Waqf Law Row: BJP’s MP Takes On Former CEC Quraishi; Had Earlier Accused CJI Sanjiv Khanna Of Causing ‘Civil Wars’ In The Country
New Age Islam News Bureau
20 April 2025
• Waqf Law Row: BJP’s MP Takes On Former CEC Quraishi; Had Earlier Accused CJI Sanjiv Khanna Of Causing ‘Civil Wars’ In The Country
• Bangladesh Ahmadiyya Group Claims Families ‘Forced To Denounce Their Faith’Under The Banner Of “Khatm-e-Nabuwat Markaz”
• Palestine Warns Of Far-Right Israeli Incitement To Blow Up Al-Aqsa Mosque
• Saudi Arabia Promotes Cinema, Talent At Beijing Festival
• Tens Of Thousands Protest Landmark Gender Court Ruling In Outcry Against ‘Betrayal’ Of Trans Community
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India
• Sufism Bulwark Against Extremist Ideology, Need To Connect With Young Influencers To Propagate Sufism: J&K LG Manoj Sinha
• ‘Could’ve Made One Puncture Wallah An MP’—Owaisi Takes Dig At Modi Over ‘Unconstitutional’ Waqf Law
• Odisha BJP to hold awareness seminars on Waqf Act amidst protests by Muslims
• Will not allow terror to raise its head again in J&K: Sinha
• Karni Sena denies BJP ties, clears air on stir against SP MP
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South Asia
• The need and importance of laws from the perspective of Islam
• Taliban Minister Says Islamic Laws Must Apply To All, Including ‘Officials’
• PM Hassan Akhund, Pakistani delegation hold meeting on bilateral political, economic relations in Kabul
• Russia’s policy towards Afghanistan deemed appropriate, Mujahid
• IEA gaining achievements step by step
• Kabul, Islamabad agree to talk out issues
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Mideast
• Qatar Strongly Condemns Israeli Organizations' Plans To Bomb Al-Aqsa Mosque
• Rome negotiations: Iranian diplomacy shines amid American divisions
• Iran Hands Over Scores Of Afghan Inmates To Afghanistan
• The Iranian Negotiating Tactic the Trump Administration Doesn’t Get
• Tehran to host intl. conference on humanity, freedom
• Iran-Saudi ties key to regional stability: Tehran’s envoy to Riyadh
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Arab World
• Saudis are ditching screens for face-to-face fun
• The golden legacy of Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province artisans
• Saudi, Egypt transport ministers discuss enhancing cooperation
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Europe
• Westminster statues vandalised at trans protest
• Illegal woodland rave on Easter Sunday forces police to shut major road
• Zelensky Says Ukraine Will Observe Easter Truce, Accuses Russia of Breaches
• Russia continues attacks despite own Easter truce, Zelenskyy say
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Southeast Asia
• Hong Kong’s Muslims Welcome Halal Food Festival As Latest Step Towards Inclusivity
• Islam's Political Win Important, Hadi Reminds Haj-Bound Muslims
• Gerak: Punishing Sin Chew further is unIslamic
• Stolen undergarments allegedly used in black magic, says Islamic healer in Johor
• Easter celebrations in Kuching: Faith, family and new beginnings at St Joseph’s Cathedral
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North America
• CAIR Calls on Trump Admin to Demand Freedom of Worship for Palestinian Christians on Easter
• US-Iran nuclear talks to resume April 26 after 'very good progress' in Rome
• 'Shame!' chants echo across US as thousands protest Trump’s policies; over 700 events held nationwide: 10 things to know
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Africa
• President Tinubu’s Declaration Of Emergency Rule In Rivers Not Done In Good Faith —Aborisade
• Somolu Residents Deserved To Celebrate Easter With Food To Eat
• Group demands investigation of GAN Allah Fulani chairman in Plateau, over Bassa genocide
• Gunmen Kill At Least 56 People In Central Nigeria; Clashes Between Nomadic Cattle Herders And Farmers
• Tinubu To Meet Ex-President, Kano Opposition Leader In London As Four PDP Govs Plot Defection To APC
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New Zealand
• Melbourne Seat Of CalwellHighlights LabourWoes As Gaza Pain Galvanises Muslim Voters
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Pakistan
• Iqbal Poet Of Muslim Ummah, Hope: Speakers
• Nawaz calls for PPP-govt dialogue on water issue
• PTI clears KP assembly speaker Babar Swati of illegal appointment charges
• Pakistan reaffirms support for UN peacekeeping
• PHC adjourns plea against five-decade-old notification on Chitral land settlement
• BNP to challenge mines law in court
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/waqf-law-cec-cji-civil-wars/d/135238
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Waqf Law Row: BJP’s MP Takes On Former CEC Quraishi; Had Earlier Accused CJI Sanjiv Khanna Of Causing ‘Civil Wars’ In The Country
By Vikas Pathak
April 20, 2025
Hours after his party distanced itself from his statement that Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna was responsible for “grihyuddhas” (civil wars) in the country, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey on Sunday morning attacked former Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) S Y Quraishi over his criticism of the Waqf Act, labelling him a “Muslim Commissioner”. Asked why he did so, Dubey told The Indian Express that he had just endorsed what BJP general secretary (organisation) B L Santhosh had said Saturday evening.
Queries to the BJP about his latest statement have not elicited a response yet.
On Saturday evening, amid the row over Dubey’s attack on the CJI and the apex court, Santhosh fired a salvo at former CEC Quraishi for his criticism of the law three days ago.
On April 17, Quraishi had written on X, “Wakf Act is undoubtedly a blatantly sinister/evil plan of the govt to grab Muslim lands. I’m sure SC will call it out. Misinformation by the mischievous propaganda machine has done its job well.”
Santhosh posted in reply to Quraishi’s post at 7.47 pm on Saturday, “Just remember that this man once headed the Election Commission of India. The Punya aggregated by our ancestors might be so huge that we still breathe democracy in spite of all these characters. Land grabbing was the aim of the ‘Wakf by User’ clause, Quraishi Saab.”
This was two days after the government agreed to pause two clauses of the Act – Solicitor General Tushar Mehta committed not to appoint any new member to the Central Waqf Council and state Waqf Boards, and also not to change the character of any Waqf-by-user property either notified or registered before the Act came into force, till the apex court begins hearing it again on May 5.
The general secretary (organisation) is a key post in the BJP, traditionally considered the second most powerful after the party president, and has always seen core RSS people occupy it.
On Sunday morning, hours after the BJP’s disapproval of his attack on the CJI, Dubey took to X again and posted, in reply to the same post of Quraishi, “You were not an Election Commissioner, but a Muslim Commissioner; during your tenure, most Bangladeshi infiltrators were made voters in Jharkhand’s SanthalPargana.”
A day earlier, Dubey had accused the CJI not just of being the cause of the various ‘civil wars’ in the country – in response to a question on Murshidabad violence – but had also wondered under which Article of the Constitution the apex court had imposed a three-month timeline on the President of India, the appointing authority of the CJI, to give or reject his or her assent on a law referred to the President by a governor. He had also said that Savarna (upper caste) judges were doing what they wished, even as people from the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes were minuscule in number in the judiciary.
BJP president J P Nadda distanced the party Saturday night from Dubey’s remarks, saying that the BJP respected the judiciary and rejected the views personally expressed by Dubey. The Jharkhand MP had also told The Indian Express that the views were his own, and that he had not talked to anyone in the party before expressing them.
