, Islamic and traditional leaders worshiped with their Christian
counterparts
He said it is unfortunate that people
take pleasure in causing chaos between other people for their selfish reasons,
adding that “You are not a good Muslim if you don’t see Christians as your
brothers and you cannot claim to be a good Christians if you don’t see Muslims as your brothers, so we must strive
to be each other’s brothers keeper.”
He said contrary to take teachings by
some pastors and Imams “No one can islamize or Christainise Nigeria because if
God wanted us all to be Muslims he would have created us so and if he wanted us
all to be Christians he would have created us so, we must therefore commit to
live in peace with one another regardless of our religious beliefs.”
He continued, “We go to the same market,
use same roads, go to the same hospital and God blesses us all with natural
resources hence there is no basis for us to fight but live as one entity and
one family under God’s protection and provision, so I admonish pastors,
Mallams, traditional leaders to consciously chart a forward for peaceful
coexistence amongst a and sundry.
“The Devil is our common problem and we
must all unite to fight the devil. Humanity should be respected above religion
and accepting each other the way we are.”
“We must love one another and not allow
politicians to play with our intelligence because the present political
dispensation could cause Nigeria alot of problem, we must not allow politicians
to use our heads, We must unite together as one and allow politicians to do
their things” he admonished.
Speaking on the essence of the friend’s
day service, the senior pastor of the church, Reverend Joshua Anyam said it is
to foster peaceful and religious coexistence among their neighborhood.
He said “As a church we are committed to
building a community of peace and belief me, we can live in peace if we respect
each others faith and tell each other the truth.
“What we are doing today is what we have
been doing annually for several years now,
we donate food stuff to our neighboring Muslims during Ramadan and also
invite them to worship with us on what we call friend’s day, an opportunity we
equally discuss how we can further and together promote peace in the state and
country at large” he said.
In their messages, the
WakilinShehuBorno, HRH Bata MadakiAuta and
SarkinDutseAlhajiShuaibuBalarebeAbdullahi among others who spoke during the
church service all commended ECWA for such good initiative and urged other
churches and Islamic bodies to toe the same line going forward.
Earlier in his message Dr Mohammed
Labaran Dawa harped on peace and unity amongst all regardless of religion,
tribe or ethnicity, stressing that heaven and hell is real and we must all be
committed to live in peace with one another.
The chairman, Community relation
committee of the church, Senator HarunaAzeeZego commended the Muslim invitees
for honouring their invitation, and further stressed that the invitation
extended to Muslims within their host community to worship with them was borne
out of the love to sustain religious coexistence.
Source: leadership.ng
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://leadership.ng/steer-clear-of-politicians-instigating-religious-crisis-islamic-scholar-warns/
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Prince Nakibinge breaks Muslim
principles to honour Hussein Kyanjo
July 24, 2023
Prince KassimNakibinge, the titular head
of the Muslim community in Uganda on one of the rarest occasions, set aside the
Muslim principle of not keeping dead bodies for long before burial to honour
Hussein Kyanjo, the former Makindye West MP.
Nakibinge said he felt it was important
to honour Kyanjo for the contribution he has made - not only to the Muslim
community but also to the country. He thus called for evening funeral prayers
at Kibuli Mosque for Kyanjo who passed away on Saturday morning.
Speaker after speaker described Kyanjo
as one of the rare breed of politicians Uganda has ever produced, not corrupt
and a person who kept his word even amidst grave challenges.
Supreme Mufti Sheikh ShabanGalabuzi
hailed Kyanjo as a politician who kept his word. He said even when it was uncomfortable,
Kyanjo was never afraid of expressing his opinion on issues that he believed
in. Galabuzi said that amidst Kyanjo’s other responsibilities, he always found
time to work for the transformation of Islam in Uganda. He called upon other
Muslim politicians to emulate him and stand up when need arises to speak or
work for Islam.
During his two terms as MP for Makindye
West, especially before he lost his speech, Kyanjo was loved and hated in
almost equal measure for suggesting that Buganda should secede from Uganda
especially after the controversial 2010 Land Act was tabled in parliament which
he interpreted as a ploy to steal Buganda’s land.
