Bangladeshi Hindus Told To Limit Festival During The Five Daily Muslim Prayer Times
New Age Islam News Bureau
20 October 2023
Devotees
gather in front of the idol of the Hindu Goddess Durga to offer prayers during
the Durga Puja festival at a temple in Dhaka, Oct. 3, 2022.
------
South Asia
·
One Lakh
Imams To Join A Big Event In Dhaka Days Before The Announcement Of The Election
·
Bangladesh
PM Sheikh Hasina : ‘BNP A Terrorist Party That Kills People’
·
Tajikistan’
President unveils 24 new border posts along Afghanistan border
·
UNAMA
calls for halt to arbitrary detentions of Journalists in Afghanistan
·
WHO
urgently seeks $7.9 million to aid 114,000 Herat earthquake victims
·
UN:
Climate Change Negatively Impacting Afghanistan
·
Doctors:
Mental Health Issues Plague Herat Earthquake Victims
·
Norway
Concerned About Forced Deportation of Afghan Refugees
·
Taliban
say plans to formally join China's Belt and Road initiative
------
Mideast
·
Several
dead and injured in Israel strike at Gaza church: Hamas
·
Hamas Masterminds
Top Israel’s ‘Dead Man Walking’ Hit List
·
UN
Security Council Officially Declares End To Missile-Related Sanctions On Iran
·
Pro-Palestinians
protest outside Israeli embassy in Chile
·
Protesters
Keep Defying Pro-Palestinian Bans In France
·
Hamas
leader: Israeli atrocities can trigger 'regional war'
·
Hamas
operation was ‘extraordinary accomplishment from military standpoint’: Scott
Ritter
-------
Europe
·
British
Intelligence Chiefs Warn Rishi Sunak Of Terror Risk Spilling Over Into UK
·
Britain’s
Sunak to visit Egypt for Israel, Gaza talks
·
German FM
announces $52.8 million aid for Gaza civilians
·
How the EU
discredited itself in the Israel-Palestine conflict
·
European
Commission President compares Russia to Hamas
-------
Arab World
·
Saudi
Crown Prince Urges UN Chief To Play Role For De-Escalation To Ensure Peace In
ME
·
Al Jazeera
disputes Israel’s claim about hospital strike
·
How Arab
States Are Aiding Palestinians Amid Gaza’s Deepening Humanitarian Emergency
·
Saudi
Arabia highlights achievements at UNESCO session
·
Traditional
Saudi crafts showcased to world at Riyadh exhibition
·
Saudi
Arabia hosts historic GCC-ASEAN summit to strengthen ties on Friday
·
Crown
Prince and British PM discuss Gaza escalation in Riyadh meeting
·
Qatar
participates in 9th Conference of Environment Ministers in Islamic World
--------
North America
·
As
Israel-Hamas War Rages, Israelis Can Now Travel To US For 90 Days Without
Getting A Visa
·
Illinois
Man Charged After Threatening To Shoot 2 Men Because They Were Muslim, Police
Say
·
Pentagon:
US Navy intercepts three missiles fired from Yemen ‘potentially’ at Israel
·
Canada
withdraws dozens of diplomats from India amid Nijjar assassination conflict
·
Inside
this week's mass arrests of pro-Palestinian Jewish activists at the US Capitol
·
Large
blasts heard inside US military bases in Syria, Iraq: Report
·
Both Hamas
and Putin share common goal to destroy neighbouring democracy – Biden
-------
Southeast Asia
·
Meta Denies
Malaysian Facebook Page Admins At Risk By Posting About Palestine, But Clarifies
Praise For Hamas Not Allowed
·
PM Anwar: Malaysia,
Palestine Agree On Comprehensive Effort To End Violence In Gaza
·
How Can We
Clean Such Filth? Hadi Says After AsyrafWajdi's Mock Offer To 'Purify' Umno And
DAP In Unity Govt
·
Court
jails, fines man in TelukIntan for possessing nearly 20,000 files of child
sexual abuse materials
·
PAS: Ulama
Wing should be 'think tank' for Perikatan's state govts, prep for political
clash with DAP
·
Dr Wee
urges Malaysians to support and extend aid to oppressed Palestinians
--------
Africa
·
Review
Nigeria’s Relations With Israel, Sharia Council Tells Tinubu
·
Sheikh
Ahmad Gumi’s Full Sermon: You Guys Are Hypocrites! Abuja Has Become A Tel Aviv
·
Reps
Advocate Outright Ban Of Educational Materials On LGBT Nationwide
·
South
African President and Dutch Royals Foster Diplomacy and Address Global
Conflicts
·
Sudan:
Number of families suffering from hunger almost doubles
·
Boko Haram
Kills Two Nigerian Soldiers As Troops Blame Army Commander For Lack Of
Ammunition, Inadequate Equipment
-------
Pakistan
·
Pakistan
Calls For Addressing Root Causes Of Terrorism
·
President
Visits Embassy Of Palestine, Expresses Solidarity With Palestinian People
·
Pakistan
Court Forbids Arrest of ex-PM Nawaz Sharif on His Return
·
Kakar:
Pakistan, Russia Share Common Interest Against Terrorism
·
Imran’s
production order issued in contempt cases
·
Pakistan
sends humanitarian aid for people of Gaza
·
Adiala
jail superintendent gets IHC notice
·
Pakistan
dispatches consignment carrying relief assistance for people of Palestine
·
Cipher
case: Explosive statements of witnesses will add to Imran woes
-------
India
·
Boycott Of
Muslim Traders Row: Karnataka HC Stays FIR Against Hindutva Leader
·
Gyanvapi
Row: Varanasi Court Reserves Verdict On Plea Seeking Inclusion Of 'Wazookhana'
In ASI Survey
·
PFI Moves
SC Challenging UAPA Tribunal's Decision Confirming Centre's Five-Year Ban
·
Gujarat HC
Sentences Four Cops To 14 Days In Jail For Public Flogging Of 5 Muslim Men
·
Canada
Confirms Withdrawal of 41 Diplomats From India, Visa Processing Time to Go Up
·
Former IIT
Delhi professor V.K. Tripathi appeals to Narendra Modi on Gaza siege
·
Tricolour
Dwarfs All: Nitin Gadkari Inaugurates India's Tallest Flagpole At Attari-Wagah
Border With Pakistan
Compiled by
New Age Islam News Bureau
URL:
https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/bangladeshi-hindus-durga-puja-muslim-prayer/d/130940
-----
Bangladeshi Hindus Told To Limit
Festival During The Five Daily Muslim Prayer Times
Devotees
gather in front of the idol of the Hindu Goddess Durga to offer prayers during
the Durga Puja festival at a temple in Dhaka, Oct. 3, 2022.
------
October 20, 2023
Emran Hossain
Leaders of the minority Hindu community
in Bangladesh have expressed shock after a state-run body asked them to stop or
limit rituals during Durga Puja, the largest annual Hindu festival, during the
five daily Muslim prayer times.
The Islamic Foundation, a religious
organization under the Ministry of Religious Affairs, sent letters to
government officials, including district chiefs and police superintendents,
with the daily Muslim prayer schedule, asking them to take measures to
implement the order.
The authorities need to ensure limited
or no use of loudspeakers, sound systems and musical instruments at puja venues
during azan (call to prayer) and namaz (prayers), copies of the letters
obtained UCA News say.
Muslim prayer schedules vary depending
on the area, but it generally covers about six hours a day during the rituals
of the five-day Durga Puja festival, which began on Oct. 20.
This year, Hindus across Bangladesh have
prepared 32,168 Puja venues to celebrate and honor the goddess Durga.
Hindu leaders said it has been common
practice among Hindus to limit rituals and use of sound systems during Muslim
prayer times to avoid any backlash from majority Muslims, in a country with a
record of attacks on minorities.
However, they alleged the issuance of an
official letter “served no purpose other than stoking communal sentiment.”
“The Islamic Foundation sending such
letters leads people to speculate and that is exactly what is happening,’ said
Rana Dasgupta, secretary of the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity
Council, the largest religious minority forum.
"Official letters with such a call
is unconstitutional and hinders religious freedom," added Dasgupta, a
Supreme Court lawyer.
Bangladesh's Constitution prohibits
discrimination against any citizens based on their religious or racial
identities, he noted.
Observers say such letters from a state
body shows an apathy toward minorities whose numbers have fallen steadily since
Bangladesh's independence from Pakistan in 1971 due to persecution by state and
non-state actors and impunity for their oppressors.
Official data shows Hindus made up about
14 percent of the population in 1971, and now account for less than eight
percent.
In 2021, Muslim hardliners attacked
about 100 puja venues over a false allegation of Quran desecration.
Earlier this week, Hindu groups
expressed fear of similar violence in the politically volatile country ahead of
a general election next January.
Puja is performed in a series of rituals
from morning into the night with short breaks for rest.
Typically, the rituals are performed to
the sound of dhak and dhol, traditional drums, with accompanying ulu sounds
made by women.
Nowadays Hindu youths use sound systems
during the celebration.
Shanto Chakraborty, a Hindu priest in
central Tangail district, said he does not see a problem in taking a break
during Muslim prayers.
“We don’t complain. We can take a break
for religious harmony,” said Chakraborty.
Critics say the order for limiting Puja
rituals during Muslim prayers contradicts the absolute freedom conservative
Muslims enjoy during their religious gatherings, such as waz mehfils.
During winter, Muslims organize waz
mahfils for days and nights where clerics deliver sermons, often misogynistic
and communally charged, with loudspeakers set in a perimeter spread kilometers
from the venue.
Hindu leaders alleged that while
hardliners are appeased, restrictions are placed on cultural and national
celebrations such Pahela Boisakh, the Bengali New Year on April 14 and Language
Martyrs Day on Feb 21.
“Space for both minorities and cultural
practices is shrinking,” said Dasgupta.
Mohammad Moniruzzaman, deputy director
of the Islamic Foundation in Habiganj district, said he and his colleagues
across the country sent letters to relevant authorities.
He said the Muslim prayer schedule also
included Tahajjud, a voluntary night prayer for Muslims.
Krishnendu Kumar Pal, secretary of the
state-funded Hindu Religious Welfare Trust confirmed sending letters to 21
trustees across Bangladesh instructing them to limit the use of loudspeakers,
sound systems, musical instruments and ululu during azan and namaz.
“Passing such instructions is nothing
new,” Pal said, adding that they were asked to do so by the Home Ministry and
other authorities.
Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad, an
apex Hindu religious body that oversees nationwide Puja celebrations, issued 25
instructions on Oct. 12 asking people to avoid any act that might hurt
religious feelings of others.
Source: ucanews.co006D
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-------
West Bank A Possible ‘Third Front’ For Israel
In A Wider War
Palestinians use slings to hurl
stones during clashes with Israeli forces near Ramallah in the Israeli-occupied
West Bank. (Reuters photo)
----
October 20, 2023
RAMALLAH/JERUSALEM: Violence in the
occupied West Bank has surged since Israel began bombarding the Gaza Strip and
clashing with Hezbollah at the Lebanon border, fuelling concerns the flashpoint
Palestinian territory could become a third front in a wider war.
Israel is waging war against the
militant Hamas group in the Palestinian enclave of Gaza, but Israeli soldiers
and settlers pulled out of Gaza in 2005. Israel still occupies the West Bank,
captured with Gaza in a 1967 Middle East war.
Hamas, which controls Gaza, killed more
than 1,400 people in a surprise attack in Israel on Oct. 7, prompting an
Israeli bombardment that has killed 3,500 in Gaza. Israel is preparing a
full-scale ground assault on Gaza to destroy Hamas.
Western countries supporting Israel fear
a wider war that would open up Lebanon, with its Iran-backed group Hezbollah,
as a second front and the West Bank as what Israeli media call a potential
third front.
Clashes between Israeli soldiers and
settlers and Palestinians have already turned deadly. More than 70 Palestinians
have been killed in West Bank violence since Oct. 7 and Israel has arrested
more than 800 people.
Israeli forces raided and carried out an
air strike in a Palestinian refugee camp in the West Bank on Thursday, killing
at least 12 people, Palestinian officials said, and Israeli police said an
officer was killed during the raid.
The violence poses a challenge to both
Israel and to the Palestinian Authority (PA), the only Palestinian governing
body recognized internationally which is headquartered there.
The Israeli military said it was on high
alert and bracing for attacks including by Hamas militants in the West Bank.
Hamas was trying to “engulf Israel in a
two- or three-front war,” including the Lebanese border and the West Bank,
military spokesperson Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus told Reuters. “The threat is
elevated,” he said.
’GIVE PEOPLE WEAPONS. LET THEM CLASH’
In Ramallah, rare chants this week
supporting the military wing of Hamas — a rival of the PA’s ruling Fatah party
— showed a growing appetite for armed resistance.
“Give people weapons. Let them clash.
We’ll show what we can do,” said Salah, a 20-year-old demonstrator who gave
only his first name.
Fatah official MowafaqSehweel told
Reuters: “We should let go of the reins and use whatever means to fight
occupation.”
Others are less ready to fight.
Nizar Mughrabi, owner of an architecture
firm, said he was disgusted by Israel’s assault on Gaza but not ready to pick
up a gun.
“Netanyahu wants to fight, Haniyeh wants
to fight — put them in the desert with guns and let them shoot each other,” he
said, referring to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas leader
Ismail Haniyeh.
Palestinian officials and Israeli
analysts say a number of factors are both helping to ignite tensions, but
conversely also limiting their scope, for now.
One is the hundreds of arrests Israel
has made.
Hamas cited attacks on West Bank
Palestinians and arrests this year as part of its reason for attacking on Oct.
7.
But the arrests have also limited West
Bank violence, said Salah Al-Khawaja, a 52-year-old anti-settlement activist.
“In Gaza, there’s enough time (for
Hamas) to organize militarily,” he said. “Here, the occupation (Israel) can
clamp down on a daily basis. It leaves no space to build up military or
political forces.”
WEST BANK A COMPLEX PATCHWORK
While Hamas tightly controls besieged
Gaza, the West Bank is a complex patchwork of hillside cities, Israeli
settlements and army checkpoints that split Palestinian communities.
Israel occupied the territory in 1967
and has divided it into large areas it controls, small areas where Palestinians
have full control and areas where Palestinians and Israeli forces divide civil
and security duties.
Between the seat of power in Ramallah
and poorer peripheral areas, there are multiple views on the benefits of
violence.
Desperate young men in refugee camps are
more willing to fight than those in Ramallah where businessmen and senior Palestinian
officials stand to lose from a spiral of violence.
“My business is already suffering
because of the unrest,” Mughrabi said.