Source: Indianexpress.Com
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https://indianexpress.com/article/india/nishikant-dubey-cji-cec-waqf-act-controversy-9954898/?utm
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Bangladesh Ahmadiyya Group Claims Families ‘Forced To Denounce Their Faith’Under The Banner Of “Khatm-e-Nabuwat Markaz”
20 Apr 2025
Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Bangladesh has expressed its “grave concern” regarding a recent incident where about 60 members of the group were allegedly forced to leave their faith under pressure created by a group of anti-Ahmadiyya Maulvis under the banner of “Khatm-e-Nabuwat Markaz”.
The incident occurred at Rupsha in Khulna on Apr 16, the group said. A post under the banner of “Khatm-e-Nabuwat Markaz” claimed that about 185 “Qadiani” (Ahmadi) of 56 families have left their faith and became “Muslims.”
A video received by Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at showed that Mufti Shuaib Ibrahim, the leader of “Khatm-e-Nabuwat Markaz”, was speaking at a gathering and spreading false allegations against the Ahmadiyya group, it said in a press statement.
It expressed deep concern over the incident, which it called a violation of basic human rights and against the Constitution of Bangladesh.
Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at appealed to the government to look into the matter and ensure freedom of religion and belief of the citizens, including the Ahmadi Muslims.
Source: Bdnews24.Com
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https://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/7aff9e24ebc6
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Palestine warns of far-right Israeli incitement to blow up Al-Aqsa Mosque
Al-Aqsa Mosque
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Aysar Alais
19.04.2025
Palestine on Saturday warned of growing incitement by Israeli far-right settler groups calling for the destruction of Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem.
Palestine’s Foreign Ministry condemned an AI-generated video titled “Next Year in Jerusalem,” circulating on extremist Hebrew platforms. The video shows Al-Aqsa Mosque being bombed and replaced by a so-called Third Temple.
In a statement, the ministry called the video “a systematic provocation aimed at escalating attacks on Islamic and Christian holy sites in occupied Jerusalem.”
It said Israel’s far-right leadership feels “emboldened to advance its Judaization and colonial agenda amid weak international reactions to its ongoing genocidal crimes, particularly in Gaza.”
The ministry urged the international community and UN bodies to treat the incitement seriously and pursue legal measures under international law to halt Israel’s unilateral actions against Palestinians.
The status quo refers to the pre-1967 arrangement under which the waqf oversees the site and only Muslims are allowed to pray there.
On Monday, the waqf said repeated violations of the site’s sanctity mark “an unprecedented breach of its historical, religious, and legal status as a Muslim site reserved solely for Muslim worship.”
Far-right groups had earlier called for mass incursions into the Al-Aqsa compound during the Jewish Passover holiday, which began last Sunday.
Israel occupied East Jerusalem, where Al-Aqsa is located, during the 1967 Arab-Israeli War and unilaterally annexed the city in 1980, a move not recognized by the international community.
Al-Aqsa Mosque is the third-holiest site in Islam. Jews call the area the Temple Mount, believing it was the location of two ancient Jewish temples.
Source: Www.aa.Com
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Saudi Arabia Promotes Cinema, Talent At Beijing Festival
Launched in 2011, the Beijing International Film Festival is a leading event in Asia and globally, promoting cultural exchange and cinematic dialogue. (@FilmMOC)
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Arab News
April 19, 2025
RIYADH: The Saudi Film Commission is taking part in the Beijing International Film Festival, being held in the Chinese capital from April 19-22.
Its presence reflects the organization’s commitment to expanding the global presence of Saudi cinema, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
Launched in 2011, the Beijing International Film Festival is a leading event in Asia and globally, promoting cultural exchange and cinematic dialogue.
There is a Saudi pavilion for the commission and its partners, offering a platform to engage with visitors and filmmakers and emphasizing creative and investment opportunities in the Kingdom.
The program also features a special screening of “Norah,” which highlights local talent and the richness of Saudi Arabia’s artistic content.
The commission’s goal is to promote Saudi films and local talent and demonstrate the growth of the Kingdom’s film industry, while fostering collaboration with Chinese and Asian film sectors.
It also aims to position Saudi Arabia as a key destination for filmmakers and expand international partnerships, with the hope of cementing its place on the global cinema map.
Source: Www.Arabnews.Com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2597726/saudi-arabia
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Tens of thousands protest landmark gender court ruling in outcry against ‘betrayal’ of trans community
Tara Cobham
19 April 2025
Tens of thousands of people took to streets on Saturday across the UK in protest against the “betrayal” of the trans community after a Supreme Court ruling on the definition of a woman.
The rally in central London is estimated by organisers to have attracted 20,000 demonstrators, while thousands more gathered in towns and cities up and down the country for dozens of other protests, with more planned in the coming days.
Trans rights groups, trade unions and community organisations came together for what was billed as an “emergency demonstration” in Parliament Square, with activists demanding “trans liberation” and “trans rights now”. Some waved flags and held banners, with placards stating “trans rights are human rights” and “trans women are women” seen among the signs being held aloft.
The protests have been organised in response to a long-awaited judgment delivered on Wednesday in which the UK’s highest court confirmed the terms “woman” and “sex” in the 2010 Equality Act “refer to a biological woman and biological sex”. This means transgender women with a gender recognition certificate can be excluded from single-sex spaces if “proportionate”.
Speaking to The Independent from Parliament Square on Saturday, Avery Greatorex, co-chair of Pride In Labour, which is one of the organisers, branded the ruling a “betrayal” of the trans community, and accused the Supreme Court of not including trans people in coming to its conclusion.
The 21-year-old, from Preston, said: “It feels like a betrayal, because we’re in a country that will boast about our equality and personal protections, that every person is their own individual and free to do as they wish – then we’re told by the state that the way we identify isn't a valid way to identify. It’s a betrayal by the courts, especially when they didn’t include trans people when coming to that ruling.”
Speaking of her reasons for travelling to the capital to protest, she said: “We have come out today to pressure the government and the public to stand with the trans community, as right now all across the country there are lots of very scared trans people, because the implications of this ruling could be massive.”
The ruling means trans women cannot use single-sex female toilets, changing rooms or compete in women’s sports, according to the head of Britain’s equalities watchdog.
But Ms Greatorex also pointed to the “less obvious” but equally damaging consequences, especially those affecting members of the trans community who are already vulnerable. “There’s a lot of concern that people already needing support are now feeling that support being whipped away from them,” she said.
The march in central London is among the dozens planned following the Supreme Court ruling on the definition of a woman in equalities law
Before the march, at least two statues were daubed with graffiti, with “f** rights” and a heart painted on the banner held by suffragette Millicent Fawcett, and “trans rights are human rights” sprayed on the pedestal bearing a memorial to South African military leader and statesman Jan Christian Smuts.
The government said the unanimous decision by five judges brought “clarity and confidence” for women and service providers, while a Labour party source said prime minister Sir Keir Starmer had brought the party to a “common sense position” on the subject from an “activist” stance.
Among the other groups supporting the London protest were Trans Kids Deserve Better, the Front for the Liberation of Intersex Non-binary and Transgender people (Flint) and TransActual.
According to a list compiled by What the Trans!?, 38 demonstrations have been planned across the UK this month and next, including a protest outside the British embassy in the Netherlands.
