No State Waqf Board Can Call Ahmadiyas To Be ‘Kafirs’ And Their Mosques As Non-Waqf Property: Indian Government
New Age
Islam News Bureau
22 July 20123
Representative
Photo
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India
• Delhi HC Asks ASI For Record On 1914
Notification Declaring Mosque Inside Qutub Complex As A Protected Monument
• Varanasi court orders ASI to survey
Gyanvapi mosque, conduct excavations if needed
• Projected population of Muslims in
2023 to stand at 19.75 crore: Govt in Lok Sabha
---------
Pakistan
• IGP appreciates role of scholars in
promoting peace, inter-faith harmony, unity among Muslims
• Fazl urges Muslim world to expel
Swedish ambassadors
--------
Mideast
• Some 50k worshipers perform Friday
Prayer at Aqsa Mosque
• Thousands March In Baghdad, Beirut And
Tehran Against Quran Desecration In Sweden
• Iran calls for OIC emergency meeting
over Qur'an desecration
• The Yemeni government strongly
condemns “repeated crimes” against the Quran in Sweden
• Qatar condemns permission to attack
Qur'an in Stockholm
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Arab World
• Saudi Citizens Can Now Invite Muslim
Friends Abroad To Perform Umrah On Personal Visit Visa
• Saudi Arabia to plant 100 million
mangrove trees along its coastlines
• Muslims unite in denunciation over
desecration of the Qur’an in Sweden
• First day of Umrah season welcomes
worshippers to Grand Mosque
--------
Europe
• Turkey: Fatwa Tells Syrians They Can
Pray At Home To Avoid Deportation Drive
• Ukraine Fails To Realize That Israel
Is Not The US, EU Or UK
• Five jailed for more than 125 years
for murdering Birmingham dad Haji Rab Nawaz outside a Coventry mosque
• Moscow lists seven conditions for
grain deal resumption
• Zelensky threatens to ‘neutralize’
Europe's longest bridge
--------
South Asia
• Imposing Sanctions On Islamic Emirate
Officials Not In The Interest Of Anyone: Govt Spokesman
• Kabul Governor Says Daesh is 'US
Phenomenon'
• Turkey Offers 300 Scholarships For
Afghan Students Annually
• Minister Delawar Meets Country’s
Businessman Living Abroad in Kabul
• US Would Have Attacked Afghanistan
Even If Osama Had Left: Mawlawi Kabir
• Muttaqi Discusses Range of Issues with
Pakistan Special Envoy
--------
Africa
• Muslims, Christians Hold Special
Prayers For Peace, Rainfall In Borno
• Nigerian Court Of Appeal Denies
Resignation Of Justice Ugo Over ‘Pressure To Favour President Tinubu’
--------
Southeast Asia
• Selangor Election: JaisSays Political
Party Activities Banned From All Mosques, Suraus In State
• Anwar: Visit to Al-Noor Mosque in
Hanoi part of agenda in Vietnam
• Mandiri Services Concludes IPO of
Sharia-Compliant Shares
--------
North America
• Jihad and Punishment: Repatriation and
Criminal Accountability of Islamic State-Linked Women in the Nordic States
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL:
https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/waqf-board-kafirs-ahmadiya/d/130280
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No State Waqf Board Can Call Ahmadiyas
To Be ‘Kafirs ’And Their Mosques As Non-Waqf Property: Indian Government
Representative
Photo
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Jul 22, 2023
NEW DELHI: The Centre has made it clear
that state waqf boards cannot declare members of Ahmadiya sect of Muslims to be
‘Kafirs’ or non-Muslims and their mosques as non-waqf property.
The communication on Friday followed
representation by Ahmadiya Muslims protesting against resolution passed by
Andhra Pradesh waqf board, based on “fatwas” issued by Jamaitul Ulema, an
organisation of Deobandi clerics, dubbing them non-Muslims.
Officials said the minority affairs
ministry has conveyed to the AP chief secretary in a letter that under the
provisions of the Act and as a body of the state government, the state waqf
board can issue directions that are approved by the state government and “does
not have any right to take cognisance of fatwas issued by any non-state
actors”. The ministry is learnt to have said that the AP waqf board’s
resolution “constitutes hate campaign against the Ahmadiya community at large”
and that the waqf board neither has the jurisdiction nor authority to determine
religious identity of any community, including Ahmadiyas.
The ministry has also asked the chief
secretary of the state to look into the matter and submit a report at the
earliest and cautioned the state authorities that the matter has “all India
ramifications”. It has also been conveyed to the state that the Waqf Act 1995,
is primarily a legislation for administration and management of waqf properties
in India and does not confer any power to state Waqf boards to make any such
proclamations.
The Ahmadiyya community, in its
representation to the ministry on Thursday, said the “Waqf boards in certain
states have been opposing Ahmadiya community and passing illegal resolutions”.
They cited a resolution of the Andhra Pradesh Waqf board issued in February,
which said “the Quadian community” is proclaimed as ‘kafir and not a Muslim”.
It is further stated that the Andhra
Pradesh Waqf board passed a resolution declaring the entire Ahmadiya community
as ‘non-Muslims’ which was challenged in the AP high court which ordered
interim suspension of operation of the resolution.
However, the representation said that
despite the orders of high court, AP state Waqf Board has issued another
proclamation under the signature of its chairman stating that “in consequent to
the ‘fatwa’ of Jamiat ul Ulema, the Quadian community is proclaimed as ‘kafir’.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
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Railways Asks Delhi’s Bengali Market
Mosque and Babar Shah Takiya Mosque, Nearly 400 Years Old, To Vacate From Its
Land
Bengali
market mosque (Image Source: ETV Bharat)
------
22 JUL 2023
The Indian Railways has issued
evacuation notices to Delhi’s two prominent mosques—Bengali Market Mosque and
Babar Shah Takiya Mosque.
The Northern Railway administration in
has reportedly issued notices to the two mosques demanding the removal of
encroachments within 15 days.
The railway authorities have warned that
“if the encroachments are not removed within the stipulated timeframe, they
will take necessary action to reclaim their land.”
The railway administration has stated
“their land has been illegally encroached upon, and they are urging the
concerned parties to voluntarily remove any unauthorized buildings, temples,
mosques, or shrines constructed on their property. Failure to comply with the
notice will lead to action taken by the railway administration, in accordance
with the Railway Act, to reclaim the encroached land.”
It also said “the parties responsible
for the encroachments will be held accountable for any damages incurred during
the process, relieving the railway administration of any liabilities.”
The Babar Shah Takiya Mosque's is nearly
400 years old, the reports mentioned.
Besides, the railway authorities has
issued notice to the adjacent office of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi
(MCD) for Malaria, demanding the evacuation of the premises.
The historic mosques have long been an
integral part of the religious and cultural landscape of Delhi.
However, the railway's latest claim of
ownership of the land has raised debates and discussions within the local
community.
The railway authorities assert that the
structures were built on their land without permission.
However, the mosque committee, as per
the reports state that these mosques hold significant historical value and have
stood for centuries.
Source: outlookindia.com
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https://www.outlookindia.com/national/railways-asks-delhi-s-2-prominent-mosques-to-vacate-from-its-land-news-304823
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Three Hindu Sisters In Sindh Forced To
Marry Men Who Kidnapped And Converted Them To Islam
Forcible
conversion in Pakistan Photo: PTI
-----
21 JUL 2023
Three daughters of a Hindu businessman
in Pakistan's Sindh province have been married to Muslim men who first
kidnapped them and forcibly converted them to Islam, according to a leading
minority rights group in the country.
The head of Pakistan DarewarItehad,
Shiva Kachhi, said that the incident took place in Sindh's DharkiArea where
Chandni, Roshni and Parmesh Kumari, daughters of a Hindu businessman, Leela
Ram, were first abducted and then forcibly converted to Islam.
"The conversion was performed by
one Pir Javed Ahmed Qadri and later they were also married to Muslim men,"
he said.
Kachhi said despite appeals and pleas
from his organisation's platform, the problem of forcible conversion of Hindu
girls was continuing unabated with the police and authorities not apprehending
the culprits.
He said that the three sisters were
married to the same men who abducted them. Kachhi also claimed that the attacks
on the Hindu community in the riverine areas have spiked since the Seema Haider
incident.
Seema Haider, a Pakistani woman and a
mother of four, sneaked into India to live with a Hindu man, Sachin Meena, whom
she befriended through an online game platform.
She was ostracised by her family and
neighbours for daring to defy the societal norms of a conservative Muslim
country.
There have been daily threats from
dacoits in the riverine areas to retaliate against Hindus because of this
incident, Kachhi said.
Last week, a gang of dacoits attacked a
Hindu temple with rocket launchers along with adjoining homes belonging to
Hindus in the Kashmore area of the Sindh province.
"After the temple of Bhagri's was
attacked by some dacoits in Kashmore, the authorities have now sent Hindu
policemen for the security of temples and worship places in Mirpurkhas,
Kashmore, Tharparkar, Ghotki, Sukkur, Umarkot and Sanghar," Kacchi
alleged.
He claimed these Hindu policemen had
also been sent to riverine areas to hunt the dacoits.
"These are poor Hindu people who
are serving in low positions in police belonging to different areas of Sindh
and the authorities now want them to provide security for the Hindu worship
places," Kacchi added.
Hindus form the biggest minority
community in Pakistan.
The majority of Pakistan's Hindu
population is settled in Sindh province where they share culture, traditions
and language with Muslim residents.
Source: outlookindia.com
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https://www.outlookindia.com/international/pakistan-3-hindu-sisters-in-sindh-forced-to-marry-men-who-kidnapped-and-converted-them-to-islam-news-304682
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Iran Has Become Islamic North Korea –
Former Official Of Iran's Football Federation
Former
President of Iran’s Football Federation Mohammad Dadkan receiving a medal from
former president Mohammad Khatami
----
July 22, 2023
A former president of Iran's football
federation has slammed the regime's policies, saying that Iran has become “an
Islamic North Korea.”