Another key factor in stemming violence
is Israel’s security agreement with 87-year-old President Mahmoud Abbas’s PA.
Abbas condemned Israel’s assault on Gaza
while his security forces cracked down on demonstrations. Fatah has not issued
public calls for armed resistance.
“The PA wants to keep peace and is
worried that marches of thousands of people could quickly turn into hundreds of
thousands,” said Palestinian political analyst Hani Al-Masri.
He added that PA officials do well
financially and rely on arrangements with Israel to get paid.
Should Abbas lose his grip or become ill
in his old age, the situation could deteriorate, he said.
’LONE WOLVES’
LiorAkerman, a former officer in
Israel’s internal security service the Shin Bet, said fears over West Bank
unrest predated the Hamas war.
Hamas for years had been trying to “do
all it can to activate terrorists in the West Bank,” he said.
Akerman acknowledged, however, that
security measures had been tightened since the Gaza bombardment began, saying
that the most recent round of arrests might not have happened under normal
circumstances.
“Last night the army ... took around 100
terrorists in the West Bank. In regular days ... the Shin Bet would arrest only
those they knew were preparing terror attacks,” he said.
One worry for Israel in the West Bank is
“lone wolf” attacks from among Palestinians who have disparate local loyalties
but an overall contempt for Israeli occupation, analysts say.
Recent surveys have shown overwhelming
public support among Palestinians for armed groups, including local militias
that include members from traditionally separate factions.
Even before the current Gaza crisis, the
West Bank had seen a surge in violence.
Israel stepped up military raids and a
spate of Palestinian attacks targeted Israelis. The 2023 Palestinian death toll
until Oct. 7 was over 220 and at least 29 people in Israel had been killed,
according to UN records.
Source: arabnews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2394721/middle-east
---------
EU Ministers Promise Tougher Immigration
Policies After Islamist Attacks in Brussels and France
A migrant
looks at the sea from the Geo Barents migrant rescue ship, operated by Medecins
Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders), as it makes its way to Italy after
the rescue of 61 migrants on a wooden boat in international waters off the
coast of Libya in the central Mediterranean Sea, September 30, 2023. REUTERS/
-----
October 20, 2023
BRUSSELS, Oct 19 (Reuters) - Ministers
from across the European Union said on Thursday that member states must screen
migrants and asylum seekers better and expel those deemed a security risk more
quickly, after Islamist attacks highlighted persistent difficulties.
Interior and justice ministers met in
Luxembourg to discuss what steps to take following deadly attacks in Brussels
and France, at a time of heightened security concerns linked to the
Israel-Hamas conflict.
"It is an absolutely a necessity
that we make sure that European Union is safe from terrorist threats,"
said EU migration commissioner Ylva Johansson. "People who pose a security
risk to the European Union need to be much, much more quickly returned to the
country of origin."
"We also need to make sure that we
don't have any violent anti-Semitism or violent Islamophobia... that all our
citizens could feel safe in the European Union."
The 45-year-old Tunisian gunman who
killed two Swedish football fans in the Belgian capital on Monday was staying
there illegally after his asylum request had been denied.
He reached the EU via the Italian island
of Lampedusa in 2011 and also lived in Sweden. He was shot dead by Belgian
police.
The attack in Brussels - which Johansson
said was "a wake-up call" - underlined persistent failings of the
EU's troubled migration and asylum systems, including security gaps and
ineffective returns. Only about a fifth of people whose asylum cases fail in
Europe are actually sent away.
In France, the 20-year-old, Russian-born
Islamist Ingush accused of stabbing to death a teacher last Friday was known
before the attack to be a possible security risk but could not have been
expelled under current legislation, authorities said.
French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin
said there should be no "naivety" on repatriations and joined many of
his peers in calling for the swift implementation of the EU's much-discussed
new migration rules.
Proponents of this looming overhaul of
the EU's migration and asylum policies - expected to be finalised this year -
say it would improve the situation, including by facilitating quicker
repatriations of foreigners with criminal records.
ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR
Thursday's meeting was the ministers'
first chance to discuss the Oct. 7 attack by Palestinian militant group Hamas,
to which Israel has responded by bombarding Gaza. Gaza health officials say
bombing has so far killed more than 3,700 people.
The ministers took no specific decisions
but considered what developments could cause Palestinians to flee in large
numbers, or trigger violent acts inside the bloc.
"The EU is following very closely
the situation in Palestine and whether anyone is leaving. So far it does not
look like anyone would be," said Finland's Interior Minister Mari
Rantanen.
"We are trying to get aid close to
the crisis centres and in that way prevent large masses from heading
here."
The EU, a bloc of 450 million people,
has recorded some 250,000 irregular arrivals this year, in large part aided by
smugglers, something Italy, Spain and Germany have recently voiced concern
about.
There is also a new push for deals with
African countries - including Egypt and Morocco - akin to the one the EU has
sealed with Tunisia, offering aid in exchange for Tunis bringing down
departures for Europe.
Critics of the EU's new migration and
asylum policies doubt they would be effective and point to growing risks to
human rights while focus is on deterring unauthorised immigration.
Reporting by Gabriela Baczynska, Marine
Strauss, Julia Payne, Bart Meijer in Brussels, EssiLetho in Helsinki; Writing
by Gabriela Baczynska and Ingrid Melander; Editing by Philippa Fletcher, Alison
Williams and Sharon Singleton
Source: reuters.com
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https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/eu-migration-ministers-address-militant-islamist-attacks-risks-israel-hamas-war-2023-10-19/
--------
Saudi Crown Prince Reiterates Support
For Just Solution To Palestinian Cause At GCC-ASEAN Summit
ASEAN and
Gulf Cooperation Council leaders also called for the immediate and
unconditional release of civilian hostages and detainees in a joint statement
after their summit on Oct 20. ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR
-----
October 20, 2023
RIYADH: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin
Salman on Friday reiterated the Kingdom’s support for efforts to reach a just
solution to the Palestinian cause, in his opening speech at the first Gulf
Cooperation Council-Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit in Riyadh.
The crown prince also said that he was
‘saddened’ by the escalating violence in Gaza, for which innocent people were
paying the price, and firmly rejected the targeting of civilians.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo, who
led the 10-nation ASEAN this year, in his opening statement also called for an
end in the violence in Gaza in accordance with international laws.
Crown Prince Mohammed also said that
Saudi Arabia seeks to strengthen relations with ASEAN nations across all
fields.
Although the two organizations
established relations in 1990, the gathering will be their maiden summit with
the aim of optimizing cooperation between the regional blocs.
ASEAN Secretary-General Dr. Kao Kim
Hourn will lead the association’s delegation to the summit which will conclude
with the issuing of a joint statement on its outcomes and cooperation plans for
2024 to 2028.
For Southeast Asian leaders, the meeting
offers an opportunity to seek assistance from Gulf states on issues related to
energy security.
The GCC comprises Saudi Arabia, Oman,
Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and the UAE, while the ASEAN bloc is made up of
Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia,
Laos, Myanmar, and the Philippines.
The value of trade between ASEAN nations
currently stands at more than $110 billion.
Source: arabnews.com
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the full text of the original
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2394666/saudi-arabia
---------
US Muslim Group, CAIR, Faces Threats
Over Event To Highlight Gaza Rights Abuse
REUTERS
A youngster
holds a placard during the funeral for six-year-old Muslim stabbing victim
Wadea al Fayoume in Illinois. Photo: Reuters
------
October 20, 2023
A major US Muslim civil rights group
planning to highlight rampant human rights violation of Palestinians by Israel
is moving its annual event out of a Virginia hotel after anonymous threats to
bomb the venue.
The Council on American-Islamic
Relations (CAIR) cancelled plans to hold its 29th annual event on Saturday at
the Marriott Crystal Gateway in Arlington, where it has held events for the
past decade.
CAIR said the event will move to an
as-yet undisclosed location with heightened security.
The threats came after CAIR updated its
programme to focus on the growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Since Hamas fighters from blockaded Gaza
stormed into nearby Israeli towns on October 7, Israel has launched air strikes
on Gaza, destroying entire neighbourhoods and killing thousands of Palestinian
civilians.
“We strongly condemn the extreme and
disgusting threats against our organisation, the Marriott hotel and its
staff," CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad, who is Palestinian
American, said in a statement.
“We will not allow the threats of
anti-Palestinian racists and anti-Muslim bigots who seek to dehumanise the
Palestinian people and silence American Muslims to stop us from pursuing
justice for all.”
The Biden administration's blanket
support for Israel has seen led to growing anti-Palestinian and anti-Muslim
sentiments in the West, manifesting in the fatal stabbing of a six-year-old
Palestinian American boy in the US last week by a white American man. The boy's
mother was also injured.
CAIR said the group has started already
an online campaign urging Congressional members to promote a ceasefire in Gaza.
“In recent days, according to the
Marriott, anonymous callers have threatened to plant bombs in the hotel’s
parking garage, kill specific hotel staff in their homes, and storm the hotel
in a repeat of the Jan. 6th attack on the US Capitol if the events moved
forward,” the CAIR statement said.
Arlington police and the FBI are
investigating, CAIR said.
Police said in an email that the
department was investigating a report from the hotel that it received anonymous
phone calls, “some referencing threats to bomb,” regarding the CAIR event.
Emails seeking comment from the FBI and the
Marriott hotel chain were not immediately answered late Thursday night.
Source: trtworld.com
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https://www.trtworld.com/us-and-canada/us-muslim-group-faces-threats-over-event-to-highlight-gaza-rights-abuse-15471623
----------
South Asia
One Lakh Imams To Join A Big Event In
DhakaDays Before The Announcement Of The Election schedule
Oct 20, 2023
The government is going to hold a
massive gathering of imams in Dhaka at the end of this month, just days before
the announcement of the election schedule.
The religious affairs ministry and the
Islamic Foundation are making necessary preparations to assemble at least 1
lakh imams from different mosques across the country for the event titled "Imam
Conference-2023".
Google News LinkFor all latest news,
follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
The programme will be held at the
international trade fair venue in Purbachal. The tentative date for the
conference is October 30, according to the ministry and the foundation
officials.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will be the
chief guest at the event, Md A Hamid Zamadder, secretary of the religious
affairs ministry, told The Daily Star on Saturday.
Ministry sources said the government
wants to demonstrate its commitment to Islamic values ahead of the general
election through holding the congregation of the imams.
"The government wants to send a
message to these imams centring the upcoming elections," said a ministry
official on condition of anonymity.
The government high-ups think that the
government's commitment to Islamic values is not adequately highlighted despite
its direct support to Islamic institutions, particularly in the construction of
model mosques, he said.
"Announcements on the government's
future initiatives for the welfare of the imams will also be made from the
conference," said the official.
The imams will have an opportunity to
put forward their demands to the prime minister. The demands include better
financial support for imams and government recognition of their contribution .
The religious affairs ministry
secretary, however, said that there is no links between their activities and
the upcoming 12th parliamentary polls.
"We are working to assemble over 1
lakh imams tentatively on October 30. We are doing our duties as per the
directives of the government," Zamadder told this newspaper.
Ministry sources said imams who have
received training at the Imam Training Academy of the Islamic Foundation will
be invited to the conference.
Around 1,15,000 imams have received
training over the last five years. Among them are teachers who are teaching
under mosque-based education programmes. The number of such teachers is around
76,000.
"Efforts are underway to bring
those teachers to the conference also. Besides, pro-government Islamic scholars
will also be called in," said an official of the religious affairs
ministry, wishing not to be named.
Abdul-Rahman Al-Sudais, one of the main
imams of the Grand Mosque, Masjid al-Haram in Makkah, has been invited to
attend the event. He may join a programme at the Baitul Mukarram national
mosque too, said sources.
From the conference, 50 model mosques,
which have been built at different parts of the country, will be inaugurated.
So far, the government has constructed
250 model mosques in five phases. It plans to construct a total of 575 such
mosques.
Around 1,000 imams will be awarded at
the conference under different categories such as Quran recitation, delivery of
Juma prayer sermons, and social work.
Contacted, State Minister for Religious
Affairs Faridul Haque Khan said, "We are working to arrange the
conference. We will soon inform the media about the event officially."
Source: thedailystar.net
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---------
Tajikistan’ President unveils 24 new
border posts along Afghanistan border
Fidel Rahmati
October 20, 2023
Imam Ali Rahman, Tajikistan’s President,
opened 24 new border posts on his visit to the Khatlon province, strengthening
security along the Afghanistan border.
ImomaliRahmon had previously stated that
due to security threats, Tajikistan needed hundreds of security facilities
along the border with Afghanistan.
On Thursday, Tajikistan’s Asia Plus news
agency reported that the new security posts have been established in the
districts of Lakhsh, ShamsiddinShohin, Rushan, Ishkoshim, Murgab, and Kharugh.
Imam Ali Rahman personally ordered the construction
of these new border posts, emphasizing the importance of strengthening border
protection during his meeting with Tajikistan’s soldiers in the border region.
During the Taliban’s rule in
Afghanistan, there have been serious concerns about the proliferation of
terrorist activities. The United Nations Security Council has repeatedly stated
that around 20 terrorist groups, including Al-Qaeda, Islamic State Khorasan
Province (ISIS-K), and the TTP, are present in Afghanistan. This contrasts with
the Taliban’s claims of combating terrorism and preventing Afghanistan from
becoming a haven for terrorists.
In September, Tajikistan’s National
Security Committee reported the elimination of three terrorists along the
Afghanistan border, identified as members of the “Jamiat Ansarullah” group with
intentions of launching attacks in Tajikistan.
The previous year, President Imam Ali
Rahman had raised alarms about the presence of semi-militant groups and suicide
bombers near the
Afghanistan border, citing the training
of tens of thousands of mujahideen in Afghanistan.
Source: khaama.com
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UNAMA calls for halt to arbitrary
detentions of Journalists in Afghanistan
October 19, 2023
Fidel Rahmati
The United Nations Assistance Mission in
Afghanistan (UNAMA) welcomed the release of MortazaBehboudi, an Afghan-French
journalist, and called on the interim administration to halt the arbitrary
detention of journalists.
Murtaza Behboudi was arrested in January
of this year and, after spending 284 days in detention, was released on
Thursday, October 19, from Pul-e-Charkhi prison.
Reporters Without Borders has said that
the Taliban administration has acquitted Mr. Behboudi of all charges, including
“espionage,” “unlawful support for foreigners,” and assisting individuals in
crossing borders.
UNAMA emphasized that “we actively
engage with the authorities in power to protect the media and end arbitrary
detentions.”
Meanwhile, a day before Murtaza
Behboudi’s release, two of the three Radio Nasim journalists detained in
Dykundi province by the Taliban administration were also released.