Ms Greatorex said: “It’s an international push – it’s the same struggle wherever we are in the world. The solidarity is incredible.”
Source: Www.Independent.Co.Uk
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India
Sufism bulwark against extremist ideology, need to connect with young influencers to propagate Sufism: J&K LG Manoj Sinha
Apr 20, 2025
Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha on Saturday said that sufism has acted as a bulwark against extremist ideology and few conflict profiteers, on behest of the neighbouring country, are attempting to radicalize the youth for their own gain.
Sinha addressed Sufi Conference “Noor-e-Sama” here at Srinagar during which he said that sufism is the most powerful force for peace and harmony in the society and the narrative has been popular in countering extremist propaganda.
"Since many centuries sufism has acted as a bulwark against extremist ideology and sufism's narrative has been popular in countering extremist propaganda," said Sinha.
The LG said that Sufi teachings are a counterforce to extremist ideology and its mystical traditions through poetry, music and other creative expressions will strengthen counter-radicalisation efforts.
Source: Economictimes.Com
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‘Could’ve made one puncture wallah an MP’—Owaisi takes dig at Modi over ‘unconstitutional’ waqf law
Neelam Pandey
20 April, 2025
New Delhi: All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi has said that the Waqf (Amendment) Act is an attempt by the Modi government to further its Hindutva ideology by trying to erase Muslims’ identity.
In an exclusive interview with ThePrint, the Lok Sabha MP further said that it is not a law but a “device to take away Muslim religious places to deny us our constitutional rights”.
The passage of the Waqf (Amendment) Act by Parliament earlier this month was followed by violent protests in various parts of the country including West Bengal, Manipur and Tripura. The matter has also reached the Supreme Court which is hearing a clutch of petitions challenging the law.
The AIMIM chief condemned the violence but said the protests are necessary. “If you’re pushing someone to the wall and then on the basis of your majority in Parliament you make a law to only discriminate against the biggest minority of this country, then yes, people will definitely come out and protest,” he said.
The violence in Murshidabad—in which three people lost their lives—was “unfortunate and condemnable”, Owaisi further said, adding that “if there’s violence, you are helping the BJP government”.
Source: Theprint.In
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Odisha BJP to hold awareness seminars on Waqf Act amidst protests by Muslims
20 Apr 2025
The ruling BJP in Odisha on Saturday announced district-level awareness seminars on April 22 and 23 to address concerns over the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, as protests by Muslims intensify across the state demanding its withdrawal.
The Odisha BJP organised a workshop under the banner of the 'Waqf Reform Public Awareness Campaign' and laid out plans to raise awareness about the Act.
Addressing the workshop, BJP national general secretary Dushyant Kumar Gautam said the party would reach out to the public to explain that the Waqf legislation is not against Muslims, but intended for the welfare of the community.
"Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken a historic step towards ensuring transparency, accountability and justice in this system through the Waqf Amendment Act. The property of the Waqf Board are meant for religious, social and educational purposes but unfortunately, during the tenure of the previous Congress government, there was a lot of misuse and corruption of Waqf assets," Gautam told reporters here.
"Now times have changed and the poor will get their rights," he said adding that amendment in the Waqf Bill was necessary for balanced nation building.
Source: odishatv.in
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Will not allow terror to raise its head again in J&K: Sinha
Apr 20, 2025
Sinha was addressing a Sufi conference, ‘Noor-e-Sama’ at Srinagar; he said that Sufism is the most powerful force for peace and harmony in society
Jammu and Kashmir lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday said spilling the blood of innocents had become the biggest business for the ‘masters of terror and conflict entrepreneurs‘ in the Union Territory. He vowed not to allow them to raise their heads again in J&K.
Sinha was addressing a Sufi conference, ‘Noor-e-Sama’ at Srinagar. He said that Sufism is the most powerful force for peace and harmony in society.
“Sufism means a way of life. It is a bond of love with the whole and a loving relationship with God. Sufism is the ultimate art of removing divisions and bringing hearts closer,” Sinha said.
Source: Www.Hindustantimes.com
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Karni Sena denies BJP ties, clears air on stir against SP MP
Apr 20, 2025
Lucknow: Distancing itself from the BJP, the Karni Sena on Saturday affirmed that its protest against Samajwadi Party MP Ramji Lal Suman is not because he is a Dalit but because he is a politician who dragged the name of the Rajput community into a controversy for vested interests.
Talking to TOI, Karni Sena state president Sandeep Singh said that the organisation had nothing to do with the controversial statement by BJP functionaries that "Muslims were progenies of Babur".
"BJP leaders said so, we didn't. Why were we being dragged into this controversy," he asked, rejecting allegations of his organisation's backdoor affiliation with any political outfit, including the BJP.
Source: Timesofindia.com
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshowprint/120441417.cms
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South Asia
The need and importance of laws from the perspective of Islam
April 20, 2025
As there are many differences between human-made and Islamic laws, and Islamic society also needs laws, how and in what areas should new laws be created and how should they be implemented? The answer to this question can be briefly explained in the following three different points:
The first way to legislate or make a law is to put verdicts, clearly stated in the Quran and Sunnah, and there is no disagreement in their interpretation, as part of the laws of the Islamic government. This can be applied and implemented in two ways:
A. Those rulings presented in the form of a codified and written law must be implemented by courts and relevant institutions and they should be bound to make decisions in accordance with them.
B: Those rulings which not presented in the form of a codified and written law should be made mandatory for the courts and relevant institutions to ensure that all decisions should be made in accordance with the Quran and Sunnah.
Source: Thekabultimes.Com
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https://thekabultimes.com/the-need-and-importance-of-laws-from-the-perspective-of-islam/
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Taliban minister says Islamic laws must apply to all, including ‘officials’
by Qaseem Azizi
20-04-2025
KABUL, Afghanistan — Addressing a gathering in Kabul on Sunday, where filming was prohibited Khalid Hanafi, the Taliban’s vice and virtue minister, who explained their leader’s recent decree, said that Islamic laws must be applied equally to all citizens, including Taliban officials.
“It is not the case that those who are senior or hold positions are exempt from this religion while it is enforced only upon the rest of the people,” he said in an audio message released by the Taliban-run media, RTA.
Meanwhile, he said that scholars and Taliban officials are the leaders of society, and their actions and guidance determine the future course of the community.
He added that Islam seeks the downfall of those who engage in fraud and deceit in transactions, and that this group also includes those who neglect their responsibilities.
Source: Amu.tv/169693/
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PM Hassan Akhund, Pakistani delegation hold meeting on bilateral political, economic relations in Kabul
April 20, 2025
KABUL: Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund, the Prime Minister of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA), in a meeting with Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, discussed strengthening bilateral political and economic relations, Arg said in a statement Saturday.
The meeting was attended by senior IEA officials, including acting Foreign Minister Mawlavi Amir Khan Muttaqi, Chief of Administrative Affairs Dr. Mullah Abdul Wasi, and Ambassador to Pakistan Mawlavi Sardar Ahmad Shakeeb, the statement said.
Speaking at the meeting, Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund welcomed the Pakistani delegation and expressed gratitude to Islamabad for hosting Afghan refugees and hoped that the visit would further strengthen the bilateral ties between the two nations.