In a critical interview with the
newspaper Arman-e Melli, Mohammad Dadkan raised concerns about various aspects
of governance in Iran, including the regime’s crackdown on voices of dissent.
"With pressure and force, what do
you expect to achieve? You boast about arresting 92,000 people. You claim that
20 million people have legal cases, which means 60 million people are affected
when considering their families. By forcing everything to appear right, what
will be the outcome in the end?" he said.
Dadkan quipped that the regime sought to
become an Islamic Japan but has become an Islamic North Korea, claiming that
"If the leader of North Korea says in the morning that the border is open,
he himself won't stay either. If they open the bridge between the two Koreas,
not a single person will remain in North Korea.
Dadkan has served in several positions
related to sports in Iran, including as a physical education advisor at the
ministries of Foreign Affairs and Industry, Mine and Trade. He was the
president of Iran’s Football Federation from 2002 until 2006, during which Iran’s
national squad finished third in the 2004 AFC Asian Cup and ranked 15 in the
FIFA standing, its best so far. In the past two decades, Iran's Team Melli has
not achieved a better title.
The number of politicians who once held
important positions in the Islamic Republic but are now critical of the regime
has been growing, especially since people revolted against the Islamic
autocracy after the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody. Iranian
analysts and politicians continue criticizing the ruling establishment for the
country’s multiple crises within the limits of controlled media.
Hossein Marashi, a leading centrist
politician in Tehran, said earlier in the week that the governance and politics
in Iran have reached a deadlock and people need to take the lead to help
themselves. "I have no hope in Iranian politicians. The elites in society
should come forward with determination and make their point, and whatever they
need to do. I have hope that the people will change the scene."
Last week, prominent economist Mehdi
Pazouki told Didban Iran website that government officials have humiliated the
nation in the name of their revolutionary approach. Pazouki said, in an
unprecedented and daring statement, "One of Khomeini's mistakes was allowing
clerics to intervene in the country's social and executive affairs."
He was referring to the founder of the
Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini who after the 1979 revolution
gradually expelled independent-minded people from the government and increasingly
relied on clerics that he knew had no experience in running a country.
Regime insiders, pressed hard by serious
economic crises and popular rejection, try to blame everything on invisible
enemies.
Ahmad Alamolhoda, the representative of
Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in Khorasan Razavi province, whose financial
corruption case within one of Iran's biggest charities was recently revealed,
said Friday that "The enemy wants to undermine the clergy in the eyes of the
people.”
Dadkan elsewhere in his extensive
two-hour interview drew a comparison between the responses of the Iranian and
French governments to popular protests. He pointed out that while the French
government took action against the police officer who shot and killed a
17-year-old boy of Algerian descent, Iran's approach was markedly different. He
emphasized that in Iran, officers who harm or kill protesters are often praised
instead of being held accountable for their actions.
Ahmad Alirezabeigi, a member of the
Iranian parliament who was sentenced to imprisonment this week for disclosing a
major bribery case involving at least 75 other lawmakers and a former Industry
Minister, accused officials of evading their responsibility and adding insult
to injury by making statements that blame the people for the government's
shortcomings.
Masih Mohajeri, a conservative newspaper
editor, said in a strongly worded article earlier this week that, "People
refuse to accept that in a country with such wealth and resources, a few
individuals amass fortunes while millions of families are in poverty.
Dadkan echoed these sentiments saying
that the ruling power places its incompetent supporters in crucial positions
and manipulates information to distort the true state of affairs in the
country. "The state-controlled television is biased, and spreads lies,” he
emphasized.
These regime supporters he said pretend
to be religious and the "have made a business out of it,” asking why is it
that “out of 72,000 mosques across the country, "50,000 are dormant.”
Source: iranintl.com
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https://www.iranintl.com/en/202307210519
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Saudi Library Restores More Than 3,000
Cultural Heritage Items
July 21, 2023
The
restoration centre rehabilitated more than 615 rare documents and restored a
series of rare magazines. (Supplied)
------
RIYADH: The newly established
restoration centre at the King Abdulaziz Public Library in Riyadh has succeeded
in preserving more than 3,000 rare scientific materials of cultural heritage.
This includes photographs, documents, maps and rare books, as well as
manuscripts.
The centre was able to restore rare
images depicting the old city of Diriyah, showcasing its location surrounded by
a sea of palm trees.
The center restored 415 rare images of
the city of Jeddah. The team of experts were also able to also restore 117 rare
books, including their leather covers and internal pages.
In addition, the center restored a group
of Saudi currencies, issued on 14 Dhu Al-Qa’da 1372 AH, corresponding to July
25, 1953 AD, when the Saudi Monetary Agency issued what was then known as the “receipts
of pilgrims.” These were lightweight banknotes distributed and used during
Hajj, starting at ten Riyals, of which 5,000 were printed with phrases in both
Arabic and English.
The restoration center rehabilitated
more than 615 rare documents and restored a series of rare magazines.
The center also cleaned up 2,235 rare
and valuable maps in preparation for their restoration and preservation. The
most notable was a map of the continent of Africa and the Arabian peninsula,
drawn by Abraham Ortelius in 1570 AD.
The restoration center was inaugurated
in late 2022, and has served as a space to handle artifacts carefully. Careful
consideration is given to each item to maintain and preserve these pieces of
history for future generations.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2341806/saudi-arabia
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India
Delhi HC Asks ASI For Record On 1914
Notification Declaring Mosque Inside Qutub Complex As A Protected Monument
July 22, 2023
The Delhi High Court has directed the
Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to provide records pertaining to a January
24, 1914, notification declaring a mosque located within the Qutub Minar
complex as a protected monument.
The court’s direction came in response
to a plea from the Managing Committee of the mosque, appointed by the Delhi
Waqf Board, which claimed that prayers in the mosque were stopped.
The mosque in question, known as the
Mughal Mosque, is situated within the Qutub Complex but lies outside the Qutub
enclosure.
The restrictions on prayers at the said
mosque were imposed in May last year and have persisted since then.
Appearing for the Managing Committee,
Advocate M. Sufian Siddiqui argued that prayers had been offered in the mosque
since its establishment until May 13 last year when the authorities intervened.
He submitted that the mosque is not
covered by the protected monument designation issued by ASI in its
aforementioned notification.
Justice Prateek Jalan, who presided over
the case, stated that the court needs to consider whether the mosque falls
under the protected area specified in the 1914 notification and the
implications it may have on the permissibility of worship at the mosque.
The court directed all parties to submit
their written arguments and any relevant judgments within three weeks, posting
the matter for hearing next on October 13.
On the other hand, the Managing
Committee of the Board contends that even if the Mosque is a protected
monument, section 16 of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and
Remains Act, 1958, along with relevant Rules, mandates that authorities must
maintain the religious nature and sanctity of the mosque and protect the
worshippers’ right to assemble and offer prayers.
According to the plea, the denial of the
opportunity for Muslims to offer prayers at the mosque represents a forceful
approach that contradicts the liberal values enshrined in the Constitution and
the liberalism reflected in the common people’s daily lives.
The plea says that such inaction from
the authorities curtails and stifles the rights guaranteed under Article 21 of
the Constitution of India, thereby hindering citizens from seeking timely
redressal of grievances.
Source: thestatesman.com
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Varanasi court orders ASI to survey
Gyanvapi mosque, conduct excavations if needed
21st July 2023
By Namita Bajpai
LUCKNOW: In a significant order, the
Varanasi district court allowed the scientific survey of the Gyanvapi mosque
premises by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) barring the area sealed in
compliance with the order of the Supreme Court of India, last year.
The mosque's 'wazukhana' (ablution
centre), where a structure claimed by Hindu litigants to be a 'shivling'
exists, will not be part of the survey following an earlier Supreme Court order
protecting that spot in the complex. The 'wazukhana' was sealed on the orders
of the apex court in May 2022.
In May, this year, counsel for the Hindu
plaintiffs had filed an application seeking a scientific survey of the Gyanvapi
mosque complex, excluding its sealed area.
Passing the order of scientific survey,
Varanasi district judge AK Vishvesha directed the ASI to conduct Ground
Penetrating Radar (GPR) survey, excavation, dating method and other modern
techniques to determine whether the present-day mosque was constructed over a
pre-existing structure of a Hindu temple. The ASI was asked to submit its
investigation/survey report by August 4, the next date of hearing.
The ASI director was also asked to
conduct a scientific investigation to ascertain the age and nature of
construction of the western wall of the mosque building, conduct a GPR survey
of just below the three domes, beneath the western wall as well as the ground
of all the cellars and conduct excavation if required.
Court asked the ASI director to prepare
a list of all the artefacts, found in the building during the investigation
specifying their contents and finding out the age and nature of such artefacts.
The order also contained directives for conducting a dating exercise of the
pillars and plinth of the building to find out the age and nature of the
construction.
The director of ASI was also directed to
investigate the artefacts and other objects of historical and religious
importance existing in different parts of the building and also beneath the
structure which may be found during the search exercise.
After explaining the points of
investigation and methods to be adopted, the district judge cautioned the ASI
director against any damage to the structure standing on the disputed land
ensuring that it remained intact and unharmed.
The order contained the historical
aspects mentioned by the plaintiffs in their application, details of the
court-mandated survey of May 2022 and also objections of Anjuman Intezamia
Masajid (AIM), the mosque management committee.
The AIM had objected to the survey,
arguing that it was already conducted following the order of the court of Civil
Judge senior division, Varanasi in May 2022. However, the district judge
rejected the AIM objection saying the previous survey was not scientific.
Supporting his order, the district judge
said: "In my view, if ASI will be directed to hold a survey and scientific
investigation at the property in question and submit a report, it will help in
just and proper disposal of the case and true facts will come before this
court."
Source: newindianexpress.com
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Projected population of Muslims in 2023
to stand at 19.75 crore: Govt in Lok Sabha
The percentage of Muslim households
which have purchased or constructed a new house or flat for the first time
after March 31, 2014 stands at 50.2%.