The chief editor of Radio Nasim and two
other journalists from the same media outlet were detained in Dykundi about ten
days ago without clear reasons, with the chief editor remaining in custody.
Over the last two years, there has been
a concerning pattern of journalists being routinely detained by the Taliban
authorities in different provinces. UNAMA, the United Nations Assistance
Mission in Afghanistan, strongly condemns this practice as arbitrary and a
grave threat to media freedom.
These detentions violate the fundamental
rights of journalists and undermine the vital role of a free and independent
media in any democratic society.
Protecting journalists and upholding
media freedom must remain a top priority to ensure transparency and the flow of
crucial information to the public in Afghanistan.
Source: khaama.com
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WHO urgently seeks $7.9 million to aid
114,000 Herat earthquake victims
Fidel Rahmati
October 19, 2023
The World Health Organization (WHO) has
urgently called for $7.9 million in funding to provide vital services to the
114,000 residents of Herat severely impacted by the recent earthquake. This
financial support is essential to address their immediate healthcare needs
following the devastating tremors.
On Thursday, the World Health
Organization stated that women, girls, children and other vulnerable
communities make up more than 90 per cent of the casualties and injuries from
the Herat earthquake.
The requested funds will be instrumental
in ensuring that medical services reach those most in need, especially
vulnerable groups like women, children, and marginalized communities,
constituting over 90 per cent of the earthquake’s casualties and injuries in
Herat.
According to this organization, at least
40 health centres in 9 districts of Herat have been damaged, and access to
health services for 58,000 people is challenging.
Earlier, the United Nations Office for
the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs declared that a total of $93.6 million
is needed to address the needs of earthquake victims in various sectors in
Herat.
The World Food Programme also previously
announced that it requires a budget of $19 million for emergency assistance to
tens of thousands of Herat earthquake survivors.
The United Nations has reported that the
Herat earthquake has had a profound impact, directly affecting over 43,000
individuals in the region. This disaster has left more than 3,330 residential
houses in ruins, underscoring the magnitude of the devastation the local
population faces.
The immediate need for humanitarian aid,
shelter, and support for those who have lost their homes is evident, and
efforts to rebuild the affected communities will be a significant undertaking
in the wake of this natural catastrophe.
Source: khaama.com
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https://www.khaama.com/who-urgently-seeks-7-9-million-to-aid-114000-herat-earthquake-victims/
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UN: Climate Change Negatively Impacting
Afghanistan
By Ataullah Omar,
October 20, 2023
The United Nations Assistance Mission to
Afghanistan (UNAMA) is concerned about the negative impacts of climate change
in Afghanistan.
The UNAMA Climate Change Officer said
Afghanistan is one of the most vulnerable countries in the world and needs to
work together in this field.
Officials of the Environmental
Protection Agency called on the international community to resume suspended
projects to mitigate the impacts of climate change in Afghanistan.
The head of UNAMA's Environmental
Protection Division (UNAMA) told TOLOnews on a visit to Kandahar that
Afghanistan is now facing a high threat of climate change issues.
Charity Watson said that it needs to
work collaboratively to mitigate the negative impacts of climate change in the
country.
“We are looking very closely at this
issue. Climate change resilience in Afghanistan cannot wait and we are
exploring what are the possibilities for opening up the suspended climate
financing mechanism, we cannot promise anything but we are looking at this
issue closely," said Charity Watson, head of the Department of
Environmental Protection of UNAMA.
Together, the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) officials are calling on the international community to restart
suspended projects to mitigate the negative impacts of climate change worth
more than $800 million in Afghanistan.
"The 32 projects being implemented
in Afghanistan were worth nearly $826 million and were in the diversity of
life, forests and fighting drought," said Muhibullah Bahar, representative
of the National Environmental Protection Agency.
A number of citizens also called on the
acting government to do more to mitigate
the negative impacts of climate change in the country.
"We call on the international
community and our friendly and neighboring countries, especially the United
Nations, to cooperate in this regard," said Taqi Sadat, Bamyan resident.
"One of the main reasons for this
is the lack of water and seedlings that we face," said Jawid Ahmad, a
Kandahar resident.
According to environmental experts,
repeated droughts, reduced rains and lower groundwater levels are the negative
effects of climate change in the country.
Source: tolonews.com
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https://tolonews.com/afghanistan/provincial-185630
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Doctors: Mental Health Issues Plague
Herat Earthquake Victims
Nasir Ahmad Salehi
October 19, 2023
Earthquakes in the province have left
many residents with mental illness, doctors at the Herat Provincial Hospital
said.
More than 1,600 people suffering from
mental health problems caused by the quake have been brought to Herat Regional
Hospital over the past 10 days, according to the hospital's figures.
From that number of people, 400 patients
were hospitalized.
Most of the people who visited the
hospital are from quake-hit villages.
"Mental health patients are three
times more than those witj injuries. The psychological consequences of a
natural calamity such as an earthquake or flood are far higher than the
physical injury toll." said Qadim Mohammadi, a doctor at Herat Provincial
Hospital.
"When I stand up, I fall back and
rip my hair off, The doctors said stay here and take these medicines,"
said MahJabin, 20, who has been receiving treatment in the open air at the
Herat Provincial Hospital for two days.
Along with Mah-Jabin, dozens of other
men and women are being treated in the hospital, and dozens more patients
return to their homes every day after receiving medication and counseling.
"Our patient was at home during the
earthquake. He was scared and when we brought him to the hospital, he was
bedridden and he took medication, now he's a little better," said ٔNoor Ali, a caretaker.
"A high percentage of our patients
are under extreme stress, and even the majority of visitors come and say we are
terrified of our homes and we are not going back there," said Mohammad
Shafiq Amir, a psychiatrist.
Over the past two weeks, dozens of powerful
and mild earthquakes in Herat have caused people to flee their homes. They are
in difficult conditions under tents in parks and on the side of the roads.
Source: tolonews.com
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https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-185620
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Norway Concerned About Forced
Deportation of Afghan Refugees
2023-10-19
KABUL (BNA): The Norwegian charge de
affairs in Afghanistan, Paul KloumanBekken, met with the Deputy Foreign
Minister, Shir Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, and expressed his concern over the
forced deportation of Afghan refugees by neighbouring countries.
According to a statement by the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs, Bekken also conveyed his sympathy for the victims of the
recent earthquake in Herat and mentioned his country’s assistance to the
affected people.
Shir Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, Deputy
Foreign Miniter, denounced the inhumane and illegal treatment of Afghan
refugees in some neighbouring countries and called for dialogue and engagement
with the Afghan government to resolve the issue.
Both sides agreed that migration and
other problems should be addressed through positive and constructive
communication.
Source: bakhtarnews.af
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Taliban say plans to formally join
China's Belt and Road initiative
October 19, 2023
BEIJING:The Taliban administration wants
to formally join Chinese President Xi Jinping's huge 'Belt and Road'
infrastructure initiative and will send a technical team to China for talks,
Afghanistan's acting commerce minister said on Thursday.
Beijing has sought to develop its ties
with the Taliban-run government since it took over in 2021, even though no
other foreign government has recognised the administration.
Last month, China became the first
country to appoint an ambassador to Kabul, with other nations retaining
previous ambassadors or appointed heads of mission in a charge d'affaires
capacity that does not involve formally presenting credentials to the
government.
"We requested China to allow us to
be a part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and Belt and Road
Initiative... (and) are discussing technical issues today," acting
Commerce Minister Haji Nooruddin Azizi told Reuters in an interview a day after
the Belt and Road Forum ended in Beijing.
The Pakistan "economic
corridor" refers to the huge flagship section of the Belt and Road
Initiative (BRI) in Afghanistan's neighbour.
Azizi said the administration would also
send a technical team to China to enable it to "better understand"
the issues standing in the way of it joining the initiative, but did not
elaborate on what was holding Afghanistan back.
Afghanistan could offer China a wealth
of coveted mineral resources. Several Chinese companies already operate there,
including the Metallurgical Corp. of China Ltd (MCC) which has held talks with
the Taliban administration, as well as the previous Western-backed government,
over plans for a potentially huge copper mine.
Read More: Adding Afghanistan to China’s
OBOR is a tricky gambit
"China, which invests all over the
world, should also invest in Afghanistan... we have everything they need, such
as lithium, copper and iron," Azizi said. "Afghanistan is now, more
than ever, ready for investment."
Asked about the MCC talks, Azizi said
discussions had been delayed because the mine was near a historical site, but
they were still ongoing. "The Chinese company has made a huge investment,
and we support them," he added.
Investors have said security remains a
concern. The Dai'ish group has targeted foreign embassies and a hotel popular
with Chinese investors in Kabul.
Asked about the security challenges,
Azizi said security was a priority for the Taliban-run government, adding that
after 20 years of war - which ended when foreign forces withdrew and the
Taliban took over - meant more parts of the country were safe.
"It is now possible to travel to
provinces where there is industry, agriculture and mines that one previously
could not visit... security can be guaranteed," Azizi added.
Afghanistan and 34 other countries
agreed to work together on the digital economy and green development on the
sidelines of the Belt and Road Forum on Wednesday.
Source: tribune.com.pk
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Mideast
Several dead and injured in Israel
strike at Gaza church: Hamas
October 20, 2023
GAZA STRIP, Palestinian Territories: The
Hamas-controlled interior ministry said several displaced people sheltering at
a church compound in Gaza were killed and injured after an Israeli strike late
Thursday.
The strike left a “large number of
martyrs and injured” at the compound of the Greek Orthodox Saint Porphyrius
Church in Gaza City, the ministry said.
Witnesses said the strike appeared to
have been aimed at a target close to the place of worship where many Gaza
residents had taken refuge as the war raged in the Palestinian enclave.
Contacted by AFP, the Israeli Defense
Forces (IDF) said its fighter jets had hit a command-and-control center
involved in launching rockets and mortars toward Israel.
“As a result of the IDF strike, a wall
of a church in the area was damaged,” it said, adding “we are aware of reports
on casualties. The incident is under review.”
Witnesses said the strike damaged the
facade of the church and caused an adjacent building to collapse, adding that
many injured people were evacuated to hospital.
Saint Porphyrius is the oldest church
still in use in Gaza and is located in the city’s historic neighborhood.
The Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem
expressed its “strongest condemnation” of the strike at its church compound.
“Targeting churches and their
institutions, along with the shelters they provide to protect innocent
citizens, especially children and women who have lost their homes due to
Israeli airstrikes on residential areas over the past 13 days, constitutes a
war crime that cannot be ignored,” the Patriarchate said in a statement.
The church is not far from the Al-Ahli
Arab hospital, which was hit by a deadly airstrike on Tuesday.
Both sides in the war have traded blame
for the bloody carnage, but neither the provenance of the strike nor the death
toll could immediately be independently verified.
Hamas accused Israel of hitting the
hospital during its massive bombing campaign, and the Hamas-run health ministry
in Gaza has put the death toll at 471, though that number is contested.
Israel’s military has blamed a misfired
Islamic Jihad rocket — a version of events backed by the United States, whose
intelligence community has estimated between 100 and 300 people were killed.
Explaining the damage done to the
church, the IDF stressed that “Hamas intentionally embeds its assets in
civilian areas and uses the residents of the Gaza Strip as human shields.”
Gaza has been hit by a relentless
barrage of Israeli fire in retaliation for a Hamas militant attack on October
7, which Israel says killed at least 1,400 people, most of them civilians.
Israeli bombing since has killed at
least 3,785 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, most of them civilians, according
to the Hamas health ministry.
Source: arabnews.com
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Hamas masterminds top Israel’s ‘dead man
walking’ hit list
October 20, 2023
JERUSALEM: Israel has threatened that
every Hamas member faces death when it invades Gaza but two accused masterminds
of the October 7 attacks are at the top of its hit list.
Military strategist Mohammed Deif and
political leader Yahya Sinwar have already spent time in Israeli or Palestinian
jails and been the targets of multiple attempts to kill them.
The hunt for the two most senior Hamas
leaders in the besieged Gaza Strip will be fierce this time.
In the war of words leading up to the
impending ground offensive, Israel has said that Sinwar is “a dead man walking”
after Hamas fighters killed about 1,400 people and abducted more than 200 in
the worst attacks suffered by Israel since its creation 75 years ago.
Israel has responded with a withering
bombardment of Gaza that has killed more than 3,700 people, according to the
Hamas-run health ministry, and with a volley of deadly warnings.
“Hamas terrorists have two options: Be
killed or surrender unconditionally. There is no third option,” Defense
Minister Yoav Gallant said.
Hamas spokesmen have responded that the
Palestinian Islamist group is “not scared.”
Security sources outside Gaza say Deif
and Sinwar are now embedded in a network of tunnels built to resist the bombing
campaign launched after the brutal attacks on communities and military bases
near the border shook Israel to its core.
But the pair have spent years operating
in the shadows.
Israel has singled out the 61-year-old
Sinwar, who was elected Hamas leader in Gaza in 2017 after Ismail Haniyeh
became the movement’s supreme leader. Military spokesman Lt. Col. Richard Hecht
called Sinwar the “face of evil” and declared him a “dead man walking.”
Sinwar was a founding member of Hamas in
1987 during the first Palestinian intifada or uprising and rose through the
ranks as a fierce advocate of armed struggle.
A graduate of the Islamic University in
Gaza, he learned Hebrew during 23 years in Israeli jails.
Sinwar was serving four life terms for
the killing of two Israeli soldiers when in 2011 he became the most senior of
1,100 Palestinians released in exchange for French-Israeli soldier Gilad
Shalit.
Sinwar and Deif were both born in the
Khan Yunis refugee camp in Gaza and added to the United States’ list of most
wanted “international terrorists” in 2015.
Hamas is blacklisted as a “terrorist
organization” by the European Union as well as the United States.
Much less is known about Deif, Israel’s
number one public enemy for the past two decades during which he has been
accused of organizing suicide attacks, kidnappings and other raids.
There is only one known full-face photo
of the commander of the Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’s military wing. It
is at least 20 years old. The others show him either in a mask or standing in
the shadows to avoid identification.
An audio message from Deif was
transmitted by Hamas media on the morning of the attacks dubbed Operation
Al-Aqsa Flood.
“The rage of our people and our nation
is exploding,” he said.
Deif was born Mohammed Diab Al-Masri in
1965.
His assumed name means “Guest” in Arabic
and he reportedly never spends more than one night in the same place. Enemies
have dubbed him the “cat with nine lives” as he has survived at least six
attempts to kill him.
Deif’s wife and at least one child were
killed in an Israeli air strike during the 2014 Gaza war. Deif has reportedly
lost one eye and been left disabled by the attempts on his life but it has not
weakened his influence.