Noting the shared political, economic, religious, and cultural ties between Afghanistan and Pakistan as neighboring Muslim countries, the Prime Minister stressed the importance of resolving challenges through dialogue, with a focus on the need for action alongside discussion.
Source: Thekabultimes.Com
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Russia’s policy towards Afghanistan deemed appropriate, Mujahid
April 20, 2025
KABUL: Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, in an interview with the Russian TASS news agency, appreciated the removal of the IEA from the Russian list of banned groups.
Mujahid commended Russian President Vladimir Putin for adopting the correct approach towards Afghanistan, characterizing the delisting of the Islamic Emirate as a significant move, underscoring the organization’s aim for extensive political and economic ties with Russia.
Simultaneously, ZamirKabulov, Russia’s special envoy for Afghanistan, announced that the Russian delegation will engage in a meeting with the Islamic Emirate delegation during the upcoming Kazan summit.
Relations between the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) and Russia are improving and developing, particularly after Russia removed the IEA from its list of banned groups.
Source: Thekabultimes..Com
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https://thekabultimes.com/russias-policy-towards-afghanistan-deemed-appropriate-mujahid/
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IEA gaining achievements step by step
April 20, 2025
Ultimately, the Russian Federation fulfilled its commitment towards Afghanistan and removed the name of the Islamic Emirate from its banned organizations.
The move by the friendly country (Russian Federation) after more than two decades is a sign of Moscow’s shift in official stance toward the Islamic Emirate.
Russia’s Supreme Court’s recent positive measure to approve the removal of the Islamic Emirate from the banned list, can be called a diplomatic victory for the ruling Islamic system that has been on Moscow’s list of banned organizations since 2003, since which making any contact with it punishable under its law.
The decision is a significant step for the future of bilateral relations between the two nations. The step is considered to be very important in the future, Afghanistan and Russia as according to Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesperson of the Islamic Emirate, it can certainly build a good relationship in the areas of economy and diplomacy as he believes Russian President Vladimir Putin has a correct policy about Afghanistan.
Source: Thekabultimes.Com
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https://thekabultimes.com/iea-gaining-achievements-step-by-step/
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Kabul, Islamabad agree to talk out issues
NoorullahZazai
20 Apr 2025
KABUL (Pajhwok): Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) Prime Minister Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund and Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar have emphasised the importance of resolving bilateral issues through dialogue.
A high-level Pakistani delegation, led by Dar, arrived in Kabul on Saturday morning for talks with IEA officials on a wide range of subjects.
Hamdullah Fitrat, deputy spokesman for the caretaker government, wrote on his X handle Mullah Hassan Akhund met the Pakistani delegation later in the day.
Source: Pajhwok.Com
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https://pajhwok.com/2025/04/20/kabul-islamabad-agree-to-talk-out-issues/
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Mideast
Qatar strongly condemns Israeli organizations' plans to bomb Al-Aqsa Mosque
19 Apr 2025
Doha: The State of Qatar condemned in the strongest terms plans by platforms affiliated with Israeli occupation organizations to bomb and demolish the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque and the construction of the alleged Temple in its place, describing these plans as a dangerous provocation that could further escalate violence in the region, especially amid the ongoing war on the Gaza Strip.
In a statement issued today, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed the State of Qatar’s unequivocal rejection of any violation of the historical and legal status of Al-Aqsa Mosque, Jerusalem, and its holy sites, and stressed the urgent need for the international community to take action to deter the occupation and compel Israel to provide the necessary protection for these sacred places and to respect international legitimacy and its resolutions.
The Ministry renewed the State of Qatar’s firm and unwavering position of supporting the Palestinian cause and the steadfastness of the Palestinian people, based on international legitimacy and the two-state solution that ensures the establishment of an independent Palestinian state along the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Source: Thepeninsulaqatar.Com
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Rome negotiations: Iranian diplomacy shines amid American divisions
April 19, 2025
Amid the complexities of the international scene, Iran emerges as a party with a cohesive diplomatic vision, supported by internal unity and robust external engagement, while the U.S. administration grapples with divisions that hinder its ability to formulate a unified stance.
These dynamics make the Rome negotiations a critical juncture, not only for addressing the nuclear issue but also for highlighting how Iran’s active diplomacy can serve as a model for navigating global challenges.
Iran enters these negotiations with confidence rooted in its wise leadership and internal cohesion. Contrary to narratives that attempt to portray the Islamic Republic’s system as fragmented, the decision to participate in the talks was made through institutional consensus, reflecting consultative mechanisms that prioritize the unity of the Islamic system as a strategic imperative.
This cohesion is clearly evident in the performance of the Iranian negotiating team, which operates in harmony under the leadership of Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, as the senior representative of the Islamic Republic, bolstered by the trust of state institutions. This unity is not merely a negotiating tool but an expression of a clear vision aimed at safeguarding national interests, regardless of the outcome of the dialogue.
In contrast, the U.S. administration suffers from internal divisions that weaken its position. Within President Trump’s administration, two visions clash: one led by Vice President Vance, who advocates for a diplomatic approach prioritizing dialogue, and another embraced by National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who prefer a hardline stance reliant on pressure and threats. This internal conflict plunges the American strategy into ambiguity, making it difficult to predict the course of the negotiations or the extent of Washington’s commitment to practical solutions.
Source: Www.tehrantimes.Com
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Iran hands over scores of Afghan inmates to Afghanistan
April 20, 2025
KABUL: The Prisons Administration of the Islamic Emirate said Saturday in a statement that 200 Afghan citizens who were imprisoned in Iran have been handed over to Afghanistan.
“200 Afghan prisoners, who had been arrested in Iran for various crimes, were handed over on Friday to the Islamic Emirate through the Silk Bridge (Pul-e-Abreshem) border crossing,” the statement said.
According to the statement, as part of the prisoner handover process, a total of 484 Afghan prisoners detained in Iran for different crimes will be transferred to the Islamic Emirate following negotiations.
Source: Thekabultimes.com
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https://thekabultimes.com/iran-hands-over-scores-of-afghan-inmates-to-afghanistan/
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The Iranian Negotiating Tactic the Trump Administration Doesn’t Get
Reuel Marc Gerecht
April 19, 2025
Across the political spectrum in Tehran — from surly Revolutionary Guards to the regime’s more moderate diplomats and technocrats — the first round of nuclear talks in Oman between the United States and the Islamic Republic has been greeted with a measure of optimism. Iran’s savvy and smug foreign minister, Abbas Araqchi, professed himself satisfied. The supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, has blessed a second meeting with President Donald Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, scheduled in Rome this weekend.
For too long, U.S. officials have fooled themselves about the nuclear-deterrent capacity of economic sanctions. Now that the Trump administration has decided to reopen negotiations, it’s important that they understand their adversary better, particularly the limits of sanctions to affect Iran’s behavior.
To be sure, sanctions (along with chronic mismanagement and systemic corruption) have depleted Iran’s treasury and spurred inflation and unemployment. The regime can barely keep the lights on and periodically has to shutter government offices and schools in order to conserve energy. But for regime leaders who claim to know the mind of God, those economic troubles are a small price to pay for making Iranians better Muslims. The Islamic Republic’s affection for proxy wars, terrorism and antisemitic conspiracies display a mindset fundamentally different from our own. Sanctions may cause such believers pain. They deprive them of resources. But they haven’t in the slightest obliged them to forsake their faith and their missions.