July 21, 2023
Literacy rate of Muslims aged seven and
above stands at 77.7% and the labour force participation rate for all ages as
per usual status stands at 35.1%. File
Literacy rate of Muslims aged seven and
above stands at 77.7% and the labour force participation rate for all ages as
per usual status stands at 35.1%. File | Photo Credit: Nissar Ahmad
The projected population of Muslims in
India in 2023 would stand at 19.75 crore, the government has informed the Lok
Sabha.
In a written reply to a question by TMC
MP Mala Roy in Lok Sabha, Minority Affairs Minister Smriti Irani said as per
the Census 2011, Muslim population is 17.22 crore, which constitutes 14.2% of
the total population of the country.
"As per the report of the Technical
Group on Population Projections, July 2020, National Commission on Population,
country's projected population in 2023 stands at 138.82 crore. Accordingly,
applying the same proportion of 14.2%, as was there in Census 2011, projected
population of Muslims in 2023 would stand at 19.75 crore," Ms. Irani said.
As per the Periodic Labour Force Survey
(PLFS) 2021-22 conducted by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme
Implementation, literacy rate of Muslims aged seven and above stands at 77.7%
and the labour force participation rate for all ages as per usual status stands
at 35.1%, she said.
Further, as per Multiple Indicator
Survey 2020-21 conducted by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme
Implementation to collect data on select Sustainable Development Goals
indicators, the percentage of Muslim persons reported to have improved source
of drinking water stands at 94.9%, and the percentage of Muslim persons
reported to have access to improved toilet stands at 97.2%, the minister said.
The percentage of Muslim households which
have purchased or constructed a new house or flat for the first time after
March 31, 2014 stands at 50.2%, Ms. Irani said.
Her response on Thursday came to three
questions by Ms. Roy, asking whether there is any data on Muslim population as
on May 30, 2023 in the country, whether there is any population data of
Pasmanda Muslims and the details of their socio-economic status.
Source: thehindu.com
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Pakistan
IGP appreciates role of scholars in
promoting peace, inter-faith harmony, unity among Muslims
July 22, 2023
LAHORE
- Inspector General of Police
Punjab (IGP) Dr. Usman Anwar, while appreciating the role of Ulema in promoting
peace, inter-faith harmony, and unity among Muslims said that the Ulema who
propagate peace are champions of character as well as speech. He said this
while meeting the delegation of Ulema, and Scholars led by Maulana Syed
Muhammad Abdul Khabir Azad, the Chairman of the Central Ruet-e- Hilal Committee
at the Central Police Office here on Friday. In a delegation led by Maulana
Syed Muhammad Abdul Khabir Azad eminent scholars from all the schools of
thought visited the Central Police Office and met IG Punjab Dr. Usman Anwar.
During the meeting, IG Punjab said that the miscreants who are spreading hatred
and anarchy on social media will be dealt with iron hands. He said that police
focal persons have been appointed for coordination among stakeholders during
Ashura Muharram. Control rooms have been established for the monitoring of
security of Muharram programs in all regions and districts including CPO
office. The IG Punjab said said that more than 125,000 police officers and
personnel are on duty for the security of Majalis and processions across the
province. He urged for cooperation with police regarding loudspeaker act and
time restriction during Muharram programs. He Punjab further said that the
police grows stronger with the support of Ulema-e-Karam and they are always
there to cooperate with them. On this occasion, Additional IG Operations
Shahzada Sultan, DIG Operations Waqas Nazir and AIG Operations Dr. Asad Ijaz
Malhi informed the scholars about the security arrangements of Punjab Police
during Muharram. The Ulema praised the security arrangements of the police
throughout the province including Lahore during Muharram.
The Chairman of the Central Ruete- Hilal
Committee, Maulana Syed Muhammad Abdul Khabir Azad said that the Ulema will
ensure all possible cooperation with the police, administration and security
institutions for national security and defense. After the meeting, the IG Punjab
also visited Martyrs and Ghazi Wall at the Central Police Office. The scholars
placed flowers on the memorial and recited Fatiha to raise the ranks of the
martyrs. The delegation of the scholars included Maulana Mufti Mubashir Ahmad,
Maulana Zubair Ahmad Mir, Allama Kazim Raza Naqvi, Maulana Pir Masood Qasim
Qasmi, Hafiz Asad Obaid, Allama Rashid Turabi, Mufti Syed Ashiq Hussain Shah,
Hafiz Khalid Hasan, Maulana Asif Akbar Qadri, Pir Usman Noori, Maulana Abdul
WahabRopari, Allama Shakeelur Rehman Nasir and Maulana Abdul Sattar Niazi and
others.
Source: nation.com.pk
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Fazl urges Muslim world to expel Swedish
ambassadors
ISLAMABAD: Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI)
Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Friday, while announcing to hold countrywide
protests against the Quran burning event in Sweden has urged the Muslim world
to recall their ambassadors from Sweden and expel Swedish ambassadors from
their countries.
Rehman, who is also the chief of the
present ruling alliance, the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), in a
telephonic conversation with Mian Shehbaz Sharif, the Prime Minister (PM) of
Pakistan, said that the Muslim world should take Quran burning issue seriously
with Sweden.
He said that the entire Islamic world
including Pakistan should recall their ambassadors from Sweden in protest
against allowing extremists to hold Quran burning like events.
During the telephonic conversation, the
two leaders agreed to take strict measures against such acts, saying the
Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) must play its due role in this
regard.
The world of Islam should take strict
notice of the continuous and planned insulting of Islam and the rituals of
Islam and the abominable and impure act of hurting the hearts of Muslims. The
prime minister issued urgent instructions to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
they will not remain silent on this matter, Maulana Fazlur Rehman said. The JUI
chief and the prime minister agreed that such heinous acts cannot be tolerated
and Western countries are deliberately taking such steps to provoke Muslims.
He urged the scholars and preachers to
condemn this heinous act of Sweden, in Friday gatherings and create awareness
among the people. Maulana said the West has always proved that it is a
terrorist by insulting the Holy things of Islam and the Muslims.
Source: brecorder.com
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https://www.brecorder.com/news/40253983/fazl-urges-muslim-world-to-expel-swedish-ambassadors
--------
Mideast
Some 50k worshipers perform Friday
Prayer at Aqsa Mosque
July 21, 2023
Tens of thousands of Palestinian
worshipers performed Friday prayer in the Aqsa Mosque on Friday 21 July 2023
despite the Israeli restrictions imposed at the gates and entrances of the Old
City of Occupied Jerusalem.
Jerusalemite sources said that more than
50,000 worshipers performed the Friday prayer at the holy site.
Meanwhile, the Israeli police forces set
up dozens of roadblocks, conducted extensive searches and checks on
Palestinians and their ID cards, and prevented hundreds of West Bankers from
reaching the holy Islamic site.
The two prominent female activists
HanadiHalawani and NafisaKhwais were also prevented from entering the holy
site.
During the Friday sermon, the preacher
Sheikh Muhammad Hussein called for continuing reconstruction works at the Aqsa
Mosque, and to intensify Palestinian presence at the holy site.
“Those who defend the Aqsa Mosque will
surely be victorious,” he added.
He also called on the Palestinian people
to live up to the challenges of Israel’s growing threats.
Earlier in the morning, thousands
performed dawn prayer at the holy site despite Israeli restrictions.
Source: daysofpalestine.ps
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https://daysofpalestine.ps/some-50k-worshipers-perform-friday-prayer-at-aqsa-mosque/
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Thousands march in Baghdad, Beirut and
Tehran against Quran desecration in Sweden
THOUSANDS marched in Iran, Iraq and
Lebanon today in protest against a Quran-burning in Sweden.
Giant marches in Tehran, Baghdad and
Beirut took place alongside smaller demonstrations in other towns and cities in
reaction to a one-man protest in Sweden, where a man of Iraqi origin kicked and
stood on a copy of the Muslim holy book outside the Iraqi embassy, also abusing
an Iraqi flag and portraits of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
and Iraqi Shi’ite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.
On Thursday protesters in Baghdad had
occupied the Swedish embassy compound and started a fire, which was soon
doused. Sweden’s embassy staff were withdrawn to Stockholm. Iraq has cut ties
with the Scandinavian country over the perceived insult, a move Hezbollah
leader Hassan Nasrallah has called on all Muslim countries to emulate.
Swedish flags were burnt at the
protests, while the Baghdad demo also saw rainbow flags burnt as crowds chanted
“Yes, yes to the Quran, no, no to Israel.”
Swedish authorities say there is no law
against desecrating religious objects and they could not ban the protest.
Source: morningstaronline.co.uk
Please
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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/w/thousands-march-baghdad-beirut-and-tehran-against-Quran-desecration-sweden
--------
Iran calls for OIC emergency meeting
over Qur'an desecration
Jul 22, 2023,
TEHRAN, Jul. 22 (MNA) – Iranian Foreign
Minister called for an emergency meeting of OIC states over the recent
desecration of the Holy Qur’an in Sweden, the second such incident in less than
a month.
Hossein Amir-Abdollahian made the
remarks in a phone call with Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic
Cooperation (OIC) Hussein Ibrahim Taha.
Amir-Abdollahian said that the emergency
meeting of the foreign ministers of the OIC should be held as soon as possible
to deal with this important issue.
If the Swedish government does not take
effective action immediately, the Islamic countries should give a strong
response to Sweden over this insulting move, he noted.
The OIC Secretary General also condemned
this insulting act and presented a report of the calls and the measures in this
regard, and promised that holding a meeting of foreign ministers of the OIC
will be on the agenda.
The two sides also emphasized the
importance of decisive and coordinated action by Islamic countries to prevent
the repetition of such insulting actions.
Source: en.mehrnews.com
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https://en.mehrnews.com/news/203542/Iran-calls-for-OIC-emergency-meeting-over-Qur-an-desecration
--------
The Yemeni government strongly condemns
“repeated crimes” against the Quran in Sweden
ADEN, Yemen, July 21 (Xinhua) — The
Yemeni government on Friday strongly condemned the “repeated crimes” against
the Quran in Sweden after an Iraqi refugee stepped on a copy of the Muslim holy
book during a protest in Stockholm on Thursday.