He has been involved with Hamas since
the 1980s and was arrested at the start of the second intifada but escaped, or
was released, from a Palestinian Authority prison in 2000. He became head of
the Hamas military wing in 2002 and has been Israel’s bete noire ever since.
Israel has sent repeated warnings to the
Hamas leadership since October 7.
“Every member of Hamas is a dead man,”
said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
But experts say that eliminating Sinwar
and Deif would severely weaken but not crush Hamas, which is Israel’s declared
aim.
“Sinwar and Deif are clearly first
priority leadership, the loss of which would damage Hamas, but one presumes
that the group has contingencies about their loss,” said H.A. Hellyer, an
international security specialist at the Royal United Services Institute in
London.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2394541/middle-east
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UN Security Council officially declares
end to missile-related sanctions on Iran
20 October 2023
The United Nations Security Council
(UNSC) has officially declared an end to restrictions it had imposed on Iran’s
missile program, according to the organization's secretariat.
In a note sent to the member states of
the UN, the secretariat of the UNSC officially ended curbs set out in
paragraphs 3, 4, and 6 (c) and (d) of Annex B to Resolution 2231.
The termination came into force on
October 18, eight years after the 2015 Iran nuclear deal with major world
powers, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
The restrictions included curbs on
ballistic missile-related activities and transfers, as well as sanctions on
some Iranian individuals and entities.
Rosemary A. DiCarlo, the United Nations
Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, also confirmed
the termination in a separate letter to Iran's permanent ambassador to the
United Nations, Amir SaeidIravani.
“As a consequence,… the Secretariat
removed on 19 October 2023 from the Security Council website the list of 23
individuals and 61 entities subject to the aforementioned restrictive measures,”
DiCarlo said in the letter.
The changes were also made to the UNSC
Consolidated List of all sanctioned people and entities.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry has
announced that the Islamic Republic, as of October 18, will no longer be
subject to any restriction with regard to its ballistic missile-related
activities and transfers by the United Nations Security Council.
The termination, which means Iran is no
longer subject to any UN sanctions, occurred despite extensive political and
legal efforts made by the United States and Western countries in recent years
to lay the ground for keeping the measures in place.
On the same day the UN sanctions
expired, the United States imposed new unilateral sanctions against Iran’s
missile program.
Last month, the three European
signatories to the JCPOA -- the UK, Germany, and France -- said they plan not
to terminate their anti-Iran sanctions, including ballistic missile bans,
arguing that Iran has been in non-compliance with the deal since 2019.
Iran halted some of its JCPOA
commitments in 2019, a year after the US unilaterally walked out of the deal
and after the EU failed to offer any compensation for the US withdrawal.
Iran said at the time the reduction of
its commitments was in accordance with the deal, which allows parties to
dishonor commitments should other parties do the same.
Source: presstv.ir
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Pro-Palestinians protest outside Israeli
embassy in Chile
20 October 2023
Dozens protested outside the Israeli
embassy in Santiago, Chile, in support of Palestinians in Gaza.
Protesters waved Palestinian flags while
denouncing that Israel is committing "genocide" in its ongoing
attacks in the Palestinian Gaza Strip.
Thousands have been marching in many
cities worldwide over the past few days as Israel intensified its airstrikes at
the besieged strip since October 7.
According to Palestinian health
officials, the toll from Israeli strikes on Gaza has risen to more than 3,500
dead and more than 12,000 wounded.
Source: presstv.ir
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Protesters keep defying pro-Palestinian
bans in France
20 October 2023
In Paris activists refused to accept a
nationwide ban on demonstrations in support of Palestine.
Marchers braved tear gas, police
violence, arrests and fines in a country which repeatedly claims to be the
world’s biggest supporter of freedom of expression. RaminMazaheri has more from
Paris.
Source: presstv.ir
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---------
Hamas leader: Israeli atrocities can
trigger 'regional war'
20 October 2023
The head of the Palestinian resistance
movement of Hamas' Politburo has sounded a stern warning concerning
continuation of the Israeli regime's atrocities against the Gaza Strip.
Ismail Haniyeh made the remarks in a
televised speech on Thursday, the 12th day of an all-out Israeli war against
the coastal territory that has so far claimed at least 3,859 lives.
"Continuation of the enemy's
atrocities against the people of Gaza will upset all equations in Palestine and
the region," he said.
"What is happening in Gaza will
lead to a regional war, which the enemy and its supporters will be unable to
control," Haniyeh added.
Addressing the sheer extent of the
Israeli aggression -- which has seen the Zionist enemy leveling entire
districts and deploying banned white phosphorus munitions against Gaza --
Haniyeh said the crimes "once again proved the Nazi nature" of the
occupying regime.
Israeli air raids killed a Palestinian
baby in the Nuseirat refugee camp and a child west of Khan Yunis.
The Hamas' official pointed to the
regime's earlier massacre of at least 12 people during attacks against a
Palestinian refugee camp in the city of Tulkarm in the northern part of the
occupied West Bank.
The goal sought by the regime's aggression
is to uproot the people of Gaza and the West Bank, and resettle them
respectively in Egypt and Jordan.
"The Palestinian nation," he,
however, added, "is committed to its land and will never accept either
resettlement or an alternative homeland."
Haniyeh expressed gratitude towards
Muslim and Arab countries, especially Egypt, for their opposition to the
resettlement scheme.
He described the only means of
resolution of the current situation as cessation of the Israeli occupation,
saying, "We announced this to all that these atrocities should be
condemned, and the murderers and the criminals should be tried and punished at
international courts."
The Hamas' leader, meanwhile, pointed to
American and European officials' recent trips to the occupied territories,
saying the visits seek to bolster the "cowardly Zionist army and the
disintegrated Israeli society" following the al-Aqsa Storm Operation.
The Israeli war came after Hamas and its
fellow Gaza-based resistance movement of the Islamic Jihad launched the
operation against the regime in response to its campaign of aggression,
violation, and bloodshed against Palestinians.
The operation killed around 1,200 people
and resulted in the captivity of at least 200 others.
Source: presstv.ir
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----------
Hamas operation was ‘extraordinary
accomplishment from military standpoint’: Scott Ritter
20 October 2023
The “Operation al-Aqsa Storm” launched
by the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas on October 7 was “an extraordinary
accomplishment from a strictly military standpoint,” former US military
intelligence officer Scott Ritter has said.
Ritter told Press TV on Thursday that
“what Hamas did is even in orders of magnitude greater than what many people
think.”
“It was stunning,” lauded Ritter, who is
a former US Marine Corps intelligence officer, and former United Nations
Special Commission (UNSCOM) weapons inspector.
The Gaza-based resistance movements of
Hamas and Islamic Jihad launched a large-scale operation on October 7 with a
heavy barrage of rockets in response to Israel’s desecration of the Al-Aqsa
Mosque and its campaign of aggression, violation, and bloodshed against
Palestinians.
The military operation shook the Israeli
security establishment, leaving 1,400 Israelis dead and hundreds of others
injured. The attack was considered the
biggest intelligence failure on the part of Israel since the 1973 war.
Ritter said that after 2014, and after
2020, Israelis “began to institute some major changes that were designed to
secure Gaza.”
“These changes included physical
barriers and the incorporation of the lot of remote sensing, a lot of constant
intelligence collection,” he said.
“So the Israelis have positioned
themselves to have total knowledge of what Hamas was up to. That was their
intent. This makes what Hamas did even more stunning because this was not as if
Israelis had let their guard down, that the Israelis had failed to consider
something,” he pointed out.
“Israelis – and I’ve worked with the
Israelis – they’re very intelligent, they’re very open-minded in how they
consider problems, and they are very innovative in the solutions they come up
with,” he stated.
“So we cannot diminish what Israel has
put in place. It was an extraordinarily complex technologically advanced system
designed to give Israel as complete a picture as possible about Hamas,” the
analyst noted.
“This means that what Hamas did is even
in orders of magnitude greater than what many people think,” he said.
“Their ability to defeat this Israeli
surveillance system and to be able to initiate an attack on Israeli facilities,
at the scope and scale of what Hamas did is an extraordinary accomplishment
from a strictly military standpoint,” Ritter noted.
Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed
Forces says the “glorious” Palestinian operation made Israel believe its
“nightmare of collapse” is coming to life.
“It means that people didn’t give Hamas
the level of credit that they deserve,” he stated.
“It shows a lack of imagination on the
part of the Israelis because when you built this system of total intelligence
awareness, it is programmed to look for certain things and they were looking
for things that were derived from the lessons of 2014, the lessons of 2020,
even the lessons of 2021, but they weren’t looking for is what happened in
2023, on October 7, 2023,” Ritter said.
“It’s clear that Hamas has been
collecting intelligence against the Israeli targets for some time now,” he
said.
“It’s also clear that its intelligence
was extraordinarily accurate, that they knew street locations, their house
names, the layouts, where weapons were, where security personnel were. They
knew the best routes of the given locations,” Ritter said.
“They knew how the Israeli system
worked. They knew where their weak spots were, and Israeli surveillance,” he
said.
“They understood the totality of the
Israeli surveillance even those aspects which are kept secret. , and not talked
about in public spheres because those aspects of secret acts of Israeli
intelligence didn’t detect what Hamas was doing,” Ritter observed.
Source: presstv.ir
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Europe
British intelligence chiefs warn Rishi
Sunak of terror risk spilling over into UK
20.10.23
Amit Roy
One important reason why Rishi Sunak
flew to Israel on Thursday in the wake of President Joe Biden’s trip is that
British intelligence chiefs have advised him there is a real risk of the
conflict in the region spilling over into the UK.
This is why the terror level in the UK
has been raised.
Ken McCallum, the director general of
Britain’s domestic spy agency, MI5, said there was a risk that “self-initiated”
individuals who may have been radicalised online might respond in “spontaneous
or unpredictable ways” in the UK after the terrorist attacks on Israel and what
could become a drawn-out conflict.
“There clearly is the possibility that
profound events in West Asia will either generate more volume of UK threat
and/or change its shape in terms of what is being targeted, in terms of how
people are taking inspiration,” he said.
On July 7, 2005, four suicide bombers —
three of them born in the UK of Pakistani parents — struck London’s transport
network, killing 52 people and injuring over 770 others.
As it is, three Jewish schools in London
have had to close and there have been several pro-Palestinian demonstrations
across the UK.
The total number of people
self-identifying as Jews in England and Wales in 2021 was 271,327.
That compares with the UK’s Muslim
population of about 3 million.
Rishi has to walk the tightrope of
expressing strong support for Israel and condemning Hamas as a terrorist
organisation — which he has done in no uncertain terms — while showing sympathy
for the cause of the Palestinian people and, more immediately, urging Israeli
forces to keep civilian casualties to a minimum.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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Britain’s Sunak to visit Egypt for
Israel, Gaza talks
October 20, 2023
LONDON: British Prime Minister Rishi
Sunak will travel to Egypt on Friday, part of a trip to the Middle East where
he wants to press his message that there should be no escalation of violence in
the region after the Hamas attack on Gaza.
Sunak was the latest Western leader to
visit Jerusalem on Thursday to show support for Israel and to try to negotiate
a way to secure the release of hostages taken by Hamas and ease the provision
of humanitarian aid to people in Gaza.
Later on Thursday, he met Crown Prince
Mohammed bin Salman in Saudi Arabia, where he encouraged the leader to use
Saudi’s leadership in the region to support stability, underlining the fear
that the Hamas attack and Israel’s response could ignite regional unrest.
In the talks in Egypt, Sunak will stress
“the imperative of avoiding regional escalation and preventing the further
unnecessary loss of civilian life,” his office said.
Source: arabnews.com
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German FM announces $52.8 million aid
for Gaza civilians
October 20, 2023
BERLIN: German Foreign Minister
AnnalenaBaerbock announced on Thursday 50 million euros ($52.8 million) in aid
for civilians in the Gaza Strip, on the first stage of a mini-tour of the
Middle East.
Germany was also preparing to send
medical teams into the Gaza Strip, she added, her ministry said in a statement.
The aim of her tour, she said, was to
express “unwavering solidarity” and to help ensure Palestinian access to aid.
She announced the aid package in Jordan,
the first stage of her tour of the region, which will also take in Lebanon and
Israel.
“Our message is clear,” she said at a
news conference in Amman with Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, according
to her ministry.
“We don’t abandon the innocent
Palestinian mothers, fathers and children.”
Before her departure, Baerbock insisted
on Israel’s “right to defend itself against Hamas terror” and accused the
militant group of using the civilian population of the Gaza Strip as “human
shields” in its conflict with Israel.
Hamas gunmen broke through Israel’s
heavily fortified Gaza border on October 7, killing more than 1,400 people,
most of them civilians, and taking at least 199 people hostage, according to
Israel.
Israel has responded to the attacks with
relentless air strikes on Gaza that have killed more than 3,470 people, mainly
civilians, according to the Hamas-controlled health ministry.
It has also imposed a crippling siege on
the Palestinian enclave that has left its inhabitants with dwindling supplies
of food, water and fuel.
“It is important to me to make clear to
Palestinians that we also recognize their suffering,” Baerbock said before
starting her tour. The humanitarian situation in Gaza was “catastrophic,” she said.
Baerbock, who already visited Israel and
Egypt last week followed by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, said Berlin was
working closely with the G7, European Union and regional partners to ensure aid
could flow into Gaza.
She said she would also “use the trip to
speak with all those who have channels to Hamas” to discuss how to secure the
release of hostages held by the group.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius
made a surprise visit to Lebanon on Thursday.
Pistorius’s ministry said his visit “at
short notice” was to thank German soldiers serving with UNIFIL, the UN
peacekeeping force deployed in a buffer zone between northern Israel and
southern Lebanon.
It posted on X, formerly Twitter, that
the minister also intended to “get informed about the impact of the conflict in
Israel and Gaza on the (German) contingent in the region.”
Source: arabnews.com
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How the EU discredited itself in the
Israel-Palestine conflict
20 Oct, 2023
European Commission President Ursula von
der Leyen’s showboating in support of Israel in the current Middle East
conflict has reportedly provoked a backlash from EU lawmakers and diplomats.
When the Israel-Gaza war broke out just
over a week ago, von der Leyen made the decision to offer unconditional support
to West Jerusalem rather than urge for calm or mediation, having Israel’s flag
projected onto the European Commission headquarters and paying a visit to Israel
herself. She clearly did so out of an inclination to appear in line with the
US. But her actions have aged poorly as reports of civilian deaths and
humanitarian disaster in the besieged Gaza Strip continue to mount.