The refusal to allow the Kabaka to visit
Bugerere County in Kayunga district also rubbed Kyanjo the wrong way and
strengthened his call for Buganda to break away. This and so many Buganda
causes that he got involved in, endeared him to the kingdom and its officials.
In his speech, Prof TwahaKawaaseKigongo,
the first deputy Katikkiro, said in Kyanjo’s death, Buganda has lost a very
strong pillar.
MatiaLwangaBwanika, the Wakiso district
chairperson also said that he has never seen a politician so principled, so
fearless in defending what he believes in. Bwanika called upon politicians in
Buganda to emulate Kyanjo.
Prof Abas Kiyimba who has known Kyanjo
for almost forty years said he will be remembered as a man who worked
tirelessly for Islam in Uganda. Kyanjo said this desire to serve Islam pushed
him to join politics so that Muslims could also have a voice.
Kyanjo has been battling dystonia, a
rare disease that affected his ability to speak. It has severally been
suggested that it was caused by poisoning. In 2017 he was also diagnosed with
stage four cancer of the colony and was given just six months to live. At 63 years,
Kyanjo is survived by two widows and eight children. He was buried on Sunday in
Ntuuma village in Bukomansimbi district.
Source: observer.ug
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.observer.ug/news/headlines/78602-prince-nakibinge-breaks-muslim-principles-to-honour-hussein-kyanjo
--------
Controversial video: Apologise to
Muslims, Shehu Sani tells Davido
by Adam Mosadioluwa
July 23, 2023
Shehu Sani, a former Senator and
activist, has advised Nigerian afrobeat sensation, David Adeleke, popularly
known as Davido, to apologise to his Muslim fans over a controversial video he
posted on his social media pages earlier this week.
Davido, who is the owner of the DMW
record label, had posted a 45-second long video clip of his signee, Logos
Olori’s new song, ‘Jaye Lo,’ on Friday, July 21.
The scene in question caused controversy
as it portrayed men, dressed as praying mallams, dancing in front of a mosque
rather than engaging in prayer. As a result, this depiction of dancing has been
considered offensive by some Muslims in the country.
The video has continued to generate
different reactions from social media users, with many airing their diverse
opinions.
Reacting to the video, Shehu Sani, who
represented the Kaduna Central Senatorial District at the 8th National
Assembly, said there is a need for the ‘Fem’ crooner to apologize to his Muslim
fan base.
According to him, as an artist, Davido
is duty-bound to be sensitive to the religious belief, culture, and faith of
his fans, adding that it will be an honorable thing to do if the pop star can
pull down the video and tender unreversed apologies to his Muslim fans.
He wrote, “As an artist or entertainer,
if your fans feel offended by a piece or portion of your work, especially as it
concerns their culture, faith, or religious beliefs, it will be most honorable
for you to delete or edit that portion, apologize to them, and move on. I’m
here talking about Davido. This is my own opinion.”
Source: tribuneonlineng.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://tribuneonlineng.com/controversial-video-apologise-to-muslims-shehu-sani-tells-davido/
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Newlands East man shot and killed while
driving home from mosque
A Newlands East man was shot and killed
while returning home from mosque on Friday afternoon.
The victim and two others were
travelling on Musa Dladla Road when they came under fire at around 2pm.
Provincial police spokesperson Constable
ThenjiswaNgcobo said the victims were allegedly shot by unknown suspects while
waiting for a traffic light to turn green.
“A 48-year-old man was declared dead on
scene. The second victim sustained injuries and was rushed to hospital for
medical attention, while the third victim escaped unharmed,” she said.
Ngcobo said Newlands East police are
investigating cases of murder and attempted murder.
Last week, a 20-year-old man was shot
and killed while sitting on the side of the road.
The man had been seated with a
17-year-old on Centre Road when they were approached by two armed men who
started firing shots towards them.
The incident took place outside the
Lakehaven Estate.
Provincial police spokesperson Colonel
Robert Netshiunda said both victims were rushed to hospital.