“Such actions, aimed at provoking the
feelings of Muslims and insulting Islamic sanctities, are against the
principles of humanity and morality and have nothing to do with genuine freedom
of expression,” Yemen’s foreign ministry said in a statement.
The ministry added that “allowing
extremists to practice hatred and target the Islamic faith not only damages
Sweden’s reputation, but also strains its relations with Islamic countries.”
The ministry demanded that the Swedish
government take immediate measures to “put an end to these reckless behaviors
and prevent the repetition of such a crime”, which it says is “incompatible
with the fundamental right to freedom of belief”.
The ministry also called on the
international community to condemn the crimes against the Quran in Sweden and
to stand united against all attempts to exploit freedom of expression to fuel
hatred and division among religious groups.
On Thursday, an Iraqi refugee, who
burned a copy of the Quran last month, stepped on the holy book during a
demonstration in Stockholm.
Source: nord.news
Please
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https://nord.news/2023/07/21/the-yemeni-government-strongly-condemns-repeated-crimes-against-the-Quran-in-sweden/
--------
Qatar condemns permission to attack
Qur'an in Stockholm
JULY 22, 202
Qatar has expressed its strong
dissatisfaction and denunciation of the repeated permission to attack the Holy
Qur'an in Sweden, and the failure of the authorities there to stop these
practices, which express hatred and religious discrimination, despite the
repeated condemnation of Arab and Islamic countries, the condemnation of the
international community, and the issuance of the Human Rights Council
resolution condemning acts of religious hatred.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs
announced in a statement Friday that, on the back of continued attack aimed at
the Qur'an and Islam, it was summoning Swedish ambassador to Qatar Gautam
Bhattacharyya to hand him an official objection memo that includes calls on the
Swedish authorities to take all the necessary measures to stop these heinous
practices.
The ministry stressed in that regard
that allowing continued attacks against the Qur'an under the pretense of
freedom of expression inflames hatred and violence, threatens peaceful
coexistence, and reveals objectionable double standards.
The ministry renewed Qatar's full
support of the values of tolerance and coexistence, as well as the country's
commitment to the principles of international peace and security established
through dialogue and understanding.
Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates
summoned the Swedish charges d'affaires to strongly condemn the continuation of
the Swedish government's allowance of attacks on copies of the Qur'an, the
state news agency (WAM) reported Friday.
Demonstrators marched in the Iraqi and
Iranian capitals Friday to denounce Sweden's permission for protests that
desecrate the Qur'an, as Stockholm withdrew staff from its Baghdad embassy.
Hundreds of people gathered in Baghdad's
Sadr City after Friday prayers, chanting "Yes, yes to Islam, yes, yes to
the Qur'an", an AFP correspondent said.
In Tehran, protesters waving Iranian
flags and carrying copies of Islam's holy book chanted "Down with the US,
Britain, Israel and Sweden" as some burned the Swedish flag.
Iran said late Friday it will not allow
a new Swedish ambassador into the country.
The rallies came amid heightened
tensions between Stockholm and Baghdad over a Sweden-based Iraqi refugee who
last month burnt pages of the Qur'an outside Stockholm's main mosque.
Saudi Arabia said late Thursday it had
summoned Swedish diplomats to protest against Stockholm allowing desecration of
the Qur'an on free speech grounds.
Saudi Arabia said it would urge Sweden
"to take all immediate and necessary measures to stop these disgraceful
acts", a foreign ministry statement said.
Sweden's decision to authorise the
protest has also drawn widespread condemnation from Arab and Muslim countries,
including Oman and Kuwait, as well as Jordan and the United Arab Emirates which
both summoned Sweden's charges d'affaires.
Oman expressed its strong condemnation
of the repeated granting of permits and protection by the competent authorities
in Sweden to extremists to burn and desecrate copies of the Holy Qur'an, and
its strong condemnation of these provocative acts against the feelings and
sanctities of Muslims and the incitement to violence and hatred.
In a statement Friday, the Omani
Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on the international community to take a firmer
stance by criminalising all acts that incite hatred and conflict between
religions and cultures and offend laws and beliefs, stressing the importance of
promoting the culture and values of peaceful coexistence and tolerance among
all members of societies of different religions and cultures, and promoting
international understanding and cooperation in order to build a world of peace
and mutual respect.
Kuwait said it was co-ordinating with
Arab states to hold an emergency meeting of the 57-member Jeddah-based
Organisation of Islamic Co-operation to take "concrete and practical"
measures so such an insult to the Qur'an would not be repeated, according to
the state news agency.
The British foreign office also
condemned the Qur'an protest, calling it "deeply insulting to Muslims
around the world and completely inappropriate".
Source: gulf-times.com
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https://www.gulf-times.com/article/664903/qatar/qatar-condemns-permission-to-attack-quran-in-stockholm
--------
Arab World
Saudi citizens can now invite Muslim
friends abroad to perform Umrah on personal visit visa
July 22, 2023
RIYADH: Citizens of Saudi Arabia can
invite their Muslim friends abroad to the Kingdom to perform Umrah on
"personal visit visa," the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has said.
Personal visas, which can be obtained
online, can either be single entry or multiple entry, the ministry said in a
tweet on Thursday.
Aside from performing Umrah rituals at
the Grand Mosque in Makkah and visiting the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah,
visitors can also make trips to various tourism destinations in the Kingdom.
Applications for a personal visit visa
can be made through the visa platform of the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
A single entry visa is valid for 90
days, while a multiple entry visa is valid for one year. A visitor with a
multiple entry visa may stay in the Kingdom for up to 90 days with each visit.
On Friday, the Presidency of the Two
Holy Mosques announced it was ready to receive the first worshippers of this
year’s Umrah season. The start of the Umrah pilgrimage is set at least a few
weeks after Hajj to allow Hajj pilgrims to return home and avoid congestion in
the holy places and airports.
Saudi Arabia has opened its historical
sites and other cultural destinations as it develops its tourism industry as
part of the Saudi Vision 2030 strategic plan launched in 2016.
The program's goal is to reduce the
Kingdom’s reliance on oil exports and diversify its economy by developing and
expanding into new industries and sectors.
Tourism is a key part of the strategy,
with the Kingdom aiming to get 100 million visitors by 2030.
Under the plan, the tourism industry is
expected to create more than 1 million jobs for the country's growing work
force, and at the same time generate revenues for the economy.
A massive boost in spiritual tourism in
the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah is also planned, with the number of
pilgrims expected to rise to 30 million by 2030.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2342031/saudi-arabia
--------
Saudi Arabia to plant 100 million
mangrove trees along its coastlines
July 22, 2023
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is targeting to plant 100
million mangrove trees along its coastlines in upcoming years, according to
National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification
(NCVC).
The center has already planted 6 million
mangrove seedlings along the coastlines of the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf,
with Jazan getting the lion’s share of more than 3.3 million seedlings.
The planting of the mangroves comes
within the objectives of the Saudi Green Initiative and Saudi Arabia’s Vision
2030.
Mangrove trees are of significant
importance and constitute a vital marine lifeline that has multiple
environmental, economic, and tourist benefits.
Mangrove forests are of the highest
efficiency compared to other types of forests when it comes to sequestering
carbon.
Moreover, they are natural habitats for
migratory birds and help achieve food security by maximizing fish wealth. They
also contribute to ridding beaches of pollutants and reducing temperatures and
humidity locally.
The NCVC aims to protect, develop, and
sustain vegetation cover sites and remove challenges facing them around the
Kingdom. It also works to detect encroachments and combat overgrazing.
The Center works to preserve natural
resources and biodiversity and support efforts to combat climate change at the
local, regional, and international levels, in implementation of the Saudi Green
Initiative’s objectives.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2342056/saudi-arabia
--------
Muslims unite in denunciation over
desecration of the Qur’an in Sweden
July 21, 2023
RIYADH: The Organization of Islamic
Cooperation, The Muslim World League, and Egypt’s top Islamic institution all
condemned on Friday the desecration of Qur’an in Sweden.
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation
has joined nations across the Arab world in condemning the burning of a copy of
the Holy Qur’an in the Swedish capital, Stockholm on Thursday, describing it as
an act of desecration.
“The secretary general of the OIC HisseinBrahim
Taha condemns in the strongest terms another provocative act of desecration of
a copy of the Holy Qur’an that took place in front of the Iraqi Embassy in
Stockholm,” the organization said in a statement.
Thousands of people in Muslim-majority
countries have taken to the streets to protest the act by a protestor on
Thursday who said he was promoting free speech, but which many, including in
Sweden, have denounced.
Taha was deeply disappointed that the
Swedish authorities continued to issue permissions to burn the holy book, it
said.
The statement referenced the final
communique issued by the OIC Executive Committee at its extraordinary meeting
on July 2, which said that such provocations were contrary to the spirit of
articles 19 and 20 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
and could not be justified under the right to freedom of expression, which
prohibits any incitement to religious hatred and intolerance.
It also referenced the content of the
resolution adopted by the UN Human Rights Council on July 12 on “countering
religious hatred constituting incitement to discrimination, hostility or
violence.”
Taha stressed the need to comply with
international law and urged the Swedish authorities to stop issuing permissions
to extremist groups and individuals.
The Muslim World League also condemned
the desecration, saying the repeated act was provocative to the feeling of
Muslims.
“These acts harm the civilized and
logical concept of freedom, which calls for respecting that which is sacred,
and refraining from provoking feelings against it under any pretext,” said a
statement issued by the Muslim body on Friday.
Al-Azhar, Egypt’s top religious
institution, also condemned the burning of the Qur’an and urged Muslims around
the world to boycott Swedish products.
“#Al-Azhar strongly condemns the
continued desecration of the Qur’an in Sweden: a stain on Sweden,” it said on
Twitter.