Most consequentially, sanctions have never made the clerical regime abandon its nuclear ambitions. During Trump’s first term, his “maximum pressure” sanctions campaign did real damage to Iran’s economy. Iran didn’t, however, concede its atomic assets. So far as we can tell, there wasn’t even a conversation about doing so among the men (and they are, of course, all men) who matter.
Source: Www.Fdd.Org
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Tehran to host intl. conference on humanity, freedom
April 19, 2025
The conference will discuss humanity and the issue of freedom from the perspective of Islam with a focus on the thoughts of Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei.
The international event will center on Ayatollah Khamenei’s role in upholding people’s rights and protecting individual and social freedoms; Fundamental human rights and social freedoms from the viewpoint of Islam; Women’s rights in Islam and the West; Minority rights in Islam and the West; A comparative analysis of fundamental rights in Iran and other legal systems in light of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; Freedom in Islam and the West: Conceptual foundations, legal frameworks, and approaches; A critical examination of Western human rights; People’s rights and freedoms: A cross-national comparative study with focus on Iran; and Constitutional recognition of people’s rights: A global comparative analysis with emphasis on Iran’s Constitution.
Source: Www.tehrantimes.Com
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Iran-Saudi ties key to regional stability: Tehran’s envoy to Riyadh
April 19, 2025
In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Enayati said the region is in urgent need of greater solidarity and collaboration among its countries—particularly between Tehran and Riyadh. “Security and stability in the region can only be achieved through joint efforts by all regional nations. It’s time they come together and shape their future with their own hands,” he said.
The ambassador hailed the Saudi minister’s trip as a sign of the swift progress in bilateral ties since relations resumed less than two years ago. Prince Khalid’s meetings with top Iranian officials, including Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, President Masoud Pezeshkian, Armed Forces Chief of Staff Major General Mohammad Bagheri, and the Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, focused on expanding cooperation and discussing pressing regional developments.
According to Enayati, the talks addressed shared regional concerns, the future of the Islamic world, and support for Palestine—alongside a commitment to boosting ties in line with prior agreements.
Source: Www.tehrantimes.Com
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Arab World
Saudis are ditching screens for face-to-face fun
Waad Hussain
April 19, 2025
RIYADH: In a screen-saturated world where social interactions often shrink to notifications, analog fun is reshaping Saudi leisure. Board games, once dismissed as childish relics, are experiencing a revival across the Kingdom. Whether at home, in cafes, or at traditional majlis gatherings, Saudis are increasingly turning to tabletop games for fun, connection and cultural relevance.
What began as a simple form of entertainment during family nights or holidays has grown into a social phenomenon, with games like Jackaroo, Sequence and locally designed options such as Saudi Deal, Elaab Bel Khames (Play With Five), La Tagool (Don’t say), and Ensan, Hayawan, Khashaabalan (Person, Animal, Nonsense) now staples in Saudi homes.
“It became a trend because people miss real-life connection,” said Roaa Al-Johani. “Playing face to face just hits different, especially these days.”
This sentiment is echoed across Saudi homes, where board games have moved from being a once-in-a-while pastime to an essential part of gatherings.
“Board games are a big part of our culture now,” Al-Johani added. “You see them in cafes — some cafes are fully built around them. Every Saudi home probably has either a Jackaroo or a Carrom board, especially after the (pandemic) era.”
During the pandemic, with more people spending time at home and looking for ways to unplug from screens, tabletop games offered a low-tech yet highly engaging alternative.
Source: Www.Arabnews.Com
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The golden legacy of Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province artisans
Arab News
April 19, 2025
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province has, historically, been a hub for the making of gold jewelry. Families in Al-Ahsa and Qatif have been passing down this intricate art for centuries, forging the region’s cultural identity and fueling its commerce.
While some artisans have shifted to gold trading or other careers amid the Kingdom’s economic transformation, many continue to practice their craft, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
Mohammed Al-Hamad, former head of the Gold and Jewelry Committee at the Asharqia Chamber of Commerce and Industry, shared insights into the historical development of this profession in an interview with the SPA.
Source: Www.Arabnews.Com
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Saudi, Egypt transport ministers discuss enhancing cooperation
Arab News
April 19, 2025
RIYADH: Saudi Minister of Transport and Logistics Services Saleh Al-Jasser met Egyptian Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Development and Minister of Industry and Transport Kamel El-Wazir recently in NEOM.
During the meeting, the two sides discussed opportunities for developing partnerships in various transportation activities, along with exchanging expertise in infrastructure, port connectivity and facilitating trade exchange, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The Egyptian minister’s visit included a series of meetings and sessions, along with a meeting with officials in NEOM, where future projects were reviewed, and cooperation opportunities in maritime transport and modern technologies were explored.
Source: Www.Arabnews.Com
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Europe
Westminster statues vandalised at trans protest
20-04-2025
Several statues in Parliament Square, including one of women's votes campaigner Dame Millicent Fawcett, were vandalised during a protest on Saturday.
Transgender campaigners gathered in front of Parliament to protest against the ruling by the Supreme Court on Wednesday that biological sex defines a woman for the purposes of the Equality Act.
PA Media Close up of a statue of a woman holding up a sign. The sign says courage calls to courage everywhere and it has some graffiti on it. PA Media
Source: Www.Bbc.Com
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Illegal woodland rave on Easter Sunday forces police to shut major road
Danny Rigg
April 20, 2025
An illegal woodland rave been shut down after a police raid in West Sussex this morning.
Superintendent Shane Baker said: ‘We acted swiftly to identify the woodland site when we were alerted that people were making their way to a rave in the county.
‘Our priority is ensuring the safety of the community and those in the vicinity as we assess how the rave can be closed down safely and effectively.
Source: Metro.co.uk
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Zelensky Says Ukraine Will Observe Easter Truce, Accuses Russia of Breaches
April 20, 2025
Ukraine will abide by an Easter truce, President Volodymyr Zelensky said, hours after Vladimir Putin ordered Russian troops to pause all combat activity until 2100 GMT on Sunday.
“If Russia is now suddenly ready to truly engage in a format of full and unconditional silence, Ukraine will act accordingly — mirroring Russia’s actions,” Zelensky said Saturday in a post on X.
Ukraine’s Kherson governor reported several Russian drone attacks after Putin’s order was supposed to have come into force at 6:00 pm. (1500 GMT).
Source: Thedefensepost.Com
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Russia continues attacks despite own Easter truce, Zelenskyy say
by Yuri Zoria
20/04/2025
On 20 April morning, Ukrainian President VolodymyrZelenskyy accused Russia of violating its own declared “Easter ceasefire,” citing continued assaults across multiple front sectors. He accused Russia of trying to create the illusion of a ceasefire while maintaining isolated attacks and inflicting losses on Ukraine.
After US President Donald Trump warned the US would back away from efforts to broker talks between Kyiv and Moscow unless progress was made, Russian President Vladimir Putin on 19 March announced a unilateral ceasefire from 18:00 on 19 April to 00:00 on 21 April.
Zelenskyy reported that Russian military operations persisted despite the declared truce. In a statement, he noted that Commander-in-Chief OleksandrSyrskyi briefed him that as of 6 a.m. today, Russian ground assaults, shelling and drone attacks continued in several frontline sectors.