Anyone familiar with von der Leyen knows
that she is an unapologetic neoconservative and transatlanticist who is
single-handedly undermining the autonomy, respect, and foreign policy stature
of the EU by actively working to make the bloc subordinate to the US in
multiple areas, all while attempting to showcase herself as a true regional
leader. If the EU sees itself in a fundamental competition with China and
Russia, there could not be a worse advert to the rest of the world than her
leadership, and her Israel blunders may be her most damaging decisions yet.
Von der Leyen’s foreign policy legacy
involves dragging the EU into several confrontations it could have done
without. This week, she is heading to Washington DC to try to forge a deal on
steel and aluminum trade targeted at China, but that will ultimately resort in
throwing the EU market under the bus, again. Other acts have included backing
the American position on Ukraine and striving for full escalation of the war
there, promoting energy decoupling with Russia, as well as inventing the term
“de-risking” with China and seeking to undermine the bloc’s lucrative
relationship with Beijing. Throughout this, she has been repeatedly eager to
pull large sums of money out of thin air and propose fantasy projects which
amount to little more than posturing, and which her office alone is not even
able to authorize.
For example, that includes offering
Belarus billions if it goes ahead with a US-backed regime change, or inventing
numerous “infrastructure” schemes to compete with China, such as the Global
Gateway, among other things. She has thus repeatedly used the stature of her
office to follow American objectives and try to shape the continent without
establishing any kind of due consensus. Almost immediately after the war in
Gaza broke out, the European Commission announced all EU aid to Palestine would
be frozen. Regardless of what you think of Hamas, with hindsight that decision
now appears spiteful, reactionary and inhumane, which tells you how fast the
Commission was to jump to the American position of unconditional support for
Israel.
But this time there is a widespread
feeling it has gone too far. Rather than allowing Europe to have staked out a
moderate position on the Gaza conflict, even if it would not be too sympathetic
to Palestine, the decision was essentially outsourced to the US, discrediting
the EU and only serving to contribute to the growing backlash starting to
emerge among Muslim communities in response to the conflict. For countries such
as France, this is disastrous. This hurts the EU’s image across the Islamic
world and the Global South by seemingly siding with the oppressors.
Soon enough, a series of embarrassing
U-turns followed, including the reinstatement of aid, combined with tweets in
Arabic, but the damage had already been done, because Israel has long been
given the green light to pursue unparalleled destruction in Gaza, at seemingly
whatever the cost. In doing so, von der Leyen has in fact undermined, in yet
another way, the bloc’s ability to present itself as a serious and comprehensive
political actor. She seems to have no love for the idea that the EU should have
strategic autonomy and be capable of calibrating its own interests and place in
the world, and would prefer that it instead be a simple parrot of the US.
Of course, if she took into greater
consideration the interests and positions of member states it would be less of
a problem. But she does not and instead essentially serves as a completely
disruptive force, in practice undermining European diplomacy and preventing the
EU from building relations with a wide range of states. In the end, this favors
only the US.
Source: rt.com
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European Commission President compares
Russia to Hamas
20 OCTOBER 2023
Ursula von der Leyen, the President of
the European Commission, has warned of the threat of further expansion of the
conflict in the Middle East against the background of the confrontation between
Israel and the terrorist group Hamas.
Source: Ursula von der Leyen during a
public lecture at the Hudson Institute, as reported by European Pravda
Details: She said that just as Russian
President Vladimir Putin wants to wipe Ukraine off the map, so Hamas, with the
support of Iran, wants to wipe Israel off the map.
"Iran, Hamas' patron, only wants to
fuel the fire of chaos. Russia, Iran's wartime customer, is watching carefully.
Russia and Hamas are alike," von der Leyen stressed.
"These terrorists, supported by
their friends in Tehran will never stop. And so, Israel has the right to defend
itself in line with humanitarian law. And in the face of this horror, there is
only one possible response from democratic nations like us: We stand with
Israel", she summed up.
In the same speech, the President of the
European Commission stated that the European Union and the United States should
accelerate Ukraine's victory in the war with the Russian Federation by
providing it with assistance.
Earlier, von der Leyen stated that the
conflict in the Middle East would not affect the EU's readiness to help Ukraine
during the war launched against it by Russia.
Source: pravda.com.ua
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Arab World
Saudi Crown Prince urges UN Chief to
play role for de-escalation to ensure peace in ME
October 20, 2023
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman
has urged the United Nations to play its role in providing safe humanitarian
corridors to deliver medical care, food and other necessities to civilians
under siege in Gaza.
In a phone call with UN
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, he stressed the importance of de-escalation
and exerting all possible efforts to prevent violence spillover in the region.
He also emphasized the need to create
conditions for the return of stability and peace to ensure that the Palestinian
people get their legitimate rights.
Source: radio.gov.pk
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Al Jazeera disputes Israel’s claim about
hospital strike
October 20, 2023
TWO days after the air strike on Gaza’s
Al Ahli Arab hospital, the Qatar-based news network Al Jazeera has disputed the
Israeli army claim that the explosion at the hospital resulted from a failed
rocket launch by the Islamic Jihad.
The Israel Defence Forces have used Al
Jazeera’s live feed at the time of the attack as proof that one of the rockets
fired from Gaza, as visible in the footage, was responsible for the damage to
the hospital.
The broadcaster said its Sanad Agency
for fact-checking and digital investigation had analysed the Israeli claims and
other “time-coded footage from several sources”, including its own live
broadcast.
“The investigation reveals that Israeli
statements seem to have misinterpreted the evidence to build a story that one
of the flashes recorded by several sources was a rocket misfire,” it added.
After a detailed review of videos,
Sanad‘s analysts concluded that the flash attributed by Israel to a misfired
rocket was “in fact consistent with Israel’s Iron Dome missile defence system“,
intercepting a missile and destroying it in mid-air.
As per Al Jazeera’s analysis, there were
four Israeli air strikes targeting areas near the hospital between 6.45pm and
7pm on Tuesday.
These strikes were carried out at
6.54pm, 6.55pm, 6.57pm and 6.58pm, around the time of the attack at the
hospital.
It added that at 6.59pm, a rocket was
fired from Gaza, which Israel claimed hit the hospital. Around 15 seconds
later, Al Jazeera’s live feed showed the rocket was intercepted mid-air and
“completely destroyed”. It was the last rocket launched from Gaza before the bombing
of the hospital, the news channel stated.
“Five seconds after that interception,
an explosion in Gaza can be seen, followed two seconds later by a much larger
explosion. This is the strike that hit the Al Ahli Arab hospital.”
There were no grounds for the Israeli
army’s claim that the strike was caused by a failed rocket launch, Al Jazeera
concluded.
Source: dawn.com
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How Arab states are aiding Palestinians
amid Gaza’s deepening humanitarian emergency
October 19, 2023
REBECCA ANNE PROCTOR
RIYADH: As the humanitarian crisis in
Gaza worsens in tandem with Israel’s expanding war with the Palestinian
militant group Hamas, the Arab Gulf states have been pledging aid and support
to assist civilians living under siege and daily bombardment.
Since Hamas launched its unprecedented
cross-border attack on Israel on Oct. 7, Gaza has been under strict Israeli
embargo, depriving its 2.2 million-strong population of food, water, medicine,
and electricity.
Gaza’s only power plant quickly shut
down owing to a lack of fuel. According to the UN, hospitals in the Gaza Strip,
where thousands of civilians have taken shelter, are expected to run out of
generator fuel within days, putting the lives of patients at risk.
The siege, combined with the closure of
the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt, meant that humanitarian aid agencies
found it impossible to deliver assistance. More than 200 trucks and some 3,000
tons of aid are reported to be positioned at or near the Rafah crossing, Gaza’s
only connection to Egypt.
UNICEF, the UN children’s agency, has
said that unless water and fuel are sent “immediately,” Gaza inhabitants are in
“imminent danger” of epidemics and death.
On Wednesday, Israel said it would allow
Egypt to deliver limited humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. The announcement
to allow water, food, and other supplies came as anger over the blast at Gaza
City’s Al-Ahli Hospital spread across the Middle East, and as US President Joe
Biden visited Israel in hopes of preventing a wider conflict in the region.
Biden said Egyptian President Abdel
Fattah El-Sisi agreed to open the crossing and to let in an initial group of 20
trucks with humanitarian aid. The convoy would start moving on Friday at the
earliest, White House officials said.
The office of the Israeli prime minister
said Israel “will not thwart” deliveries of food, water, or medicine from
Egypt, as long as they are limited to civilians in the south of Gaza and do not
go to Hamas militants.
Supplies would go in under the
supervision of the UN, Egyptian Foreign Minister SamehShoukry told Al-Arabiya
TV.
The Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing
has been bombed multiple times since Israel launched its war on Hamas. Egypt
will have to repair the road across the border that was cratered by Israeli
airstrikes.
“At this stage, we can’t bring aid into
Gaza,” Christoph Hangar, a spokesperson for the International Committee of the
Red Cross in Geneva, told Arab News before the Israeli announcement was made.
“We are pre-positioning staff and relief
items as we speak so we’re ready when access to Gaza is granted, which it must
urgently be.”
In response to the deepening
humanitarian emergency, Arab Gulf states have renewed their commitment to the
resolution of the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict and pledged millions
of dollars in aid to the relief effort.
Israel has ordered residents of north
Gaza to leave for the south, hoping perhaps to clear the area of civilians in
preparation for a ground invasion, which would likely involve brutal urban
combat.
The Oct. 7 attack killed at least 1,400
people, most of them Israeli civilians, and resulted in the capture of more
than 200 people, who are now being held hostage in Gaza by Hamas and other
“resistance factions.”
The presence of the hostages in the
enclave has complicated Israel’s plans for a ground invasion.
Antonio Guterres, the UN
secretary-general, was due to meet El-Sisi in Egypt on Thursday to discuss how
to get humanitarian aid into Gaza.
Stephane Dujarric, the spokesperson for
the UN chief, said in a statement: “Obviously, in order to move humanitarian
aid through Gaza, we need safe passage. We can’t move humanitarian trucks and
convoys while active bombardment is ongoing.
“There are intense discussions going on
in which we’re involved with a number of parties in order to try to get the
most basic humanitarian aid in as quickly as possible and that’s food, water,
medicine. Those things are urgently needed.”
“Since the creation of Israel, the Saudi
population and government have always been very sympathetic to the Palestinian
cause,” Khaled Al-Maeena, a Saudi political commentator, told Arab News.
“It was done out of genuine goodwill for
the Palestinian people who were oppressed and whose lands were occupied. What
we are witnessing now is a Palestinian holocaust.”
Since 2000, the Saudi aid agency
KSrelief has provided more than $6 billion in aid to the Palestinian people
across multiple sectors, including food security, health, education, water,
sanitation, and shelter.
In 2022 alone, Saudi Arabia contributed
$27 million to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees. On
Monday, Saudi Arabia announced it would be donating a further $2 million to
UNRWA.
The money was presented to Philippe
Lazzarini, the UNRWA commissioner general, by Naif Al-Sudairi, the Saudi
ambassador to Jordan, at the Saudi Embassy in Amman on Sunday.
Saudi Arabia’s private sector has also
been making pledges. McDonald’s KSA has publicly announced it will be donating
$533,000 to Gaza relief efforts, stating it was “proud of its Saudi identity”
and support for humanitarian issues.
“As a purely Saudi company, we have been
proud, since our inception, of our Saudi identity, and our continuous
contribution to supporting our economy and national community and adopting
social and humanitarian matters that our community is concerned with,” the
restaurant chain said in an online statement.
“We are delighted to announce that
McDonald’s KSA will be donating SR2 million ($533,201) to support the relief
efforts for the citizens of Gaza, may God help them. This contribution follows
coordination with the relevant official authorities.”
Prior to the conflict, US-brokered talks
had been underway concerning the potential normalization of relations between
Saudi Arabia and Israel pending clear signs of progress on the status of the
Palestinians.
In August, while these talks were
ongoing, the Kingdom also offered to resume financial support for the
Palestinian Authority.
How the present crisis will impact the
normalization talks remains to be seen, but the Kingdom’s stance on the need to
resolve the Palestinian question remains unchanged.
In a statement following the Hamas
attack, the Saudi Foreign Ministry said it was “renewing its call on the
international community to assume its responsibilities and activate a credible
peace process that leads to a two-state solution in a way that achieves
security and peace in the region and protects civilians.”
In 2020, the UAE became the first Arab
Gulf state to normalize relations with Israel under the US-brokered Abraham
Accords.
A Comprehensive Economic Partnership
Agreement between the two countries came into effect in March this year,
signifying Israel’s first free trade agreement with an Arab state. Bahrain and
Morocco followed suit.
In response to the crisis now unfolding
in Gaza, the UAE has launched a campaign dubbed Tarahum — or “compassion” in
Arabic — to help vulnerable civilians, particularly the 1 million children who
make up nearly half of Gaza’s population.
Overseen by the Emirates Red Crescent,
the UAE has called for donations and volunteers, with its first relief center
established at the Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal.
A plane carrying medical supplies has
already been sent to the Egyptian city of El-Arish before onward transit to the
Rafah border crossing, according to the Emirati state news agency WAM.
On Tuesday, Mohammed bin Rashid
Al-Maktoum, prime minister of the UAE, directed the provision of $20 million in
humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people.
Qatar has likewise established its own
aid effort, deploying a plane bound for El-Arish on Monday carrying 37 tons of
food and medical aid, provided by the Qatar Fund for Development under the
direction of Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani.
“This aid is part of the State of
Qatar’s full support for the fraternal Palestinian people amid the difficult
humanitarian conditions due to the Israeli bombardment on the Gaza Strip,”
Qatar’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Palestinians have been massing at the
sealed Rafah border crossing since the crisis began, in the hope of leaving
Gaza before the much talked about ground offensive begins. On the other side of
the border fence, aid agencies are powerless to intervene.
“We are exploring all avenues to bring
life-saving aid into Gaza,” said Hangar of the ICRC. “This initial goods convoy
includes medicine and thousands of household kits for families which include
hygiene items and chlorine tablets for drinking water.”
He added: “We are also urgently
deploying staff to relieve colleagues in Gaza whenever we are able to move in.
This includes a mobile surgical team and other health staff, a weapons contamination
expert, and relief coordinators specialized in water and habitat and food
security.”
Source: arabnews.com
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Saudi Arabia highlights achievements at
UNESCO session
October 19, 2023
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s permanent
delegation to UNESCO participated in the works of the 217th session of the
executive board of UNESCO, which concluded on Wednesday in Paris.
The delegation was headed by Fahad
Al-Ruwaily, Saudi ambassador to France and Monaco and the Kingdom’s permanent
representative to UNESCO. The delegation was joined by various other competent
national bodies.