“Sweden has proven, through its
practices, that it is the closest society to racism and the furthest from
respecting religions and people. Al-Azhar calls on all free people in the world
to continue boycotting Swedish products in support of the Qur’an, the book of
God.”
Saudi Arabia on Thursday condemned “the
repeated and irresponsible actions of the Swedish authorities by granting some
extremists official permits authorizing them to burn and desecrate copies of
the Holy Qur’an.”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs
described the latest incident as “an act that is a systematic provocation of
the feelings of millions of Muslims around the world,” and said it would issue
a note of protest to the charge d’affaires of the Swedish Embassy urging
Stockholm to take immediate measures to stop these “disgraceful acts, which
violate all religious teachings, and international laws and norms.”
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim
said on Twitter he hailed the “UN resolution against Qur’an burning in Sweden”
and applauded the UNHRC resolution.
He said it was unfortunate that for
“every step against Islamophobia, hatred ignites among those who hide their
heinous acts behind the mask of free speech, as demonstrated by the dissenting
states.”
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2341771/saudi-arabia
--------
First day of Umrah season welcomes
worshippers to Grand Mosque
July 21, 2023
MAKKAH: The Presidency of the Two Holy
Mosques announced it is ready to receive the first worshippers of this year’s
Umrah season.
The presidency’s official spokesman,
Maher Al-Zahrani, said it had 5,000 manual and 3,000 electric wheelchairs on
standby, along with staff to operate them, to ensure a smooth passage for
worshippers requiring assistance. These wheelchairs can be reserved through the
Tanaqol app.
Trained staff will also be on duty
overseeing spaces and guiding visitors to the correct spots for prayer. Doors
will be manned, and visitors will be assisted throughout to allow easy entry
and exit.
The presidency promises to provide vital
services in the northern expansion of the Grand Mosque ranging from the filling
of Zamzam water containers, controlling of air conditioning, and providing
ample shelving to store copies of the Qur’an. The presidency is also in charge
of monitoring the audio and lighting systems, cleanliness of the lavatories,
and operating escalators to transport worshippers, especially the elderly.
Al-Zahrani said: “The women’s department
will also help with organizing the entry and exit of worshipers to the Grand
Mosque and provide gifts to them such as copies of the Holy Qur’an and bottles
of Zamzam water, in addition to providing copies of (the) Qur’an in Braille to
those who require them.”
He indicated that there are 200
qualified supervisors on the ground who will monitor the spaces and 4,000
workers tasked with washing and cleaning the Grand Mosque 10 times a day. This
is in addition to having 800 workers on the ground to distribute 4,500 bottles
of Zamzam water to worshipers throughout the Grand Mosque. It is estimated that
nearly 500,000 liters of Zamzam water is consumed at the site during Umrah
every day.
Source: arabnews.com
Please
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2341766/saudi-arabia
--------
Europe
Turkey: Fatwa Tells Syrians They Can
Pray At Home To Avoid Deportation Drive
21 July 2023
A Muslim religious writer has cited a
fatwa permitting Syrian refugees to avoid attending Friday prayers at mosques
in Turkey in order to evade police checks, amid an intensified deportation
drive by authorities.
Turkish police have stepped up ID checks
and arrests in Istanbul and other major cities in recent weeks, in a campaign
targeting refugees and asylum seekers.
Around 1,000 Syrians have been forced to
return to their war-torn country in the first two weeks of July, despite most
having valid residency permits, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human
Rights (SOHR).
The UK-based group called the campaign
“inhumane” and urged Ankara to halt the “degrading” and “forced” deportations.
“The Observatory denounces such inhumane
treatment of refugees who were forced to flee the horror of war to Turkey and
did not come [to the country] by choice,” the group said last week.
Four families, including children, were
the latest to be deported on Thursday, according to SOHR, which said the
rounding up of people is ongoing and dozens of people are arrested every day.
Amid the intensified crackdown, Syrians
and refugees from other countries have reportedly been avoiding public areas
where they could be stopped and questioned by police.
With some unconfirmed reports
circulating that police have arrested people while leaving mosques, Syria-born
Palestinian religious researcher Mohammad Khair Mousa, based in Turkey, cited
on Friday a ruling telling refugees they can pray at home instead.
Under Islamic teachings, Muslims are
obliged to perform Friday prayers in the mosque.
“A fatwa mixed with pain,” Mousa titled
his social media post.
“Whoever fears for themselves that they
could be arrested and deported, or fear the presence of police patrols and
checks outside mosques, then they are relieved from the obligation [to pray in
the mosque] and can pray the noon prayer in their house.”
'Tightened measures'
According to the UN, Turkey hosts the
largest number of refugees in the world, with at least 3.6 million Syrian refugees
living in the country and an additional 320,000 of other nationalities.
The country opened its doors to Syrians
in the aftermath of the brutal crackdown by the government of Bashar al-Assad
on peaceful pro-democracy protests in 2011, which led to a devastating war and
the displacement of more than 12 million people.
However, anti-Syrian sentiment and
racism have been on the rise in Turkey in recent months, amid economic
hardship.
Many Syrians had hoped the toxic
rhetoric used against them by politicians in the run-up to the May elections
would cease following the re-election of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
However, the recent deportation drive,
which comes as Turkish parties gear up towards decisive local elections in
March next year, has taken many by surprise.
During the presidential election
campaign, Erdogan vowed to “voluntarily” return one million Syrians to their
homeland.
The plan was announced despite no
agreement being reached with Assad's government that could guarantee their
safety.
On 13 July, Erdogan told reporters that
“tangible changes on irregular migration” will soon be enacted.
"Our security forces have tightened
measures,” he said. "As soon as illegal migrants are apprehended, they are
sent to repatriation centres and necessary actions are initiated there. They
are sent to their countries, and through this, we eliminate anxiety and fear of
our people."
Despite government promises to focus the
campaign on “irregular migration”, SOHR said most of the deportation has
affected people who have official residency papers and live in the country
legally.
The group said women and children were
among those deported to areas under the Turkish army control in northwestern
Syria, including people sent back on the Eid al-Adha holiday earlier this
month.
Source: middleeasteye.net
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https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/turkey-syria-fatwa-pray-home-avoid-deportation-drive
--------
Ukraine fails to realize that Israel is
not the US, EU or UK
21 Jul, 2023
Since the beginning of the conflict
between Russia and Ukraine, Israel has maintained what it calls a “neutral”
stance between both sides. This trend of neutrality, exercised by much of the
world outside of the collective West, has been reinforced under Israeli Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who claims a desire to protect Israeli regional
interests through maintaining relations with Moscow.
A row erupted between Israel and Ukraine
after Kiev’s ambassador to Israel, EvgenyKorniychuk, accused Netanyahu’s
government of taking a “path of close cooperation” with Russia. This caused
Israel's foreign ministry to summon Ukraine's envoy for reprimand. On June 23,
just days before the ambassador's blistering comments about Israel’s apparent
“blatant disregard for moral boundaries,” two US Senators had written a letter
to the Senate Armed Services Committee to complain about Israel blocking the
transfer of US-owned Iron Dome air defense batteries to Ukraine.
The Israeli government has come under
pressure this year to transfer military aid to Ukraine, with calls coming from
lawmakers in its opposition and government alike, despite Israel having taken
Kiev’s side at the United Nations, condemning Russia for initiating its special
military operation in Ukraine and even transferring tens of millions in
humanitarian aid. In addition, Israel recently approved the transfer of early
warning systems and anti-drone technology for Ukrainian usage.
The fact is that the Israeli government
has not really remained neutral and has actively helped Ukraine, however, the
problem for the regime in Kiev is that it has been put on a pedestal by the
collective West and therefore expects that Israel treat it the same way as the
EU, the UK, and US. In its critique of Israel’s reluctance to transfer military
aid, it offers primarily what it considers to be a moral critique.
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky
stated to the Israeli Knesset in March of last year, that "the threat we
face is the same, for us and for you. The destruction of a people and even a
name”, attempting to paint both countries as moral actors fighting for freedom.
Ukraine accuses Russia of being an illegal occupier, annexing territory and
committing daily war crimes, all things that are well documented of Israel,
which severely weakens Kiev’s credibility when making its various moral
analyses. On one hand, it claims to oppose illegal occupation and annexation,
then on the other it compares its struggle to that of one of the most infamous
occupiers of foreign territory.
What Ukraine fails to recognise is that
despite Israel being very much aligned with the West in many ways, it is not
the same as NATO members. Tel Aviv* is, just like Kiev, a strategic asset for
Washington, and prior to the war in 2022, it was the top US foreign aid
recipient. Israel however relies on the collective West to continue its
mutually beneficial mission in the Middle East, but isn’t looking to try and
deviate its current course whatsoever. This is something that Netanyahu
understands well and hence continues to strike the right balance in order to
avoid upsetting Washington, as well as not drawing the ire of Moscow. In fact,
when Netanyahu was head of the Israeli opposition last year, he criticized then
Israeli PM, YairLapid, for his “blabbing” about Russia and accused him of
endangering national security.
When Netanyahu was asked by the New York
Times, earlier this year, about his relationship with Russian President
Vladimir Putin, he characterized it as “still very important.” He made it clear
that a mechanism had been set up between Russia and Israel in the context of
Israeli offensive operations against Iran in the region, “to prevent this
clash, this war, this Russian-Israeli war” that Netanyahu fears could occur if there
is no coordination. He has made it very clear that the most important aspect of
Russian-Israeli cordiality is the maintenance of the Israeli military’s freedom
of action in Syria.
One of the primary foreign policy
concerns of Israel, is the expansion of Iranian relations and power inside the
Middle East. It is clear that the Israeli PM is also bothered by the tightening
of the Tehran-Moscow relationship on a number of levels, which he fears could
result in an even more threatening position in the event of any deterioration
in ties between Israel and Russia. It is in this spirit that earlier this month
the Israeli government advanced relations by settling a land dispute with
Moscow in mid June, and in return Russia decided to open a branch of its Tel Aviv*
based embassy inside Jerusalem.