“However the 20-year-old succumbed to his
injuries upon arrival at the hospital,” he said.
Netshiunda said the motive of the
shooting is unknown at this stage and no one has been arrested for the crime.
Meanwhile police are still searching for
suspects who shot and killed a Durban Metro policeman on Friday morning on the
M7 Hans Dettman highway.
The cop had stopped truck hijackers when
they shot him in the chest.
Source: iol.co.za
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.iol.co.za/news/crime-and-courts/newlands-east-man-shot-and-killed-while-driving-home-from-mosque-08f63816-4327-40dc-9db3-1bbb30f90297
--------
Christians, Muslims warned to shun
divisive politicians
By SaxoneAkhaine (Kaduna)
24 July 2023
As Islamic adherents worship at ECWA
As Christians and Muslims, yesterday,
fraternised at a Church service in Kaduna State, Secretary of Sultan Bello
Mosque, Kaduna, Sheikh HamisuYa’u, warned Nigerians against selfish
politicians, who create religious dichotomy, apparently, for political gains.
The Islamic scholar called on Christians
and Muslims to unite and refuse to be divided on religious grounds by
politicians, who, after achieving their political aims, abandon them to their
fate.
Ya’u stated this at Evangelical Church
Winning All (ECWA) Gospel Church, in Kaduna South Local Council, where no fewer
than 50 Muslims, including leaders, worshipped with their Christian
counterparts.
According to him, it is unfortunate that
people take pleasure in causing chaos for their selfish ends.
“You are not a good Muslim, if you do
not see Christians as your brothers. Also, you cannot claim to be a good
Christian, if you do not see Muslims as your brothers. So, we must strive to be
our brother’s keeper.
“No one can Islamise or Christianise
Nigeria because if God wanted us all to be Muslims, he would have created us
so; and if he wanted us all to be Christians, he would have created us so. We
must, therefore, commit to live in peace with one another regardless of our
religious beliefs,” he said.
Ya’u noted that Christians go to the
same market, use the same roads and hospitals, adding: “God blessed us with
natural resources; hence, there is no basis for us to fight, but live as one
entity and one family under God’s protection and provision. So, I admonish
Christian, Muslim and traditional leaders to consciously chart a course for
peaceful coexistence for all and sundry.
“We must love one another and not allow
politicians to play with our intelligence because the present political
dispensation can cause Nigeria a lot of problems. We must unite and allow
politicians to do their things.”
In their messages, the
WakilinShehuBorno, Bata MadakiAuta; SarkinDutse, AlhajiShuaibuAbdullahi and
others commended ECWA for such initiative and urged other Christian and Islamic
bodies to borrow a leaf.
Chairman, Community Relations Committee
of ECWA, Senator HarunaZego, commended the Muslim faithful for honouring the
invitation, stressing that it was extended to Muslims in their host community
to worship with them out of the love to sustain religious harmony.
Source: guardian.ng
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://guardian.ng/news/christians-muslims-warned-to-shun-divisive-politicians/
--------
Spirits of murdered EndSARS protesters,
members of Islamic Movement will continue to haunt Nigeria – Shehu Sani
July 24, 2023
A former lawmaker, Shehu Sani says the
spirits of murdered EndSARS protesters of 2020 and the members of the Islamic
Movement in 2015 would continue to haunt the nation and hang over its skies
until justice is done.
Sani also claimed that the killing of
the 103 EndSARS protesters in Lagos was one of the hidden atrocities of the
former President Muhammadu Buhari’s era.
In a statement via his verified Twitter
handle on Monday, the social critic claimed that members of the Islamic
Movement were massacred in Zaria on the orders of the military and was publicly
supported by the former Governor of Kaduna State.
He wrote, “In 2015, over a thousand
members of the Islamic Movement were massacred in Zaria on the orders of the
then military COAS and publicly supported by the then Governor of Kaduna State.
“The general public were encouraged
through hateful propaganda to march and dance on the corpses of the victims and
search for anything valuable in their pockets.