The Saudi delegation stressed the
Kingdom’s keenness in leading the field of artificial intelligence in a way
that served humanity. It said that the Kingdom was one of the first countries
to adopt UNESCO’s ethics of AI, and one of the first member states to call for
its adoption in a way that ensuredachieving sustainable development goals.
In digital learning, the delegation
shared current developments in the Saudi education system, highlighting the
Kingdom’s pioneering role in digital education at the Arab level.
The delegation also highlighted that the
Kingdom, in cooperation with the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization, launched the Islamic World Cultural Index Project with
the aim of strengthening international efforts in this field and to enhance the
participation of Islamic countries in global cultural activities.
The Kingdom reiterated its desire to
host the UNESCO World Conference on Cultural Policies and Sustainable
Development (Mondiacult) in 2025.
Saudi Arabia was also selected by
unanimous vote to host the works of the extended 45th session of the World
Heritage Committee, during which Uruq Bani Ma’arid Reserve was included on the
World Heritage List as the seventh Saudi world heritage site to be registered.
The Kingdom also chaired an open-ended
working group of state parties to the World Heritage Convention.
Source: arabnews.com
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Traditional Saudi crafts showcased to
world at Riyadh exhibition
October 19, 2023
HAIFA ALSHAMMARI
RIYADH: Sadu, a traditional form of
weaving historically carried out by Bedouin women, was one the crafts taking
center stage at an exhibition showcasing Saudi products to the world.
More than 100 brands and organizations
took part in the second edition of the Saudi Made event, held at the Riyadh
Front Exhibition and Convention Center.
The four-day industry gathering, which
ended on Thursday, saw Saudi products and services being promoted to regional
and international markets.
The exhibition aims to help companies in
the Kingdom create export opportunities, forge links with key importers, while
displaying the country’s craft heritage to visitors.
BadriyahAlmutairi, a Saudi Sadu trainer,
was presenting at the Heritage Commission’s booth.
She said: “It is beautiful that people
can see our tradition in our products. Heritage is the basis of industries.
“Sadu is a purely female craft. It was a
Bedouin custom that men did not practice, in the same way that women did not
roast, prepare, or drink coffee.”
The embroidered textile is widespread in
Bedouin traditions, especially in the Najd region. It is woven in a horizontal
pattern using mainly camel or goat hair, or sheep wool.
“We took Sadu from our environment.
Women made pillows, tents, and textiles but now it has become a profession, a
sustainability profession,” Almutairi added.
Other crafts on show at the exhibition
included Al-Qatt Al-Asiri, an ancient interior wall decoration art form using
bright colors and common to homes in Asir.
In addition, pottery, Najdi doors, and
Arabic calligraphy were also highlighted by the commission through workshops
and a mini art gallery.
Many of the Saudi products go on to be
displayed by the commission at international craft, fashion, and arts events in
countries such as Italy and France.
Bandar Al-Khorayef, the Saudi minister
of industry and mineral resources and chairman of the Saudi Export Development
Authority, attended the first day of the event along with several other senior
figures.
Source: arabnews.com
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Saudi Arabia hosts historic GCC-ASEAN
summit to strengthen ties on Friday
October 19, 2023
RIYADH — Leaders from Southeast Asia
have begun arriving in the Saudi capital for the inaugural Association of
Southeast Asian Nations-Gulf Cooperation Council Summit scheduled for Friday.
The summit is anticipated to conclude
with the issuance of a joint statement outlining the outcomes and cooperation
plans for the period from 2024 to 2028. For Southeast Asian leaders, the
meeting presents a unique opportunity to explore collaboration with Gulf
states, particularly on matters related to energy security.
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC),
composed of Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and the UAE, will
engage with the ASEAN bloc, consisting of Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore,
Thailand, Vietnam, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and the
Philippines.
The GCC-ASEAN relationship is rooted in
shared bonds, including strategic locations, economic progress, international
investment partnerships, cultural development, and a commitment to
international peace and stability. The history of these relations dates back to
March 1986, marked by the initiation of contacts and economic dialogues.
The significance of this relationship
lies in joint efforts to promote peace, prosperity, and the well-being of their
peoples. Ministerial meetings, strategic dialogues, and the signing of
memoranda of understanding have characterized the journey of cooperation
between the GCC and ASEAN.
The upcoming summit follows the
preparatory meeting held in Riyadh in August, where discussions centered on
strengthening relations and enhancing cooperation.
The trade volume between the GCC and
ASEAN reached $93.9 billion in 2019, demonstrating the economic synergy between
the regions. Petroleum products, plastic derivatives, and precious metals
constitute significant portions of this trade.
The summit aims to elevate coordination
on mutual interests, activate regional and global strategic partnerships, and
benefit the citizens of the GCC countries and the wider region. It marks the
first leadership-level GCC-ASEAN Summit and reflects the commitment of GCC
countries, led by Saudi Arabia, to establish partnerships with influential
international blocs. The framework for joint cooperation for the next five
years, covering political, security, economic, and investment cooperation, is
expected to be adopted during the summit.
Source: saudigazette.com.sa
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Crown Prince and British PM discuss Gaza
escalation in Riyadh meeting
October 19, 2023
RIYADH — Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin
Salman held a meeting on Thursday with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in
Riyadh. The discussions centered around the current military escalation in Gaza
and the international efforts being made to address the situation.
During the meeting, the Crown Prince
emphasized the need to exert all possible efforts to de-escalate the situation
and ensure that the violence does not spread, avoiding its serious
repercussions on the security and peace in the region and the world. He
underscored the importance of creating conditions for the return of stability
and the resumption of the peace process, ensuring that the Palestinian people
obtain their legitimate rights.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman stated
that targeting civilians in Gaza is a heinous crime and a brutal attack,
emphasizing the necessity of working to provide protection for them.
Source: saudigazette.com.sa
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Qatar participates in 9th Conference of
Environment Ministers in Islamic World
20 Oct 2023
Qatar participated in the 9th Conference
of Environment Ministers in the Islamic World, hosted by Saudi Arabia in
cooperation with the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization (ICESCO) in Jeddah.
Minister of Environment and Climate
Change H E Sheikh Dr. Faleh bin Nasser bin Ahmed bin Ali Al Thani chaired
Qatar’s delegation to the conference held under the theme “Toward Achieving
Green Transformation in the Islamic World.”
The two-day conference, which concluded
yesterday, discussed a number of reports and topics related to environmental
issues and sustainable development in the Islamic world, as well as activating
joint environmental and development work.
Source: thepeninsulaqatar.com
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North America
As Israel-Hamas war rages, Israelis can
now travel to US for 90 days without getting a visa
October 20, 2023
WASHINGTON: As the Israel-Hamas war
intensifies, the United States Thursday launched a visa waiver program allowing
Israelis wishing to visit the United States for 90 days or less to come without
applying for a visa.
The US announced Sept. 27 that it was
admitting Israel into the visa waiver program, adding the country to a select
group of 40 mostly European and Asian countries whose citizens can travel to
the US for three months without visas.
At the time, the US said Israelis could
start traveling to America without visas as of November 30. In a news release,
the Department of Homeland Security said the program was operational as of
Thursday.
Officials gave no reason for the changed
timeline in a news release Thursday. But just days after Israel’s admittance to
the visa waiver program, Hamas launched attacks against numerous locations in
southern Israel. Since then the Israeli military has relentlessly attacked
locations in the Gaza Strip as it prepares for a ground invasion.
Under the waiver program, Israelis first
register with the Electronic System for Travel Authorization. That’s an
automated system that helps determine whether the person is eligible to travel,
Homeland Security said in the news release. The process can take up to 72
hours. Then they can travel to the US
To be eligible, Israelis must have a
biometrically enabled passport. Those who don’t have such a passport still must
apply for a US visa, the department said.
Countries that want to take part in the
visa program have to meet three critical benchmarks. Israel met two of those
benchmarks over the past two years: a low percentage of Israelis who applied
for visas and were rejected and a low percentage of Israelis who have
overstayed their visas. Israel had struggled to meet the third, for reciprocity
that essentially means all US citizens, including Palestinian Americans, must
be treated equally when traveling to or through Israel.
Many critics said that despite American
assertions, Palestinian Americans were still facing discrimination when
traveling to Israel.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2394521/middle-east
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Illinois man charged after threatening
to shoot 2 men because they were Muslim, police say
Oct. 20, 2023
DUPAGE COUNTY, Ill. (Gray News) - An
Illinois man has been arrested and charged with allegedly threatening to shoot
two men because they were Muslim.
DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert
Berlin and Lombard Chief of Police Tom Wirsing announced Thursday that
46-year-old Larry York of Lombard, Illinois, was charged with two felony hate
crime counts.
According to a news release, one of the
victims arrived at a Lombard apartment complex to meet a friend at 8:30 p.m.
Tuesday.
While the man was seated in his car
waiting for his friend, York approached the vehicle and asked the victim what
he was doing there and then began swearing at the man and telling him he did
not belong in this country and to leave.
The release states York allegedly
punched the man’s car window and then walked back to the lobby of the building.
When York entered the lobby, the second victim was exiting the elevator, at
which time York began swearing at him and threatened to beat him.
A short time later, as one of the men
was seated on a bench outside the building, police say York again approached
the men and twice lifted the opposite end of the bench off the ground, causing
the man seated on the bench to fall to the ground.
York told the men that he called four of
his friends to come over and shoot the two men. York then threatened to shoot
the men and shouted profanities.
The Lombard Police Department’s investigation
led to York, who was taken into custody the following day at a bar in Lombard
without incident.
“Hate crimes have no place in a
civilized society,” Berlin said. “The allegations against Mr. York are
extremely disturbing and in DuPage County, we have no tolerance whatsoever for
such vitriolic actions, as alleged in this case.”
York is scheduled to be arraigned on
Nov. 2, 2023.
“The Village of Lombard is a proudly
diverse community,” Wirsing said. “The alleged behaviors and threat of violence
made by Larry York are absolutely unacceptable and have no place within our
community. Residents should remain vigilant against hate crimes and similar
conduct and we would encourage anyone who experiences or witnesses a hate
incident to report it to the Lombard Police Department.”
Source: kcrg.com
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Pentagon: US Navy intercepts three
missiles fired from Yemen ‘potentially’ at Israel
20 Oct 2023
WASHINGTON, Oct 20 — A US Navy ship in
the Red Sea on Thursday shot down missiles and drones that had been fired by
Iran-backed Huthi rebels in Yemen, possibly at Israel, the Pentagon said.
Three “land-attack cruise missiles and
several drones” were intercepted by a destroyer, Pentagon spokesman Brigadier
General Pat Ryder told reporters. The attack was “launched by Huthi forces in
Yemen” potentially toward targets in Israel, he added.
The ship, USS Carney, was patrolling in
the Red Sea as part of a heavily reinforced US military presence ordered by
President Joe Biden to maintain stability in the wake of war between Israel and
the Hamas militant group in the Gaza Strip.
Ryder said that missiles were fired from
Yemen where the Iranian-backed Huthi rebels are at war with a government backed
by a Saudi-led coalition.
He said there were no US casualties and
that the intercepted missiles likely fell in open water, not over land.
“We cannot say for certain what these
missiles were targeting, but they were launched from Yemen, heading north along
the Red Sea.”
“Our defensive response was one we would
have taken for any similar threat in the region,” he said.
“We have the capability to defend our
broader interests in the region and to deter regional escalation and broader
expansion of the conflict that began with Hamas’ attack on Israeli civilians.”
Biden has ordered increased air and
naval assets — including dispatching two aircraft carriers — to the Middle East
to guard against the Israel-Hamas war spilling over in the tinderbox region.
On Tuesday, the Pentagon also ordered
2,000 personnel on standby for potential deployment.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the
deployment would allow the United States “to respond more quickly” to the
crisis, while the White House stressed it did not intend to put US combat
forces on the ground.
US media reported the troops being
readied for deployment would cover support roles, such as medical assistance
and handling explosives.
Biden flew to Israel in a dramatic show
of US support this week and was due to speak from the White House later
Thursday in a speech urging Congress to fund military backing for Israel and
another embattled US ally — Ukraine.
Asked by journalists late Wednesday
about reports that his administration had told Israel that US forces would
fight alongside Israeli troops in response to any attack by the powerful
Lebanese movement Hezbollah against Israel, Biden said this was “not true.”
However, he said that “our military is
talking with their military about what the alternatives are” in the event of a
Hezbollah attack. — AFP
Source: malaymail.com
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Canada withdraws dozens of diplomats
from India amid Nijjar assassination conflict
October 20, 2023
Canadian diplomats have left India amid
the diplomatic row between New Dehli and Ottawa that was sparked over the
killing of the Sikh leader, Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
According to media reports, the Indian
government asked Canada to call back its staff with a threat that their
immunity would be waived if they stayed on the soil.
The leader of the Khalistan Tiger Force
(KTF), Hardeep Singh Nijjar, was gunned down in June outside a gurdwara in
Surrey, Canada which also echoed last month in PM Justin Trudeau's speech in
the House of Commons, underlining Indian involvement in the fatality.
According to Canada's foreign minister,
Melanie Joly, a number of its diplomats left India. She said India had said
that immunity for "all but 21 diplomats" will be "unilaterally
removed" by 20 October, adding that the remaining 21 diplomats are still
in India, but the withdrawal means Canada will have to limit its services in
the country due to a shortage of staff.
There are a total of 62 diplomats
stationed in the South Asian nation.
After the assassination, Trudeau told
the Indian government "to help uncover the truth of this matter",
corroborating his claim with the intelligence his administration had.
New Delhi and Ottawa asked their
respective senior diplomats to leave the country as the Indian decision of
expulsion reflected its "growing concern at the interference of Canadian
diplomats in the internal matters and their involvement in [anti-state]
activities", according to the foreign ministry.
Trudeau had said that Indian agents
played a role in the June murder of Nijjar, a Canadian citizen, near Vancouver.
The fallout prompted a forceful denial
from India, which said any suggestion it played a role in Nijjar's killing was
"absurd."
India had also ceased handling visa
applications in Canada, blaming "security threats" which they said
were "disrupting" the work of their officials and sought a reduction
of Canadian diplomatic staff in India.
Trudeau insisted that his government
"is not looking to provoke or cause problems" when asked why Canada's
allies' reactions to the allegations appeared muted.
Trudeau requested the Indian
government's help, saying he merely wanted to ensure the safety of Canadians.
"Specifically, the move will put a
pause on in-person operations in Bangalore, Mumbai, and Chandigarh," the
minister said, noting that services will still be available out of the High
Commission of Canada in Delhi.