It is likely that Ukraine is attempting
to create a public dispute with the Israeli government in order to involve the
US further in the push for the transfer of military aid. Instead of actually
offering anything meaningful, Kiev essentially begs for more and more military
aid in return for nothing, which nations outside of the West’s circle of power
aren’t interested in entertaining. The world has entered a new multi-polar era,
one in which the US government is no longer the sole dominating international
power. Attempts to morally shame nations fall on deaf ears, outside of the
West, as the idea’s about “the rules based order” and “free world” are received
internationally as meaningless platitudes.
Israel’s interests align it with
Ukraine, for the purpose of remaining in the Western sphere of power. At this
time, the controversial legal system amendments, as well as the violations of
US red-lines in accordance with West Bank settlement expansion policy, in
addition to the actions of far-right Israeli ministers, has clearly caused
dismay from a very pro-Israeli administration in Washington. US secretary of
state, Antony Blinken, who has attempted to bring about the crowning foreign
policy achievement in the Middle East for the Biden administration,
Saudi-Israeli normalization, has recently expressed that this is now “tougher,
if not impossible.”
For US President Joe Biden, the signing
of a normalization document between Saudi Arabia and Israel was clearly a major
desired goal, one which it now blames the current escalation of violence in the
West Bank on disrupting. Israel needs the US on its side and actually receives
a level of coddling that is only matched by the attention currently being
placed on Ukraine, the most recent example of this being America’s intervention
in Lebanon. The US government reportedly applied heavy pressure on the Lebanese
government, army, as well as UNIFIL forces, to dismantle an outpost that was
set up by Hezbollah in Lebanese territory.
Every step of the way, Israel needs the
US to help solve its problems, yet it also knows that creating enemies out of
other nations like Russia and China is a fatal mistake. The only way that
Israel is going to change its mind about its current stance of neutrality
between Ukraine and Russia, is if the US puts its foot down, something that
isn’t likely to happen under the American “unconditional support” doctrine that
it maintains with Israel.
*Russia recognizes West Jerusalem as the
capital of Israel, as shown on the Russian Foreign Ministry’s Consular
Department website
Source: rt.com
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https://www.rt.com/news/579983-ukraine-russia-neutral-israel/
--------
Five jailed for more than 125 years for
murdering Birmingham dad Haji Rab Nawaz outside a Coventry mosque
21st Jul 2023
By Fionnuala Bourke
Five people have been jailed for more
than 125 years in total after they were convicted of the murder of a Birmingham
father who was fatally stabbed as he left a Coventry mosque in October last
year.
On 2 October 2022, Haji Rab Nawaz and
his brother attended the Coventry mosque to pay their respects following the
death of a family friend. As they left the premises, the five defendants, who
wielded knives and an extendable baton, followed the men and subjected them to
a savage and unprovoked attack.
Both men were stabbed, and despite his
injuries, the second man was able to drive away to the mosque entrance where
the brothers retreated for safety. Their ordeal continued as the defendants
used their weapons to attack their vehicle while continuing to threaten them.
Three of the defendants were Mr Nawaz’s
nephews while the remaining two were related to him through marriage. Despite
the best efforts of the emergency services, sadly Mr Nawaz died shortly after
the attack in hospital while the second man sustained injuries that were not
life-threatening.
The five defendants were previously
convicted on 19 July 2023 at Warwick Crown Court, having denied participation in
the assaults. They were unanimously convicted by the jury following the trial.
Here are the sentences that each received at Warwick Crown Court today (Friday,
July 20):
Adam Razaaq, 21, of Long Lane,
Halesowen, life imprisonment for murder and attempted murder
Jenaid Mahmood, 19, of Markby Road,
Birmingham, life imprisonment for the murder and the attempted murder
Faisal Mohammed, 30, of South Road,
Birmingham, was sentenced to a minimum term of 27 years
HasnianRazaaq, 24 of Long Lane,
Halesowen, was sentenced to a minimum term of 26 years
HashamRazaaq, 23, of Long Lane,
Halesowen for a minimum term of 25 years
Lorraine Anson, Senior Crown Prosecutor
for CPS West Midlands, said: “This was an appalling case of violence against
family members targeted at a place of worship. Our thoughts are with the family
of Mr Nawaz and we hope that the verdicts delivered today provide some level of
closure for his brother and his family. This verdict reinforces our message
that offenders of serious knife crime will be brought to justice.”
Source: birminghamworld.uk
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click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.birminghamworld.uk/news/birmingham-haji-rab-nawaz-murder-coventry-mosque-4228095
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Moscow lists seven conditions for grain
deal resumption
22 Jul, 2023
Russia is ready to rejoin the grain deal
brokered by the UN and Türkiye, but only on the condition that Western nations
and Ukraine meet their long-standing obligations, Moscow’s deputy permanent
representative to the UN said on Friday.
Speaking at a UN Security Council
briefing on the Black Sea Initiative, Dmitry Polyansky noted that Russia’s
decision to withdraw from the pact, which sought to unblock agricultural
exports, “should not have come as a surprise to anyone” given that nothing has
been done to address Moscow’s grievances.
The diplomat stressed that Russia
recognizes the importance of the grain deal for global food supplies and is
“ready to consider returning to it, but only… if all the previously agreed
principles of Russia’s participation in this deal are fully taken on board and…
implemented without exception.”
Listing Russia’s conditions, Polyansky
insisted that sanctions on the country’s grain and fertilizer exports to global
markets should be lifted “in practical terms rather than just in words” while
all obstacles to Russian financial institutions involved in the sector must
also be removed, including their reconnection to the SWIFT payment system.
Russia should once again enjoy an
uninterrupted supply of spare parts and components for agricultural machinery,
the diplomat said, adding that all issues related to vessel freight and
insurance of Russian food exports must also be resolved.
Another requirement, Polyansky
continued, is that there should be no impediments to expanding Russian exports
of fertilizer materials, including the restoration of the Togliatti-Odessa
ammonia pipeline, which was seriously damaged last month. Moscow and Kiev have
traded accusations as to who was to blame for the incident.
In addition, all Russian assets related
to the agricultural sector must be released.
And as a seventh and final condition,
the grain deal itself “must recover its initial humanitarian nature” and serve
to alleviate food issues in developing countries rather than making rich
countries even richer.
Moscow withdrew from the grain deal on
Monday, with Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov describing the arrangement
as a “one-sided game” and noting that none of Russia’s long-standing demands
had been met.
Following the move, the Russian Defense
Ministry said any ships sailing to Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea would be
“considered potential carriers of military cargo.” In response, the Ukrainian
Defense Ministry accused Moscow of turning the Black Sea into a “danger zone,”
issuing a similar warning to all vessels in the area bound for Russia.
Source: rt.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.rt.com/russia/580102-unsc-conditions-grain-deal/
--------
Zelensky threatens to ‘neutralize’
Europe's longest bridge
22 Jul, 2023
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky
has claimed the Crimean Bridge is not civilian infrastructure, but a key
logistical route for Russia’s “militarizing” of the peninsula, insisting Kiev
was within its rights to target it using any means necessary.
The bridge – the longest in Europe,
which links the peninsula to mainland Russia over the Kerch Strait – was
damaged in an explosion on Monday. The drone strike, which Moscow called a
Ukrainian terrorist attack, killed a couple and seriously injured their
14-year-old daughter, who was traveling in the same car.
Neglecting to even mention civilian
casualties, CNN’s Fareed Zakaria asked Zelensky at the Aspen Security Forum in
Washington, DC on Friday whether destroying the bridge “completely” was Kiev’s
“short-term objective.”
“For us this is understandably an enemy
facility built outside the law, built outside international laws, and all
applicable norms, so understandably this is our objective. And any target that
is bringing war, not peace, has to be neutralized,” the Ukrainian leader
stated.
Zelensky went on to state that Kiev’s
objective was to “reclaim all of Crimea because it is our sovereign territory,”
avoiding the host’s question as to whether such a grand goal could be reached
through the ongoing counteroffensive, which has so far shown underwhelming
results.
Government sources cited by Ukrainian
media outlets confirmed the strike had been launched by Kiev. The SBU, the
security service that allegedly co-organized the operation with the Ukrainian
military, reacted by promising to release details about the incident after the
conflict with Russia is over.
Crimea broke away from Ukraine shortly
after the Western-backed 2014 Maidan coup, which deposed the democratically
elected President Viktor Yanukovich. Afterwards, the peninsula joined Russia,
with its population overwhelmingly backing reunification in a referendum. Since
then, seizing Crimea from Russia has become a top talking point for Ukrainian
officials.
Source: rt.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.rt.com/russia/580097-zelensky-neutralize-crimea-bridge/
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South Asia
Imposing Sanctions On Islamic Emirate
Officials Not In The Interest Of Anyone: Govt Spokesman
2023-07-21
KABUL (BNA) The Islamic Emirate of
Afghanistan Condemned the European Union putting sanctions on two other
ministers.
The spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid said
putting sanctions on leaders of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan by the
European Union is not in the interest of anyone.
Dialogue and understanding is a better
way of harmony instead of pressure and sanctions, Mujahid added.
He says sanction is a failed experience
and imposed sanction on political figures of the Islamic Emirate’s officials
will not benefit any side.
Lately, the European Union imposed some
restrictions on a number of officials of the Islamic Emirate.
Source: bakhtarnews.af
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://bakhtarnews.af/en/imposing-sanctions-on-islamic-emirate-officials-not-in-the-interest-of-anyone-mujahid/
--------
Kabul Governor Says Daesh is 'US
Phenomenon'
The Islamic Emirate's governor of Kabul,
Mohammad Qassim Khalid, said that the US is behind Daesh and that the group is
an American phenomenon.
In a special interview with TOLOnews,
Khalid said that there are documents that he has that show the US has trained
Daesh.
“The enemies do not want Afghanistan to
be calm and so they create bias through various ways. Daesh is ... produced by
the US,” he said. “… It is a fact that Daesh is an American phenomenon.”