“The bullet riddled and charred remains
of the victims including women and children were reportedly buried in mass
graves in Kaduna state.Their offence was simply that they ‘blocked the road
against the Army chief.
“The killing of the 103 EndSARS
protesters in Lagos is one of the hidden atrocities of the Buhari era.The
spirits of those murdered whether for ‘blocking’ the road in Zaria or
‘blocking’ the Lekki gate will continue to haunt this country and hang over its
skies until justice is done.”
Source: dailypost.ng
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://dailypost.ng/2023/07/24/spirits-of-murdered-endsars-protesters-members-of-islamic-movement-will-continue-to-haunt-nigeria-shehu-sani/
--------
North America
US Congress kills bill to end
president's power for war on West Asia
Saturday, 22 July 2023
A US lawmaker has blasted a
congressional vote rejecting a draft legislation that would have terminated
what he described as “tyrannical” presidential emergency powers that would
allow the American president to wage war on countries across West Asia.
Led by Representative Paul Gosar of
Arizona, a handful of Republican members of Congress launched a protest against
41 nominal “national emergency” declarations, many of which are decades old,
the US-based Grayzone news website reported on Thursday.
Gosar has described the 148 national
emergency powers available to the president as “tyrannical”. He noted there
were 41 active national emergencies on the books, with one dating as far back
as 1979.
“No president, regardless of party,
should be handed a blank check and endless special powers that can be used to
circumvent the normal democratic process, exceed their constitutional
authority, and violate the balance of power,” Gosar wrote.
This July 18, the House voted down five
resolutions to terminate national emergency powers which date back as far as
2003. The countries affected by the five resolutions include Congo, Yemen,
Libya, Syria and Iraq.
Each vote saw a coalition of pro-war
Democrats and Republicans join together in overwhelming numbers to protect the
executive branch’s emergency authorities.
Among the emergency declarations still
in effect is one authorizing war on Libya on the basis that Muammar Ghaddafi
posed an urgent threat to the US; one enabling economic warfare on Syria on the
deceptive grounds that Damascus sponsors international terrorism; and another
allowing the president to support Saudi Arabia’s military assault on Yemen,
which resulted in the world’s worst humanitarian catastrophe.
Yet another emergency declaration
provides the authority for the US government to test biological weapons on
American citizens.
“It’s sad that we’re here for these five
[emergency resolutions],” Rep. Gosar said on the House floor, warning “there’ll
be 36 more coming your way.”
Gosar continued, “National emergencies
are supposed to be rare and brief. The passing of the National Emergencies Act
in the 1976 congress did not intend for the executive to utilize declarations
for decades in order to apply sanctions. That is something Congress can do
separately from a national emergency declaration.”
By law, national emergency declarations
are supposed to be reviewed by Congress every six months, yet none of the five
in question have ever been subject to scrutiny. Boebert noted on the floor that
in the 16 years since the national emergency related to Congo was declared, it
should have been reviewed 31 times.
Rep. Eli Crane, an Iraq war veteran,
sponsored the resolution to terminate the national emergency on Iraq, which was
declared just months after the 2003 US invasion. At the time, the U.S. was
engaged in an ostensible quest to unearth mythological weapons of mass
destruction.
The declaration has been widely
criticized as a means of exerting neocolonial control over the Iraqi oil
industry, and offering “a guarantee of immunity from prosecution for
white-collar and corporate crimes that involve Iraqi oil.” The national
emergency power was extended by the Biden administration this May.
Gosar and Rep. Matt Gaetz co-sponsored
the resolution seeking to put an end to emergency powers on Syria. This
declaration was authorized by a 2004 executive order which introduced sanctions
on the grounds that Damascus was “supporting terrorism” and “pursuing weapons
of mass destruction and missile programs, and undermining US and international
efforts with respect to the stabilization and reconstruction of Iraq.”
The Biden administration extended the
sanctions act this May. This time, the administration justified its economic
assault on the basis of Syria’s supposed “chemical weapons and supporting
terrorist organizations,” which “pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to
the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States.”