She told during a media conference:
"India saying it would remove diplomatic immunity for Canadian envoys is a
violation of international law which will not be reciprocated."
Source: thenews.com.pk
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Inside this week's mass arrests of
pro-Palestinian Jewish activists at the US Capitol
20 October, 2023
When 500 Jewish activists walked into
the US Capitol rotunda on Wednesday, 18 October, including Jay Saper with
Jewish Voice for Peace, they did so knowing they would soon be arrested.
They thought it was important for them,
as Jews, to speak out about Israel's military assault on Gaza, as politicians
invoke the name of their faith when declaring their unconditional support for
Israel.
"What we did was we showed to the
entire world that there are Jews who want a ceasefire," Saper told The New
Arab hours after being released from jail.
"We want to make it clear that we,
as Jews, are opposed to Islamophobia and that we support justice for
Palestinians. It's been so hurtful to see Congress use dehumanising language to
discuss Palestinians, leading to an uptick in violence. Politicians are
contributing to a hostile climate," said Saper.
"We have to come together to do
everything we can to stop genocide from happening in real-time."
After helping lead a march of 10,000
Jews and others from the National Mall to Congress, estimated to be the largest
ever Jewish-led demonstration in solidarity with Palestinians, the break-away
group of 500 walked into the rotunda of the Capitol, a public building, wearing
suits as though they were lobbyists.
Once inside, they all removed their
dress shirts and showed their T-shirts that read: "Not in Our Name"
on the front and "Jews say cease-fire now" on the back.
They assembled in the rotunda, with most
on the ground floor and some on the balcony overlooking the crowd, singing and
chanting.
From New York to Washington
It was a plan only days in the making,
but one they were determined to go through with, as they didn't want to let
more time go by without speaking up amid the rapidly changing developments on
the ground in Israel and Gaza, with the Palestinian enclave's quickly dwindling
resources and threats of a ground war.
Last Friday, Saper, who lives in New
York, was part of a group of protesters arrested in front of the home of Senate
Majority Leader Chuck Schumer prior to his trip to Israel.
After the activists in New York were
released from jail the next morning, they began planning their trip to
Washington, DC, chartering buses to bring demonstrators from different states
to the nation's capital. The demonstration on Monday in front of the White
House saw more arrests, giving them more publicity for Wednesday's march to
Congress.
"We needed to come to DC. It's here
where Congress sends $3.8 billion to Israel each year. Nothing that Israel is
doing is possible without US complicity and US moral cover," Saper said.
In the rotunda, the activists, which
included rabbis from out of town, many wearing traditional Jewish garb, linked
arms, chanted and sang. Determined to give a voice to Gazans, they read
testimonies from Gaza.
A spontaneous demonstrator joins the
movement
While Saper and others from progressive
Jewish groups had expected to get arrested, there was at least one person, a
congressional staffer who happened to be at work at the time, who spontaneously
decided to join in the protest.
"I came back to the office, and I
heard they were in the rotunda. I felt so moved by their action that I joined
them," Philip Bennett, director of operations for Congresswoman Summer Lee
of Pennsylvania, told TNA the day after the demonstration after being released
from jail.
"It was really powerful. I didn't
have any plan. I was arrested with all of them. I was in my work clothes. They
were wearing matching T-shirts," said Bennett, who says he grew up Jewish
in a household that supported US policy in Israel.
"This whole week, I feel like
Capitol Hill makes you feel insane for wanting to do the right thing," he
said. But, once he was at the demonstration, he said, "I felt seen, at
peace and validated."
He added, "I think everyone
underestimated how rapidly the politics of this issue is changing."
Getting arrested
The arrests came in slow waves, as it
took some time for the police to handcuff all of the demonstrators in the
rotunda. Saper was doing a live interview with Al-Jazeera shortly before
getting handcuffed.
The detainees were taken on buses to a
facility that resembled a large garage, where they were held overnight. They
were separated from their belongings, leaving them without the snacks they'd
brought. Eventually, they were offered bologna sandwiches, which as pork went
against the Jews' dietary restrictions. After negotiating with the officers,
they were allowed to access their own food that they'd brought.
The detainees recall the atmosphere in
the jail as uncomfortable but uplifting, as they did what they could to support
one another, with rabbis reciting prayers to commemorate the moment.
"It was one of the most deeply
moving experiences of my life, and I was really moved to tears to witness the
phenomenal dedication of so many people coming here to the halls of Congress
putting their bodies on the line," said Saper.
"I have extended family that was
killed in the Holocaust. We were taking action in the halls of Congress that we
wish others had done for us. We know from past genocides that we have to take
action."
Source: newarab.com
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Large blasts heard inside US military
bases in Syria, Iraq: Report
20 October 2023
Two military bases, used by American
troops and their military advisors, in Syria's eastern province of Dayr al-Zawr
and near the Baghdad International Airport in the Iraqi capital have been hit
by a series of large explosions amid rising anti-US sentiment in the two
neighboring Arab countries.
Syria’s official news agency SANA,
citing local sources speaking on condition of anonymity, reported that two
separate missile attacks targeted the al-Omar oil field and the gas line
connecting to the Conoco gas field in Dayr al-Zawr province early on Friday.
The sources added that a strike hit the
transmission pipeline, used by US occupation forces and allied Kurdish-led
militants affiliated with the so-called Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to steal
natural gas from the Conoco field, in the Abu Khashab desert area.
American occupation forces and allied
SDF militants were subsequently put on high alert, and many military aircraft
were seen hovering in the skies over the area, according to the report.
The sources added that another missile
attack targeted the al-Omar oil field. There were no immediate reports about
possible casualties and the extent of damage caused.
Two US military bases in southeast and
east Syria have been reportedly targeted in drone and rocket attacks.
Moreover, explosions were heard near the
US-run Victoria military base, which is adjacent to Baghdad airport.
Lebanon’s al-Mayadeen television news
network reported that three rockets were launched at the base early on Friday.
Earlier on Thursday, a US military base
in southern Syria was targeted in a drone attack. The al-Tanf base, located in
Homs province, was targeted by three drones, according to al-Mayadeen.
Sabereen News, a Telegram news channel
associated with Iraqi anti-terror Popular Mobilization Units, also reported the
incident.
US military contractor dies of heart
attack during al-Asad airbase attack
Meanwhile, a US military contractor,
whose identity has not been disclosed, lost his life during the recent attack
on the al-Asad Airbase in western Iraq.
Brigadier General Patrick S. Ryder, the
US Department of Defense Press Secretary, stated that the contractor, whose
identity has not been disclosed, suffered a heart attack while attempting to
seek shelter.
He added that Americans are
“investigating the recent attacks and the party behind them.”
On Thursday, Iraq's Harakat Hezbollah
al-Nujaba movement claimed responsibility for the missile strike against the
Ain al-Asad base.
Firas al-Yasser, a member of the
political council of the movement, told al-Mayadeen that the attack was in line
with the “fight on one front” doctrine.
Yasser highlighted that Islamic
resistance groups in Iraq are gearing up to prepare surprises against American
interests as Israeli aggression against the besieged Gaza Strip is poised to
escalate.
Source: presstv.ir
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Both Hamas and Putin share common goal
to destroy neighbouring democracy – Biden
20 OCTOBER 2023
US President Joe Biden condemned the
actions of both Hamas and Russian President Vladimir Putin in a speech in the
Oval Office on Thursday evening, saying that the attacks on Israel and the
invasion of Ukraine have common motives.
Quote from Biden: "Hamas and Putin
represent different threats, but they share this in common: they both want to
completely annihilate a neighboring democracy, completely annihilate it."
Details: Biden said that when terrorists
do not pay for terror and when dictators do not pay for aggression, they bring
even more chaos, death and aggression: "They keep going. And the cost and
the threats to America and the world keep rising. So if we don’t stop Putin’s
appetite for power and control in Ukraine, he won’t limit himself to just
Ukraine."
In his address, Biden also said he would
send an urgent budget request to the Congress to help support Israel and
Ukraine.
Source: pravda.com.ua
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https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2023/10/20/7424922/
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Southeast Asia
Meta denies Malaysian Facebook page
admins at risk by posting about Palestine, but clarifies praise for Hamas not
allowed
By Zarrah Morden
20 Oct 2023
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 20 — Meta Platforms
Inc has denied a WhatsApp message claiming that business Facebook page
administrators have been warned against posting content related to the
Palestine-Israel conflict.
The parent of social media platforms
Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp said the company’s policies are designed to
give everyone a voice while prioritising safety, regardless of personal
beliefs.
“The suggestion that we’re trying to
suppress a particular community or point of view is categorically untrue,”
Xiaohan Wu, its partner manager for Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore, said in
a statement mailed to Malaysia's fact-checking network JomCheck.
“Our policies are designed to give
everyone a voice while keeping people safe on our apps, and we apply these
policies regardless of who is posting or their personal beliefs.”
The original poster of the WhatsApp text
in question claimed they had received a call from Meta Malaysia saying that
administrators of business pages on Facebook who post content related to
Palestine anywhere, including in their personal accounts, would be placing
their business pages at risk.
Wu also pointed to an October 13
statement by Meta regarding measures it has taken in response to the spread of
potentially harmful content amid the Israel-Hamas war.
Among others, the statement said posts
praising Palestinian militant group Hamas are not allowed on Meta’s platforms
as Hamas is designated by the United States government as both a “foreign
terrorist organisation” and “specially designated global terrorists”.
“This means Hamas is banned from our
platforms, and we remove praise and substantive support of them when we become
aware of it, while continuing to allow social and political discourse — such as
news reporting, human rights-related issues, or academic, neutral and
condemning discussion,” it said.
Meta said in the three days following
Hamas' surprise attack against Israel on October 7, it had removed or marked as
disturbing more than 795,000 pieces of content on Facebook for violating these
policies in Hebrew and Arabic.
It also said that since October 7, more
than US$11.5 million (RM54.9 million) have been raised on Facebook and
Instagram to help with relief efforts in Israel and Palestine, including over
340,000 donations to 262 charities providing disaster relief, ambulance and
blood services, medical care and more.
Source: malaymail.com
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PM Anwar: Malaysia, Palestine agree on
comprehensive effort to end violence in Gaza
20 Oct 2023
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 20 ― Malaysia and
Palestine have agreed on the need for comprehensive efforts to end any form of
violence in Gaza.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim
said this was reached during his telephone conversation with Palestinian
President Mahmoud Abbas to discuss the latest developments in Gaza.
“We also hope that all parties can
ensure the humanitarian aid is channelled to the Palestinian people
immediately,” Anwar said through a post on his X account.
The Prime Minister said Abbas also
informed him about the attacks by the Zionist regime on civilians and both of
them strongly condemned such actions.
Anwar is currently in Riyadh, Saudi
Arabia, to attend the inaugural ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit.
Malaysia is the Asean coordinator for
the summit, which is aimed at optimising cooperation between the two regional
organisations.
The summit is expected to deliberate on
the Israel-Palestine conflict as well as find ways to end the suffering of the
people of Gaza following the latest Zionist military action. ― Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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How can we clean such filth? Hadi says
after AsyrafWajdi's mock offer to 'purify' Umno and DAP in unity govt
By AnisZalani
20 Oct 2023
SHAH ALAM, Oct 20 — Tan Sri Abdul Hadi
Awang has today slammed Umno secretary-general Datuk AsyrafWajdiDusuki's mock
invite for PAS to join the federal government coalition in order to “purify”
Umno and DAP.
The president of the Islamist party said
it would be an impossible task to do, citing how the coalition has allegedly
welcomed those linked to graft and other criminal cases.
“You can see who's in the government.
How can we clean it up? There are convicts, bribers and the 'court cluster'.
How can we follow them?
“If we want to clean filth, we cannot be
inside the filth. We would have stayed outside,” he told a press conference
after officiating the 69th PAS Muktamar or annual congress at the IDCC
Convention Centre here.
In a Facebook post today, Asyraf had
sarcastically said that one of the perks of PAS joining the unity government is
that the Islamist party and its supporters would not need to issue “fatwa” or
religious decrees, or sermons denouncing its political enemies as disbelievers
or deviants anymore.
He said that there will no longer be
issues where Islam and the Malays are threatened, as frequently proclaimed by
PAS in its many propaganda materials.
“DAP will once again be 'purified' with
new fatwas, just as when they were part of the coalition to face the 1999,
2004, and 2008 general elections.
“Umno will be purified again, and there
will be no more derogatory words, labels such as 'deviant,' 'infidel,'
'residents of hell,' 'hypocrite,' and various other terms associated with
animals, now that they have returned as allies, as seen in the 22 months of
cooperation in MuafakatNasional and uniting the Muslim community,” he wrote.
He also mockingly said that PAS's
presence in the unity government would also mean the end of allegations that
Malaysia is turning secular due to DAP's presence in Putrajaya.
Yesterday, Hadi's deputy Datuk Seri Tuan
Ibrahim Tuan Man had denied the Islamist party was considering joining Prime
Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s Madani government as reported by a news
outlet.
He said the New Straits Times had
reported his speech out of context, which altered it from his meaning when he
delivered to the PAS Youth wing when opening the movement’s annual congress
yesterday.
This followed a recent interview with
American magazine Time, in which Anwar said he would be open to inviting PAS
into his administration but warned the latter against religious zealotry.
Source: malaymail.com
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Court jails, fines man in TelukIntan for
possessing nearly 20,000 files of child sexual abuse materials
20 Oct 2023
TELUK INTAN, Oct 20 — A man who works in
a traditional medicine shop was today sentenced to six months in jail and a
fine of RM2,500, in default of five months in jail, by the Magistrate’s Court
here for possession of child pornography.
Magistrate T. Ashvinii meted out the
sentence on Liew Ming Hui, 24, after he pleaded guilty to the charge.
Liew was charged with possession of
child pornography, namely a pen drive containing 19,011 videos and pictures of
children at No. 19 Atas, Lorong 1, JalanBesar, RancanganPerumahanAwam 2,
Langkap near here, at about 4.20pm last May 29.
The charge was framed under Section 10
of the Sexual Offenses Against Children Act 2017 (Act 792) which provides a
maximum prison sentence of five years or a fine not exceeding RM10,000 or both,
if convicted.
Liew, who works in a traditional
medicine shop owned by his father, was represented by lawyer Jude Pereira.
The lawyer had earlier requested for a
stay of execution of the sentence, but was dismissed by the court.
Deputy public prosecutor
IzzuddinFakriHamdan prosecuted. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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PAS: Ulama Wing should be 'think tank'
for Perikatan's state govts, prep for political clash with DAP
By John Bunyan
20 Oct 2023
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 20 — PAS' clerical
Ulama Wing should be a think tank that advises state governments under
PerikatanNasional's (PN) administration, its vice-president Datuk Seri Mohd
Amar Abdullah reportedly said.