Khalid also denied the killing of Ayman
al-Zawahiri, co-founder and second leader of al-Qaeda in the capital city of
Kabul, saying that there is no evidence to prove Zawahiri was killed in Kabul.
“The US claims that they eliminated
Daesh in Afghanistan. The documents and evidence that would be valid for the
media or between countries have not been provided by them,” he said.
Khalid also talked about land grabbing
in Kabul, saying that 300,000 acres of land has been grabbed by various people.
“Around 150,000 acres of land is being
assessed and around 100,000 acres of land have been identified,” he said.
He also urged the former Afghan
officials and political leaders abroad to return to the country.
Source: tolonews.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://tolonews.com/index.php/afghanistan-184297
--------
Turkey Offers 300 Scholarships For
Afghan Students Annually
2023-07-20
KABUL (BNA) The education attache of the
Turkish Embassy in Kabul has said that his country provides 300 scholarships to
Afghan students annually.
The Deputy Minister of Higher Education,
Dr. LofullahKhairkhah in a meeting with the educational attache of the Embassy
of Turkey in Kabul, talked about improving the capacity of educational
institutions in the country.
In the meeting, the Deputy Minister of
Higher Education shared some suggestions for the educational attache of the
Turkish Embassy in Kabul in various sectors.
Later, Chengiz I. Dimir, Educational
Attaché of the Turkish Embassy, expressed his satisfaction with the
establishment of the Turkish Language and Literature Department at Balkh
University and vowed to share all the suggestions of the Ministry of Higher
Education with the relevant officials of his country.
Meanwhile, Turkey offers 300
scholarships for Afghan students annually and invited the Deputy Minister of
Higher Education to visit Turkey, according to a statement.
To end, the head of Afghan International
Islamic University, Dr. Rafiullah Ata shared details about this university and
asked for Turkey’s cooperation in developing education capacity methods.
Source: bakhtarnews.af
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https://bakhtarnews.af/en/turkey-offers-300-scholarships-for-afghan-students-annually/
--------
Minister Delawar Meets Country’s
Businessman Living Abroad in Kabul
2023-07-20
KABUL (BNA) Acting Mines and Petroleum
Minister, Sheikh Shahabuddin Delawar met with several Afghan businessmen living
in Holland and Britain who have traveled to Kabul.
In the meeting, Afghanistan businessmen
living in these two countries expressed their interest in economic development,
job creation, and service to the country and wanted to establish a mineral
processing and refining factory in the country, the Ministry said in a
statement.
Minister Delawar, termed the role of
traders and investors important in the economic development of the country,
adding that since the national security is maintained in the country, we
welcome all national and international investors to invest in Afghanistan’s
mines.
He has vowed to cooperate for the
establishment of a mineral processing and refining factory in the country.
Source: bakhtarnews.af
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https://bakhtarnews.af/en/minister-delaware-meets-countrys-businessman-living-abroad-in-kabul/
--------
US Would Have Attacked Afghanistan Even
If Osama Had Left: Mawlawi Kabir
The political deputy prime minister,
Mawlawi Abdul Kabir, said that the US and NATO would have attacked Afghanistan
even if Osama bin Laden, founder of al-Qaeda, left Afghanistan of his own free
will.
Speaking at a gathering at Sapedar palace,
Mawlawi Kabir referred to the US attack on Afghanistan in 2001 and said that
the “tyrannical and arrogant powers of the world, who did not like” the
survival of the Islamic system in Afghanistan, “used Osama as an excuse.”
"Even if Osama left Afghanistan of
his own free will, America and its friends would have attacked Afghanistan, it
was happening for sure,” he said.
Mawlawi Kabir said that handing bin
Laden to the US was an issue of honor to the founder of the Islamic Emirate,
Mullah Mohammad Omar Mujahid.
“You should not say that the Islamic
Emirate has troubled Afghanistan with problems because of someone,” he said.
“Firstly, it was a matter of zeal for our Amir al-Muminin that we did
not…dishonour Muslims in the history of Islam by handing over a Muslim to an
infidel.”
Mawlawi Kabir also said that the
“Islamic Tahrik of Taliban under the command of Mullah Mohammad Omar Mujahid
rose up and eliminated corruption.”
Source: tolonews.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-184283
---------
Muttaqi Discusses Range of Issues with
Pakistan Special Envoy
Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan
Muttaqi met with the Pakistan special envoy for Afghanistan, Asif Ali Durrani,
and discussed a range of maters including economic, political and trade issues,
according to MoFA spokesman Abdul Qahar Balkhi.
Balkhi said on Twitter that Muttaqi
stressed that no one will be allowed to use Afghan soil against others. He also
called for the solving the problems of Afghan refugees and Afghan detainees in
Pakistan.
According to Balkhi, Durrani pledged to
make efforts to strengthen the relations between the two countries as well as
form bilateral mechanisms to address political and economic issues, resume the
construction of Torkham-Jalalabad Road and facilitate visas for those needing
medical care.
This comes as the political analysts
said that Durrani’s visit to Kabul will help improvement of relations between
Afghanistan and Pakistan.
“First of all, the security situation in
Pakistan has deteriorated, so, to find a solution for it, he is seeking the
Islamic Emirate’s help for it,” said Sayed Akbar Sial, political analyst.
Durrani’s visit to Afghanistan comes as
Pakistani officials have recently claimed that the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan
(TTP) has a presence in Afghanistan.
Source: tolonews.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://tolonews.com/index.php/afghanistan-184288
--------
Africa
Muslims, Christians hold special prayers
for peace, rainfall in Borno
July 21, 2023
Thousands of Muslims and Christians in
Maiduguri on Friday trooped out to pray for peace and steady rainfall in Borno.
While the Muslim faithful observed the
prayer in respective Mosques on Friday, Christian faithful of different
denominations gathered at First Baptist Church, Maiduguri, for the prayers.
The Shehu of Borno, AlhajiAbubakarGarbai
El-Kanemi, and Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) officials had on Thursday
urged faithful to pray for divine intervention over the shortage of rainfall.
The Shehu also directed all District and
Village Heads across the state to mobilise their subjects to support the needy,
orphans and the disabled as part of the
prayers.
He advised all parents to counsel their
wards to desist from immoral behaviours, misconduct, social vices, drug abuse
as well as urged all traders and business operators to fear Allah in conducting
their lawful businesses.
In his words of exhotation during the
prayer session for Christians at the Baptist Church, the state Chairman of CAN,
Most Rev. John Bakeni, urged faithful to seek God’s face and abide by His ways
in their dealings for good tidings.
Also, the Bishop of Maiduguri Anglican
Diocese, Rev. Emmanuel Morris, also prayed God to grant the state peace and
fruitful rainfall for bumper harvest.
Source: dailynigerian.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://dailynigerian.com/muslims-christians-hold/
--------
Nigerian Court Of Appeal Denies
Resignation Of Justice Ugo Over ‘Pressure To Favour President Tinubu’
July 20, 2023
The Court of Appeal has described as
"fake news" that a member of the five-member panel handling petitions
seeking to nullify the election of President Bola Tinubu, has resigned.
The social media has been awash with
posts, claiming that Justice Boloukuoromo Ugo had resigned, citing demands to
kneecap democracy by siding with President Tinubu in the tribunal's decision.
The post had earlier claimed, "In a
shocking and unprecedented move, Nigerian Justice Boloukuoromo M. Ugo has
resigned from the bench, citing demands from the executive branch that he
believes would destroy the country's democracy.
"In a statement, Justice Ugo said
that siding with the government on this matter would be the 'death of Nigeria's
democracy', and that he could not in good conscience remain silent. His
resignation has sent shockwaves through the country, and raised serious
questions about the state of Nigeria's democratic institutions. According to
Justice Ugo's statement, he was asked to 'cripple the independence of the
judiciary' by ruling in favor of a certain political candidate, whom he did not
name but is widely believed to be Bola Tinubu."
However, BukolaGaar, head of media and
personal assistant to the President, Court of Appeal on Thursday dismissed the
reports and described the resignation as fake.
Though the justice has not debunked or
confirmed the statement credited to him, the appeal court official said the
report was not true and should be disregarded.
Also, another senior official of the
court described the information as “fake news”, insisting that it was the
handiwork of “evil rumour mongers.”
The source, who pleaded not to be
mentioned because he was not authorised to speak to the press, maintained that
“no such thing happened.”
He said: “I was with some members of the
panel yesterday and I can authoritatively tell you that there was nothing like
that.
“In fact, we were shocked when our
attention was drawn to the fake news. The true position is that parties in the
petitions were given time to file and exchange their final written address.
They are already doing that.
“Once the process is completed, the
panel will communicate a date for the parties to appear in court to adopt their
processes after which the petitions will be fixed for judgement.
“So, it is absurd for someone to sit in
a corner of his room and concoct lies from the figment of his or her
imagination. In fact, our attention was equally drawn to another fake news that
a former Governor of Rivers State held a meeting with members of the court,
outside the country.
“These are very laughable. How can the
honourable justices on the panel travel abroad when they have enormous work
pending on their desks? Please ignore the fake news. It is very unfortunate.
Hopefully, before the end of the day, the Appeal Court will issue a formal
statement on the matter.”
“I believe that unless someone is made a
scape goat, this fake news trend will continue,” the source added.
Source: saharareporters.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://saharareporters.com/2023/07/20/nigerian-court-appeal-denies-resignation-justice-ugo-over-pressure-favour-president
--------
Southeast Asia
Selangor election: Jais says political
party activities banned from all mosques, suraus in state
Saturday, 22 Jul 2023
SHAH ALAM, July 22 — The Selangor
Islamic Religious Department (Jais) has directed all mosque and surau
administrators in the state to ban any form of political activities or
programmes within the perimeters of such places of worship, including the
putting up of political party banners, slogans or logos.