On the House floor, Gaetz characterized
the five national emergency declarations addressed in the resolutions as
“dormant slush funds spending untold sums of money with no transparency as to
how much is going into the ‘Syrian emergency.’”
Gosar’s resolutions focused on national
emergency declarations around Yemen and Libya. “Heartlessly, the extended
national emergency related to Yemen blocks the donations of food, clothing and
medicine intended to relieve the human suffering by the people of Yemen,” he
said in a recent press release, noting that an estimated 130 Yemeni children
die every day due to famine.
“It is incomprehensible that a stated
‘emergency’ is used by our country to harm the people of another country,
including forcing starvation and disease.”
In a separate press release on his
Libyan emergency powers resolution, Gosar noted: “Almost hilariously, the
extended national emergency related to Libya continues to cite Muammar Qaddafi
as the reason for the declaration, even though Qaddafi has been dead for almost
12 years. You can’t make this stuff up.”
“At no time since 2011 has Libya posed a
military or economic threat to the United States,” the congressman added. “The
people of Libya deserve to live in a manner of their choosing without the
prospect of U.S. bombings, attacks or color revolutions thrust upon them by
corrupt and misguided American agencies – none of whom are acting with
Congressional approval.”
US President Joe Biden had extended for
another year the national emergency declared with respect to Syria in May as
Washington fumed over Damascus’s return to the Arab League after more than a
decade.
Under Biden’s decision, the US national
emergency on Syria will remain in effect until May 2024.
In May 2004, then-President George W. Bush
signed Executive Order 13338, which classified the Syrian government’s conduct
as a national emergency. Successive presidents extended the classification each
year, citing false excuses.
Source: presstv.ir
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2023/07/22/707499/US-Congress-votes-down-bills-to-end-age-old-emergency-powers-in-Muslim-nations
---------
US commissions first navy warship in
Sydney amid China fears
Saturday, 22 July 2023
The United States has commissioned a
warship in Sydney, Australia amid fears of growing Chinese clout in the region.
The Independence-class littoral combat
ship (LCS) – named USS Canberra – was commissioned on Saturday at a ceremony at
an Australian naval base on Sydney Harbor, officially joining the US Navy’s
active fleet.
This is the first time a US Navy vessel
joined active service at a foreign port, as the two close allies step up their
military ties in response to China’s expanding regional reach.
During the ceremony, US Ambassador to
Australia, Caroline Kennedy, claimed that Americans and Aussies have forged a
century-long military alliance in their efforts to maintain the West's global
hegemony.
Furthermore, US Secretary of the Navy,
Carlos Del Toro, who was at the ceremony, said the US-led West is facing new
challenges in various domains which the allies needed to address.
"We, along with our allies and
partners around the world, are facing significant challenges in every
environment that we operate in, from the seabed to the stars as well as the
cyber domain. Across the globe, it is apparent that the rules-based
international order that for decades has fostered economic growth and
underpinned the period of relative global stability is being again challenged,"
Del Toro said.
The ceremony comes amid biennial
Talisman Sabre military exercises between the US and Australia, seen as a show
of force against China.
Asked if he was worried about the
presence of a Chinese surveillance ship off Australia’s northeast coast, Australian
Defense Minister Richard Marles said, “I’m not.”
“I’ve been to Talisman Sabre now for
many years and there is always, it seems, a ship from China, which is looking
at this, and that’s fine,” he told Channel 9 television.
The biennial military exercise between
the US and Australia, which is one of the largest joint military exercises in
the world, takes place amid continued efforts by the Americans to lure more
countries into joining the Indo-Pacific AUKUS security pact, amid escalating
tensions between world powers.
The UK, New Zealand, Canada, France,
Germany, Fiji, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Japan, and South Korea are
reportedly taking part in the two-week exercises which include mock land and
air combat, as well as amphibious landings.
The Independence-variant LCS warships
are said to be fast, optimally-manned, mission-tailored, surface combatants
that operate both close to shore and in open-ocean environments.
Source: presstv.ir
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https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2023/07/22/707519/US-warship-commissioned-Australia-China-USS-Canberra
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