Source: Euromaidanpress.Com
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Southeast Asia
Hong Kong’s Muslims welcome Halal Food Festival as latest step towards inclusivity
Wynna Wong
19 Apr 2025
Members of Hong Kong’s Muslim community have expressed enthusiasm over the city’s increasing embrace of halal food and Muslim-friendly initiatives, highlighted by the first outdoor Halal Food Festival in TsimShaTsui.
The event at Park Lane Shopper’s Boulevard on Saturday was seen as a significant step towards greater inclusivity and recognition, aligning with the Hong Kong government’s ambition to establish the city as a destination for Muslim travellers.
Source: Www.Scmp.Com
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Islam's political win important, Hadi reminds haj-bound Muslims
Qistina Nadia Dzulqarnain
Apr 20, 2025
PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang reiterated calls for the Muslim community to prioritise a win in the nation’s politics, including by postponing plans to perform their haj to Mecca.
Citing lessons from the life of Prophet Muhammad, he stressed that the political dominance of Muslims over those from other religions is a matter willed by God.
However, he repeated previous grouses, asserting that Muslims here are more intent on
Source: Www.Malaysiakini.Com
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Gerak: Punishing Sin Chew further is unIslamic
Apr 20, 2025
Wanting to punish Sin Chew Daily further for its flag gaffe contradicts Islamic teachings, said the Malaysia Academic Movement (Gerak).
Islam calls on its worshippers to balance justice with mercy and compassion, the Gerak executive committee said in a statement last night.
Source: Www.Malaysiakini.Com
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Stolen undergarments allegedly used in black magic, says Islamic healer in Johor
By Malay Mail
20 Apr 2025
KUALA LUMPUR, April 20 — A traditional Islamic healer in Johor Baru is claiming some people are stealing undergarments to carry out black magic rituals.
Hakim Jaafar, who practises at Syria Asma Healing Centre, said the victims — mostly women — often report falling mysteriously ill after such thefts.
Source: Www.Malaymail.Com
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Easter celebrations in Kuching: Faith, family and new beginnings at St Joseph’s Cathedral
Apr 2025
KUCHING, April 20 — Christians were reminded to rejoice wholeheartedly in the resurrection of Jesus Christ this Easter Sunday, embracing the new hope and life it brings to all His followers.
In his homily at the St Joseph’s Cathedral here today, Fr Mark Noel Bonchol delivered a heartfelt message, urging the congregation to reflect the joy of Easter visibly.
“Alleluia! Christ is risen. Today we are celebrating Easter Sunday, but I see your faces are not enthusiastic, not joyful, not rejoicing, as if you’re still in the Lenten season,” he said.
He emphasised that Easter is not only about commemorating Christ’s resurrection but also about embracing the transformation it calls for in the lives of Christians.
“This Easter shows what? That as followers of Jesus, we boleh (can), not just ‘Malaysia boleh’, but we, the people of Jesus, can. Can what? We can live as Jesus asked us to live,” he explained, highlighting the Lenten practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.
Source: Www.Malaymail.Com
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North America
CAIR Calls on Trump Admin to Demand Freedom of Worship for Palestinian Christians on Easter
April 19, 2025
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called on the Trump administration to demand that Palestinian Christians be granted freedom of worship on Easter as Israeli occupation forces reportedly “transformed” Jerusalem into “a military zone, erecting checkpoints throughout the area” leading to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and obstructing the movement of worshipers.
Wafa reports that the Apostolic Delegate to Jerusalem and Vatican representative to the State of Palestine, Archbishop Adolfo Tito Yllana, were detained at checkpoints and denied access to the church.
“Our government must demand that Israel allow Palestinian Christians to mark Easter free of restrictions, bombings, arrests, blockades, and harassment by its occupation forces. The Trump administration must not remain silent as Israel tramples on the religious rights of Palestinian Christians and Muslims.”
Washington, D.C., based CAIR added that Muslims honor and revere the Prophet Jesus (pbuh) and that the Quran, Islam’s revealed text, states:
Source: www.cair.Com
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US-Iran nuclear talks to resume April 26 after 'very good progress' in Rome
Apr 20, 2025
The United States and Iran are preparing for a second round of nuclear talks in Oman on April 26, after a “very good progress” during Saturday’s discussions in Rome, a US official told Associated Press.
US president Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and Iran’s deputy foreign minister Abbas Araghchi held a rare face-to-face meeting, a rare occurrence in US-Iran diplomacy.
Araghchi had said earlier that technical-level talks would take place this week to iron out details. Speaking on Iranian state television, he described the Rome talks as “constructive” and expressed hope for further progress before the Oman meeting. “We reached a better understanding about a sort of principles and aims,” he added.
While the US acknowledged both direct and indirect exchanges, Iranian officials insisted that most talks were still conducted through mediators. Oman’s foreign minister Badr al-Busaidi, who has been acting as a go-between, said, “These talks are gaining momentum and now even the unlikely is possible.”
Source: Timesofindia.Com
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'Shame!' chants echo across US as thousands protest Trump’s policies; over 700 events held nationwide: 10 things to know
Apr 20, 2025
Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets across the United States on Sunday in a fresh wave of anti-Trump protests, just two weeks after a similar nationwide mobilization. From Washington DC to San Francisco, the rallies were marked by a deep sense of urgency, anger, and fear over what protesters described as civil rights violations, executive overreach, and authoritarian tendencies under President Donald Trump.
Although turnout in some cities like New York and Chicago was smaller than the April 5 protests, more than 700 events were organized, according to advocacy group 50501. The demonstrations spanned from Jacksonville, Florida, to Anchorage, Alaska, making it one of the most widespread waves of protests since Trump returned to political prominence.
More than 700 events were registered under the 50501 campaign, making Saturday’s protest one of the largest decentralized demonstrations against Trump since 2017.
While crowd sizes were smaller than the April 5 protests in some major cities, organizers highlighted the geographic spread as the true measure of momentum. Protests took place in small towns like Bisbee, Arizona, all the way to Anchorage, Alaska, where demonstrators braved freezing temperatures to raise signs reading “Democracy Not Dictatorship.”
In Washington DC, protesters gathered in front of the White House and marched to the Department of Homeland Security to decry the deportation of Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, a Maryland man sent to El Salvador despite a court ruling allowing him to stay.
Source: Timesofindia.Com
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Africa
President Tinubu’s declaration of emergency rule in Rivers not done in good faith —Aborisade
KunleOderemi
April 20, 2025
In this interview by KUNLE ODEREMI, a lawyer, human rights activist and historian, Chief NiyiAborisade speaks on issues pertaining to the emergency rule in Rivers State, that activities of the sole administrator since he assumed office, his attitude towards court rulings challenging his actions. Excepts:
Let me begin by making some remarks on the decision of the federal government to take this action. It is important to provide some useful background in order to put the issues in proper perspective and aid comprehension and understanding. You will recall that on 19 March 2025, President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency and appointed a sole administrator in Rivers State. He removed the democratically elected governor of the state, Simi Fubara, and suspended members of the State House of Assembly.