Jais director Datuk MohdShahzihan Ahmad
said campaign or political parties’ propaganda materials in any form should not
be allowed in a mosque, surau or other buildings within their compounds.
“This is due to the possibility that
there will be attempts by political parties to hold their political propaganda
activities in mosques and suraus in Selangor.
“They used to have programmes to
announce their candidates contesting in elections, taking of oaths
(‘sumpahmubahalah’), members and supporters’ gatherings and other such
activities,” he said in a statement today.
He said the matter had been communicated
to the officers and committees of all Selangor mosques and surau, in a memo
dated August 22, 2022.
“This directive is in line with the
Selangor Islamic Religious Department’s (Mais) resolution to maintain all
mosques and surau as neutral zones, free from party politics and political
propaganda.
“Based on the Mosque and Surau
Regulations (Selangor State) 2017, all mosque and surau administrators must
support any resolutions passed by MAIS
“Any actions which insult, go against,
breach or dispute the decrees of the Sultan of Selangor or directives of MAIS,
can be charged under the Syariah Criminal Offences (Selangor) Enactment 1995,
and the administrators’ appointment can also be revoked by MAIS,” he said. —
Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2023/07/22/selangor-election-jais-says-political-party-activities-banned-from-all-mosques-suraus-in-state/81105
--------
Anwar: Visit to Al-Noor Mosque in Hanoi
part of agenda in Vietnam
22-07- 2023
HANOI: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar
Ibrahim said the visit to the Al-Noor Mosque in Hanoi to perform Friday prayers
was part of the agenda of his visit to Vietnam.
He said visiting mosques was his
approach to reaching out to the Muslim minority communities in the countries
that he visits including Vietnam.
“I managed to go to the mosque (Al-Noor
Mosque) for Friday prayers. The Muslim population in Hanoi is small, there are
more Muslims in Ho Chi Minh City...it was part of the agenda during my visit to
give attention to the Muslim minority communities.
“I would also like to thank the
Vietnamese government for their protection and tolerance towards Muslims here,“
he said.
At the mosque, Anwar spent time mingling
with the imam and congregation and handed over donations for the benefit of
Muslims in the area.
The Al-Noor Mosque is the only mosque in
Hanoi.
Anwar and his wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan
Azizah Wan Ismail left for Kuala Lumpur this afternoon after a two-day official
visit to Vietnam at the invitation of Vietnam’s Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.
– Bernama
Source: thesundaily.my
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://www.thesundaily.my/local/anwar-visit-to-al-noor-mosque-in-hanoi-part-of-agenda-in-vietnam-GE11265636
--------
Mandiri Services Concludes IPO of
Sharia-Compliant Shares
July 21, 2023
Jakarta. MandiriHerindoAdiperkasa, also
known as Mandiri Services (MAHA), has successfully completed its four-day
initial public offering (IPO) on Friday, expecting to raise Rp 491.58 billion
in fresh capital.
During the IPO, Mandiri Services issued
4.17 billion shares at a price of Rp 118 per share. The distribution of equity
will take place on Monday, and the company is set to be officially listed on
the Indonesia Stock Exchange the following day.
TrimegahSekuritas acted as the
underwriter for the IPO.
The Financial Services Authority (OJK)
has classified Mandiri Services' stock as Sharia-compliant shares based on the
company's application letter and supporting documents.
Mandiri Services, which operates in
Kalimantan Island, plans to allocate 60 percent of the IPO proceeds to acquire
new trucks, while the remaining 40 percent will be invested in new equipment to
enhance productivity.
Among its pre-IPO shareholders are
EdikaAgungMandiri (holding a 46 percent stake), YennyHamidahKoean (10 percent),
Eka Rosita Kasih (10 percent), DiahAsriningpuriSugianto (10 percent),
AriefSugianto (10 percent), Handy Glivirgo (5 percent), Muhammad Akbar (5
percent), and Herman KusnantoKasihTjia (4 percent).
The company was founded by Eddy
Sugianto, who is ranked 32nd in Forbes' list of the 50 richest individuals in
Indonesia.
Source: jakartaglobe.id
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://jakartaglobe.id/business/mandiri-services-concludes-ipo-of-shariacompliant-shares
--------
North America
Jihad and Punishment: Repatriation and
Criminal Accountability of Islamic State-Linked Women in the Nordic States
By: Juha Saarinen
July 21, 2023
Following the prolonged detention of
Islamic State (IS)-linked European citizens in al-Hol and similar camps in
northeastern Syria from 2019 onwards, many countries have become more amenable
to repatriation. This comes as pressure to resolve these citizens’—and
particularly their childrens’—fates has increased. The Nordic countries are
particularly affected by this situation because dozens of citizens and children
from Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Finland have been detained in the camps since
spring of 2019 (Human Rights Watch, May 26, 2021).
While the Nordic countries were
initially reluctant to repatriate their citizens due to security concerns,
between 2020 and 2023 each country has revisited their approach. They have all
now repatriated several citizens while promising that those who have committed
terrorist offenses will be prosecuted upon returning to their countries of
origin. This article examines the track record of the four Nordic countries in
prosecuting their female citizens who have been repatriated from Syrian
detention camps.
Denmark: Prosecuting Female Returnees
for Engaging in Islamic State Activities
Despite initial opposition, the Danish
government announced in May 2021 that it would repatriate three women and their
children from Syria, following the recommendation of the country’s intelligence
service (The Local, May 19, 2021). The women were retrieved in October, and at
least two have been prosecuted for terrorist offenses since then.
In February 2023, a local court
sentenced one of the women, who was a 38-year-old dual citizen of Denmark and
Bosnia and Herzegovina, to four years in prison. According to the ruling, she
promoted the activities of IS “by acting as a housewife and wife of persons that
were active in IS, and helping IS maintain and consolidate its position in the
area” (DanmarksDomstole, February 28, 2023). Consequently, her Danish
citizenship was revoked.
Finally, in November 2022, a 35-year-old
Danish woman was sentenced to three years in prison for entering Syria and
promoting IS activities “by acting as the housewife and wife of a person who
was active in the terrorist organization” (The Local, November 19, 2022). As
can be seen, Denmark has successfully utilized its domestic legislation to
legally prove engagement in a terrorist activities in the case of returned
women, primarily through their roles as spouses and caregivers.
Norway: Prosecuting Female Returnees for
Membership in Islamic State
In March, Norway repatriated two women
(who were sisters), and three of their children (Regjeringen.no, March, 29).
Both were taken into custody upon their arrival in Norway (VG, March 30). They
are likely to be prosecuted for terrorist offenses after the investigations
into their suspected terrorist offenses are concluded.
This was not the first time Norway
repatriated individuals from the conflict zone, however. A woman and her two
children were repatriated from a detention camp in January 2020 for
humanitarian reasons. This was because one of her children was believed to be
seriously ill (nrk.no, January 14, 2020).
She was arrested upon returning to
Norway for suspected terrorist offenses, including membership in IS. She was
then sentenced by a court in Oslo in May 2021 to three years and six months in
prison. Similar to the cases in Denmark, the prosecution successfully argued
that raising children within IS territory qualified as participation in a
terrorist organization (nrk.no, May 4, 2021).
Sweden: Prosecuting Female Returnees for
War Crimes
Between 2021 and 2022, Sweden
repatriated a total of 12 women and 23 children from northeast Syrian detention
camps (Just Security, December 6, 2022). It is not clear whether any of these
repatriated women have been charged. However, there have been two reported
court cases involving IS-linked women.
In March 2023, however, a local court in
Goethenburg sentenced a female returnee to three months in prison for a “war
crime.” In its ruling, the court stated the woman had twice published
photographs of heads impaled on a fence at a roundabout in Syria and had
written derogatory comments about the victims. This “seriously violated the
personal dignity of protected persons” under Swedish law (Politico.eu, March
29).
One year earlier, a Stockholm district
court further found a Swedish woman guilty of a “war crime.” As a legal
guardian, she failed to protect her son, who was 12-years old at the time, from
being recruited and being used as a child soldier by IS. She was sentenced to
six years in prison (UNITAD, March 7, 2022).
Finland: Struggling to Prosecute Female
Returnees
In December 2019, the Finnish government
announced it would start repatriating its citizens from the Kurdish-run camps
in northeastern Syria. Between late 2019 and early 2023, at least 9 women and
26 children returned to Finland. While some arrived through repatriation,
others returned autonomously with the support of the authorities who
facilitated their return to Finland from Turkey. (Iltasanomat, January 23).
Finnish policymakers have consistently
assured the public that they are doing everything possible to ensure criminal
accountability for IS-linked women who are suspected to have committed
terrorism offenses in the conflict zone. Several such women are known to have
engaged in pro-IS activities (ICCT, May 19, 2021). However, by mid-2023 no
charges have yet been filed for suspected terrorist offenses or war crimes.
Conclusion
Although the overall number of court
cases is low, there are differences between the Nordic countries in terms of
prosecuting repatriated IS-linked women for suspected terrorist offenses.
Norway and Denmark have each prosecuted repatriated women with rulings,
highlighting that being a wife or a mother within IS territory qualifies as
participation in a terrorist organization. Thus, both countries remain
well-positioned to prosecute similar incidents, should further repatriations
occur.
In Sweden, few women have been
prosecuted for war crimes, as extant counter-terrorism legislation did not
enable prosecution for terrorist offenses in their cases, although it is
unclear whether any of the repatriated women have faced charges. The country
has, however, convicted two IS-linked women of war crimes committed in Syria. In
Finland—which was among the first European countries to decide to repatriate
its IS-linked women and their children—no charges of on terrorist offenses or
war crimes against repatriated women have been filed to date. This being the
case, it is doubtful that criminal accountability in Finland or Sweden will be
achieved if further repatriations do occur.
Source: jamestown.org
Please
click the following URL to read the full text of the original
https://jamestown.org/program/jihad-and-punishment-repatriation-and-criminal-accountability-of-islamic-state-linked-women-in-the-nordic-states/
--------
URL:
https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/waqf-board-kafirs-ahmadiya/d/130280