Tinubu cited an intelligence report seen only by himself and relied on Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Section 305 states, inter alia:
Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the President may, by instrument published in the Official Gazette of the Government of the Federation, issue a proclamation of a state of emergency in the Federation or any part thereof;
The President shall, immediately after the publication, transmit copies of the Official Gazette of the Government of the Federation containing the proclamation, including the details of the emergency, to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, each of whom shall forthwith convene or arrange for a meeting of the House of which he is the President or Speaker, as the case may be, to consider the situation and decide whether or not to pass a resolution approving the proclamation;
The President shall have the power to issue a proclamation of a state of emergency only when: a. The Federation is at war; b. The Federation is in imminent danger of invasion or involvement in a state of war; c. There is an actual breakdown of public order and public safety in the Federation or any part thereof to such an extent as to require extraordinary measures to restore peace and security; d. There is a clear and present danger of an actual breakdown of public order or public safety in the Federation or any part thereof, requiring extraordinary measures to avert such danger; e. There is an occurrence or imminent danger, or the occurrence of any disaster or natural calamity affecting the community or a section of the community in the Federation; f. There is any other public danger which clearly constitutes a threat to the existence of the Federation; or g. The President receives a request to do so in accordance with the provisions of subsection (4) of this section.
Source: Tribuneonlineng.Com
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Somolu residents deserved to celebrate Easter with food to eat
April 20, 2025
The Executive Chairman of Somolu Local Government Hon. Abdul -hammed Salawu said the residents of Somolu Local Government deserved to celebrate Easter with enough food stuffs in their homes. He made this statement during the 50% Somolu Local Government Food Subsidy program.in Collaboration with Inspire Lagos Food Market .This gesture is meant to cushion the effects of the current Economic situations in Nigeria.
He said, “ you will recall that we organised a similar event during the End of Ramadan fast for the Muslims celebrations,though some Christians equally bought Foodstuffs,as a responsible and responsible Government, same largesse need to be extended to our Christian brothers, who equally fasted for days.
During the electioneering Campaign, we got massive supports from both Muslim and Christian alike.Ours is a Government of the Christians,the Muslims and the traditionalists.The Chairman who spoke through the Secretary to the Local Government Hon .AyodeleAfolabi charged the residents to be orderly and sincere by buying Food items that can satisfy their immediate needs.,as the food items are not to be resold for pecuniary profits.
Source: Thenationonlineng.Net
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Group demands investigation of GAN Allah Fulani chairman in Plateau, over Bassa genocide
by Peter Anayo
April 20, 2025
A group known as Plateau Youths Council (PYC) Northern Zone, has tasked security agents to begin their investigation with GAN Allah Fulani Association of Nigeria, chairman, Plateau State chapter, Abdullahi Garba over killings in Bassa recently.
PYC revealed that, Garba who recently addressed a press conference in Kaduna state where he claimed that peace will continue to elude Plateau State until the government and the people meet some of the conditions that he listed at the
“Few days after that conference, the ZikkeKimakpa killings took place. Do the authorities need to look any further to find those behind the killings? Except if they are telling us that people like Garba and his blood-thirsty compatriots are above the laws of Nigeria.
Source: Championnews.Com.Ng
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Gunmen Kill At Least 56 People In Central Nigeria; Clashes Between Nomadic Cattle Herders And Farmers
20/04/2025 -
Gunmen killed at least 56 people earlier this week in central Nigeria's Benue state, the governor's office said Saturday, sharply revising a previous toll of 17.
Clashes between nomadic cattle herders and farmers over land use are common in central Nigeria. Governor Hyacinth Alia had earlier blamed the attacks in the Ukum and Logo local government areas on "suspected herdsmen".
With many herders belonging to the Muslim Fulani ethnic group, and many farmers Christian, the attacks in Nigeria's so-called Middle Belt often take on a religious or ethnic dimension. Two attacks by unidentified gunmen earlier this month in neighbouring Plateau state left more than 100 people dead.
"The death toll has jumped to 56 from the attacks as at the last count," Solomon Iorpev, the governor's media advisor, told AFP following Alia's visit to the scene.
Source: Www.france24.com
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Tinubu To Meet Ex-President, Kano Opposition Leader In London As Four PDP Govs Plot Defection To APC
April 20, 2025
A major political shift is underway ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, with no fewer than three to four governors of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) reportedly in advanced talks to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and support President Bola Tinubu’s second-term bid.
This development comes amid growing discontent in northern Nigeria, where some political blocs have threatened to withdraw support for Tinubu’s re-election.
Governor UmoEno of AkwaIbom State has openly declared support for President Tinubu. Speaking at a public event last Friday, Eno stated that partisan divisions no longer exist in his state, describing the new political landscape as a “unity party” of PDP and APC.
With his endorsement, sources told THISDAY that the full structure of the PDP in AkwaIbom may be deployed to support Tinubu and also secure the re-election of Senate President GodswillAkpabio in 2027. Akpabio is reportedly coordinating Eno’s planned defection and has pledged to support the governor’s second-term ambition in return.
Speaking through Saviour Enyiekere, Chairman of the National Assembly Service Commission, at a recent event in Uyo, Akpabio’s representative said, “We are also going to support you for a second term… You broke a record by being the first opposition governor to declare support for a second term bid of President Tinubu.”
Source: Www.Naijanews.Com
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New Zealand
Melbourne seat of Calwell highlights Labor woes as Gaza pain galvanises Muslim voters
By Max Walden
20-04-2025
Many Australian Muslims say concerns about Israel's conduct in Gaza and a spike in Islamophobia at home have gone unheard by the Albanese government.
The major parties in the Melbourne electorate of Calwell have both fielded candidates who are Muslim but appear reluctant to discuss these issues publicly.
Federal seats with large Muslim populations could see a swing against Labor at the federal election, as happened with centre-left parties in the UK and US last year.
"As a Muslim Australian, I think that Labor, despite having our votes for almost 20 years now, has failed to take our side — has failed to stand up for us, has failed to develop our communities," said Mr Jaber, an Australian-Palestinian lawyer.
Less than half of its population was born in Australia and roughly one in four residents are Muslim, according to the last available census data.
The Islamophobia Register Australia has received reports of more than 1,200 Islamophobic incidents since October 7, 2023. (Reuters: Jaimi Joy/File)
Speaking to the ABC in Craigieburn — one of the most mortgage-stressed suburbs in the country — Mr Jaber said Australian Muslims felt "enormously betrayed" by the government's response to the war in Gaza and a surge in Islamophobia at home.
"As a community, rather than having the sympathy of the Australian government or the Western world, we were actually turned against. We were othered," he said.
"The Muslim community, the Palestinian community at large, has been ignored. This has made the pain of seeing what's happened and unravelled in Palestine so much greater."
Australian Muslim Women's Centre for Human Rights chief executive NesreenBottriell said her organisation had been supporting members of the community facing a spike in anti-Muslim hatred and what many felt was a lack of action to prevent further suffering in Gaza.
"We have a community who've been collectively suffering for the last 17 months and are continuing to observe this horror unfold," she said.
"The absence of any willingness to recognise that suffering, validate that suffering and take any measures to prevent further harm, is going to continue to ostracise community from government."
Yet the uptick in Islamophobia in Australia in the wake of the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel and the subsequent invasion of Gaza are issues both the major party candidates appear reluctant to discuss during the campaign.
Speaking to the ABC's 7.30 program, he said: "I would leave the future of a Palestinian state to the Palestinian people. It's not up to candidates to decide the structure of that state."
Liberal candidate Usman Ghani, who has emphasised "neglect" of Calwell under successive Labor members, also declined to be interviewed.
Independent candidates such as SamimMoslih, meanwhile, argue that Labor has taken multicultural voters in safe seats, particularly those from Muslim backgrounds, for granted.
Source: Www.Abc.Net.Au
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Pakistan
Iqbal poet of Muslim Ummah, hope: Speakers
April 20, 2025
Islamabad - Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry has said that there are efforts, backed by foreign funding, to weaken Pakistan in the same manner as Palestine, Iran, Iraq, and Yemen. However, the government is committed to eliminating internal and external terrorism and ensuring economic development.
He emphasized that it is essential to convey Allama Iqbal’s message of “khudi” (selfhood) to the youth to shape their character. At present, it is vital that we adopt Iqbal’s concept of selfhood and intellectual courage to wisely confront the challenges facing the nation, such as economic crises, educational decline, and the misguidance of youth. He expressed these views while addressing a grand intellectual and cultural event as the chief guest, organized in Islamabad to commemorate the death anniversary of Allama Muhammad Iqbal.
The event was jointly organized by the Nazaria-e-Pakistan Foundation, Pakistan Cultural Forum, and Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA).
The event was presided over by Federal Minister for Culture, Heritage and Tourism Aurangzeb Khan Khichi, and hosted by Chairman of Pakistan Cultural Forum Zafar Bakhtawari and Chairman of Clean and Green Islamabad Movement Ahsan Bakhtawari. The event was also attended by Head of Foreign Affairs for Jamaat-e-Islami Asif Luqman Qazi, Secretary General of CDA Union Chaudhry Muhammad Yaseen, former Chief Commissioner of Islamabad Tariq Pirzada, and others. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said that the solutions to today’s problems can be found in Iqbal’s poetry. He criticized those who level allegations against institutions for cheap fame, stressing that no country can progress without strong institutions. He added that the government will bring youth into the national mainstream by spreading Iqbal’s message.
Aurangzeb Khan Khichi said that Quaid-i-Azam and Iqbal are national heroes and their message and philosophy must reach all educational institutions and students. He stated that Pakistan’s armed forces are alert and ready to counter any kind of aggression and terrorism. All internal and external enemies will be given a befitting response. He declared that the government, people, and armed forces stand united like a rock. Anyone who casts an evil eye on Pakistan will have their eyes gouged out. Each verse of Iqbal’s poetry is worthy of a book, and we must benefit from his message. The years 2026 and 2027 mark the 150th birth anniversaries of Quaid-i-Azam and Iqbal, and they will be celebrated in a grand manner. The ministry and its institutions will always be available for such events.
Source: Www.Nation.Com
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Nawaz calls for PPP-govt dialogue on water issue
Zulqernain Tahir
April 20, 2025
LAHORE: A day after Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari’s outburst in Hyderabad, ruling PML-N head Nawaz Sharif has directed the federal government to initiate a dialogue with the PPP to sort out the ongoing water dispute between Punjab and Sindh, saying that political point-scoring should be avoided on such a sensitive national issue.
“We firmly believe in the fair distribution of resources, including water, among all federating units. PML-N president Nawaz Sharif and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have directed (the party) to resolve these issues with the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) through dialogue,” Adviser to the PM and Punjab PML-N president Rana Sanaullah Khan said in a statement on Saturday.
His directive follows PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari’s strong warning to the PML-N government on Friday that his party would no longer go along with it if it didn’t shelve the controversial project of building new canals on the Indus river.
“The lion (election symbol of PML-N) always preys on the people’s blood, and the Shehbaz Sharif government’s policies are anti-farmer. Those planning this project owe their power to the PPP,” Bilawal said at a public gathering in Hyderabad on Friday. The PPP chairman said he thought Shehbaz Sharif would stay away from the [canal] project after such a reaction because he should understand that without PPP support, the government can neither run assembly sessions nor can it pass the budget.
Source: Www.Dawn.Com
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PTI clears KP assembly speaker Babar Swati of illegal appointment charges
April 20, 2025
PTI’s internal accountability committee on Sunday gave a clean chit to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Speaker Babar Saleem Swati, dismissing allegations of illegal appointments in the provincial assembly.
In February, PTI central vice president Azam Khan Swati levelled corruption charges against lawmakers of Mansehra district. Earlier this month, Babar publicly rubbished the accusations, deepening the rift in PTI’s Mansehra chapter.
According to a report issued today by committee member and prominent legal expert Advocate Qazi Anwar, the accusations were initially made by former senator Azam Swati.
Interestingly, the report clarified that the Azam Swati in question is not the same individual who was previously jailed, emphasising that this is a different person with the same name.
Source: Www.Dawn.Com
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Pakistan reaffirms support for UN peacekeeping
Iftikhar A. Khan
April 20, 2025
ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Saturday reiterated Pakistan’s longstanding support for UN peace operations and its commitment to playing a proactive role for global peace.
He was talking to UN Under-Secretary General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix who called on him at the interior ministry.
Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry, Interior Secretary Muhammad Khurram Agha and UN secretary-general’s adviser Faisal Shahkar were also present on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr Naqvi highlighted the professional contributions of Pakistani military and police officers to various peacekeeping missions and welcomed the resumption of service by Pakistani police officers in the UN peace missions after several years.
Source: Www.Dawn.Com
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PHC adjourns plea against five-decade-old notification on Chitral land settlement
April 20, 2025
PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court has adjourned the hearing into a petition challenging a 50-year-old notification of the provincial government declaring Chitral region’s all mountains, wastelands, jungles, pastures and riverbeds as its property.
A bench consisting of Justice Wiqar Ahmad and Justice Dr Khurshid Iqbal fixed May 12 for next hearing into the plea, directing the relevant parties to argue the matter on that date.
The petition, jointly filed by over 100 Chitral residents, requested the court to strike a 1975 notification down, arguing that if the notification stays put, the government will proceed to declare over 95 per cent area of Upper and Lower Chitral districts as its property.
Counsel for the petitioners Barrister Asadul Mulk argued that in reliance on the notification, the title of 97 per cent of Chitral’s landmass had been entered in the name of the provincial government during the land settlement process, which was under way in Chitral.
Additional advocate general Asad Jan Durrani, representing the provincial government, requested the court for adjournment on the ground that the case had been marked to another law officer who was busy with cases pending with the Supreme Court.
Source: Www.Dawn.Com
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BNP to challenge mines law in court
Saleem Shahid
April 20, 2025
QUETTA: Balochistan National Party (BNP) will challenge the Balochistan Mines and Minerals Act 2025, recently passed by the provincial assembly.
According to Mr Mengal, the Balochistan government did not hold discussions over the draft of the mines act before presenting it in the assembly where it was passed in “just five minutes,” Mr Mengal claimed.
“After consulting lawyers and experts on Mines and Mineral Act and the agreement between the government and PPL, BNP will approach the court,” Mr Mengal said.
Mr Mengal, who also served as the Balochistan chief minister, said that after ending the sit-in, his party started the second phase of protest on Friday the holding rallies across the province.
He announced public gatherings in different areas of Balochistan, with the first on April 23 in Khuzdar, followed by Gwadar on April 25, Panjgur on April 27, Noshki on April 29 and Quetta on May 2.
Source: Www.Dawn.Com
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https://www.dawn.com/news/1905392/bnp-to-challenge-mines-law-in-court
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URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/waqf-law-cec-cji-civil-wars/d/135238