He said the wing made of Islamic
scholars needs to be involved to make sure the Islamist party and the states it
governs are ready for the current political contestation with PakatanHarapan's
(PH) component DAP.
“We see that the current Malaysian
political clash is between PAS and DAP, we have already seen signs after the
previous two elections (GE14 and GE15). Therefore, PAS needs to be strengthened
through the role and function of the new PAS’ Ulama Council,” he was quoted as
saying by PAS' news outlet HarakahDaily.
Speaking while launching the “muktamar”,
or annual congress of the wing this year, Mohd Amar also claimed a divine
reason behind PH's short-lived administration of the country.
“God wants to show whether Anwar is
capable of leading this country well,” he reportedly said, referring to PH
chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. “So far we have not seen the signs
yet."
He also claimed that it was also God's
way of showing that other parties do not have the capability to lead the
country well.
“This means the country needs a new
government. Who else if it is not [PAS and PerikatanNasional]? Thus, the next
five years [before the 16th general election] are very important.
“We already controlled four states and
two-thirds of Selangor, so in these five years, we have to prove that we can
[govern] well. We can't be seen not performing,” he was quoted as saying.
Mohd Amar also pointed out that the
Ulama Wing needs new faces in line with the latest developments in the
country's political situation.
“Today's PAS is not as the PAS’ 20
years, 30 years, 50 years or 60 years ago, because today’s PAS is in a
different state.
“This is because, in the course of the
country's politics, PAS is getting closer to securing power. The election will
come later, we will be a strong government. In the past, we should have won,
but we lost to PH,” he was quoted as saying.
PAS' muktamar will continue until
Sunday.
Source: malaymail.com
Please click the following URL to read
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https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2023/10/20/pas-ulama-wing-should-be-think-tank-for-perikatans-state-govts-prep-for-political-clash-with-dap/97338
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Dr Wee urges Malaysians to support and
extend aid to oppressed Palestinians
20 Oct 2023
N. TRISHA
KUALA LUMPUR: Urging all Malaysians to
show their support, Datuk Seri Dr Wee KaSiong has condemned the "heinous
acts" against Palestine.
"I strongly condemn any heinous
acts in the form of subjugation, violence and oppressing innocent people.
"The reason we should help the
people of Palestine is that despite living on their own land, they are not
given freedom of access to healthcare and food.
"All forms of aid have been
blocked.
"This is like living in hell,"
he said in a short social media video on Friday (Oct 20).
In the post, questioning how long
innocent people would be oppressed in their own land, the MCA president said he
sympathised with Palestinians.
"Their situation is like being in
the biggest prison in the world.
"On the basis of humanity I invite
all Malaysians, regardless of race, to support Palestinians.
"We are human and we must
sympathise with what these innocent people are facing.
"Let them live in their own land
freely," he said.
Dr Wee also urged those who can provide
support in any way to help.
"If not, the least we can do is
extend our prayers regardless of our religion.
"Let the people in Palestine live
in peace."
Source: thestar.com.my
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2023/10/20/dr-wee-urges-malaysians-to-support-and-extend-aid-to-oppressed-palestinians
---------
Africa
Review Nigeria’s relations with Israel,
Sharia council tells Tinubu
20 October 2023
SodiqOmolaoye (Abuja) and
GbengaAkinfenwa (Lagos)
Muslim organisations under the aegis of
Supreme Council for Sharia in Nigeria (SCSN), yesterday, called on President
Bola Tinubu to “review” the country’s “relations with Israel until it respects
international law and the rights of Palestinians.”
The council also stressed the need for
Nigeria to mobilise aid to assist the people of Palestine.
At a press conference in Abuja, SCSN
President, Sheikh AbdurRasheedHadiyyatullah, described the ongoing crisis in
Palestine as genocide.
He said besides its criminality and lack
of humanity, it shows the failure of global institutions established after the
Second World War to protect humans against tyranny.
He criticised the United States for
vetoing a United Nations Resolution that called for humanitarian pauses in the
war to facilitate passage of aid to Gaza.
Hadiyyatullah said the international
community failed to address the root of the conflict largely because the United
States has consistently offered unconditional support to what he called Zionist
occupiers of Palestine.
The SCSN president added: “The Federal
Government, on behalf of the teeming Muslims and Christians and people of
conscience in Nigeria, should, as a matter of urgency, provide relief materials
to the besieged Palestinians who are in dire need of food, clothing, medicine
and other essentials.”
This came as a group, Coalition of Civil
Society Organisations (CCSO), called on the United Nations to prevail on Israel
to halt its “war crimes”.
At a press conference in Lagos, the
coalition urged nations of the world, like China, to invest in the peace
process and end the monopoly of the United States.
General Secretary of United Action for
Democracy, Comrade AdekunleWizeman-Ajayi, while addressing journalists, said:
“We call on the world to rise in defence of justice and on the side of the
oppressed. Palestinians are humans and they cannot continue to be treated as
sub-humans.”
Source: guardian.ng
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://guardian.ng/news/review-nigerias-relations-with-israel-sharia-council-tells-tinubu/
----------
Sheikh Ahmad Gumi’s Full Sermon:You Guys
Are Hypocrites! Abuja Has Become A Tel Aviv
October 19, 2023
Now where are the proponents of the
Muslim-Muslim ticket? You guys are hypocrites! Abuja has become a Tel Aviv
because the security of a country is the people. Why are you silent? It is
because you know what you're up to.
The FCT minister (NyesomWike) is a devil
incarnate. I've said so ever since he was appointed. I cannot independently
verify, but someone said he was quoted as saying he had already engaged Israeli
security, but I can confirm that he said he would invite the Israeli Ambassador
to help redesign the security architecture of Abuja to pattern after that of
Tel Aviv so that bearded people like us would be hounded and killed on sight
because we've been stereotyped as Bin Laden.
Now where are the proponents of the
Muslim-Muslim ticket? You guys are hypocrites! Abuja has become a Tel Aviv
because the security of a country is the people. Why are you silent? It is
because you know what you're up to.
A certain Miyetti Allah official had
advised me never to agree to move to the jungle to broker peace with bandits
any more, asserting that there was an ulterior motive against me this time.
Granted, heads of security services are
fellow Muslims, but the reality is that those wielding actual commanding power
are different. They're fooling us because they have an agenda, yes there's an
agenda. They're fooling us, I assure you.
Look how they took over all juicy and
lucrative positions in the country. And they believe they'll continue to govern
us in the next four years and beyond. They think through their tricks they'll
get re-elected for another four-year term to make eight years in power. But
that will not happen while we're here by the will of God.
Their ultimate goal is to impoverish the
North, such that no Northerner can engage in legitimate business and make a
billion naira. Only a few of our compatriots who have become subservient to
them may be allowed access to wealth. As for those of us who are not, they've
perfected a strategy to ensure our businesses are strangulated in the coming
months.
The aim is that by the next election,
just like grains are thrown to attract birds, they'll throw common pasta to the
hungry North to get re-elected. These people are undermining us (Muslims) in
this country.
During the (Muhammadu) Buhari
presidency, a certain Christian cleric complained that Muslim officers were
appointed heads of security organisations. My response was that Muslims would
not use that as an advantage to maltreat anyone whether they're Muslims or
non-Muslims. In contrast, if they (Christians) are occupying those positions,
they'll destroy us.
Check the history, who murdered Sardauna
(Sir Ahmadu Bello)? It was (Maj. Chukwuma Kaduna) Nzeogwu. Who murdered Murtala
(Muhammed)? It was (Lt. Col. Buka) Dimka. As for (Ibrahim) Babangida, he
narrowly escaped death; who was his aggressor? (Gideon) Orkar, a northern
Christian. You see, once you give these people power, they'll use it to destroy
you.
A Tanzanian, one Ali Mazara'u, once said
you don't give away power and if you must, there have to be clear-cut
conditions detailing sharing formula. You must negotiate to have control of the
defence and several other crucial agencies. But disgustingly, you cheaply
surrendered power (alluding to Buhari) and went into oblivion.
Therefore, make no mistake, once the
Israelis are allowed into this country, they'll carry out clandestine
operations; the elimination of prominent Muslim clerics. Why do you think they
eliminated Sheikh Jafar (Mahmood Adam)? Why was (Sheikh MuhammanAuwal) Albani
murdered? The list of those to be eliminated is endless. This explains why we
requested police protection during Buhari’s administration. They provided us
with police guards, and even though the president never liked my face, they did
it anyway because if something happened to me the president would be held
responsible.
You want to bring the Mossad into our
country? Let Tinubu be told that we're not oblivious of the plan; we're aware.
He must remove the FCT minister or else he will have us to contend with.
Sometime back during the Jonathan era, I
was invited to the DSS headquarters for a meeting; I met an officer who
afterwards called to inform me that a hit squad, driving a certain Mercedes
Benz 4matic model was detailed to attack me. They were instructed to go and hit
Sheik Gumi.
We all know how many people were
murdered in Jaji during Jonathan's reign and the blame was pushed to Boko
Haram. Haven't we come to terms with the reality now? Is it possible for Boko
Haram to penetrate into Jaji and plant explosives?
It is part of their clandestine
operation. Look how they murdered General (Mohammed) Shuwa. Despite heavy
security, they were able to access his residence and eliminate him. You gave
them the power to murder our leaders.
Imagine all the atrocities committed by
Israel, the West turned a blind eye, but what Hamas did has attracted their
condemnation. Just as if a Muslim (soldier) were to murder a president in this
country, no Muslim officer would be allowed to cross the rank of a captain or
be assigned any responsibility because they would say you cannot be trusted.
Annoyingly our people will foolishly
resign to fate. If you were to compare when they ruled, it is not once, twice
or even thrice that they murdered our leaders. At any given opportunity, they
must kill our own.
I was saved from the DSS hit squad
because when I was informed of what was planned against me, I informed a police
commissioner and we posted it on Facebook; they had to abandon their plan and
ask the hit squad to call off the operation. They told each other I had
informants inside. As suspected, my informant was actually arrested and
detained for two months. He later informed that he almost got killed.
Similarly, some time ago, during Ramadan
lectures, I instructed our staff to mount up the PowerPoint projector, as they
set out to do so, an explosion erupted around the area. Hand-held pistols were
found on the body of the two suicide bombers. Fortunately, only one person from
AnguwanShanu was killed in the attack. After my lecture the following day, two
reporters from Voice of America and the BBC told me that they were prevented
from filming the scene by some soldiers; that they forced them to delete what
little they'd filmed.
They also asserted that the soldiers
evacuated the remains of the bombers. Surprisingly, a Daily Trust reporter
later informed me that the 'One Division' of the Nigeria Army had denied that
soldiers evacuated the dead bodies of the suicide bombers.
However, a fellow Muslim staff member at
the 44 Barracks of the Nigeria Army (in Kaduna) confirmed seeing the remains of
the bombers at the military morgue. He also insisted that their body structures
looked like people from the southern part of this country. Obviously, the
military is behind all the terror attacks we've witnessed so far.
They attacked Jaji to stop General Isa
from becoming the Chief of Army Staff. Indeed, it was the military that murdered
him. And make no mistakes some of us are targets also. I'm saying all this so
no one can fool you. Don't be fooled by the politicians because all the
politicians care about is dollars; they don't care about the plight of the
people.
Again, let me repeat, as I said earlier,
I replied to the Christian cleric that whether Muslim officers dominate all the
security services, they don't perpetrate injustice like the Christian officers;
because they murdered Sardauna, Tafawa Balewa, Murtala, etc. In contrast, tell
me which Christian leader was killed by Muslims. Yet they kept blabbing about
Buhari's so-called nepotism. There was an element of nepotism under Buhari, I
reckon. But our (Muslim) nepotism is not evil (wicked) because it does no harm
to anyone. If it cannot promote your interest, it won't harm it either; here is
the difference. That's why I keep warning that power should not slip from our
hands into theirs.
Source saharareporters.com
Please click the following URL to read
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https://saharareporters.com/2023/10/19/sheikh-ahmad-gumis-full-sermon-saying-nigerian-christians-southerners-cannot-be-trusted
----------
Reps advocate outright ban of
educational materials on LGBT nationwide
October 20, 2023
KehindeAkintola
The House of Representatives on Thursday
called on Federal and Subnational Governments to ensure outright ban of all
educational materials relating to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender
(LGBT) across the country.
The resolution was passed sequel to the
adoption of a motion titled: ‘Ban on inappropriate educational materials in
nursery and pre-primary schools in Nigeria,’ sponsored by Hon. Sulaiman
Abubakar Gumi.
In his lead debate, Hon. Gumi observed
that Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) is saddled
with the “statutory responsibility to undertake and promote book development
and local authorship for quality assurance at the National level, while the
Curriculum Service Departments undertake the same at the State Level, whereas
the Education Research Council (ERC) does same in the Federal Capital
Territory, Abuja.
“The House is concerned about the influx
of foreign educational materials introduced in Nursery and Primary schools in
Nigeria which tend to teach and promote certain morals that are alien and
inimical to our cherished norms and values.
“The House is also concerned that the
widely used book, ‘Queen Primer’ subtly introduces terms ‘gay’, ‘eros’, etc,
that communize sexual perversion and immoral behaviours, thus exposing innocent
children to terms inappropriate for their age, which is unlawful, unethical,
highly immoral and antithetical to child upbringing.
“The House is cognizant of the need to
instil and protect moral values in children and society at large by resisting
the use of educational materials that teach or promote any form of alien
behaviour which violates the laws and moral values in all educational
institutions, especially in the Nursery and Primary schools.”
In his remarks, Hon. Sada Soli, who
praised the spirit and timeliness of the motion as it seeks to cure the
confusion and distress these strange knowledge inflicts on children, further
reiterated that Nigeria has laws prohibiting these inappropriate contents in
the society, especially as Nigerian religions frown at them.
On his part, Hon. OlumideOsoba, who
argued that the use of these gay nomenclature is against Nigerian cultural
values, frowned at Western countries bullying African nations to accommodate
such and called on the House to stand firm against it.
Also speaking, Hon. Anthony who called
for full censorship and monitoring of such content so that they do not filter
into the society as it has the potential to destroy the society, harped on the
need to extend the censorship to secondary schools, as well as tertiary
institutions.
While venting his view, Hon. Ibrahim
Aliyu bemoaned the moral decadence in the Nigerian society due to vices such as
banditry, fraud, cattle rustling, kidnapping and now gay and LGBT issues want
to creep in. He also called for strict monitoring of what children are
accessible to through publications, as well as the internet.
In his contribution, Hon. Mohammed
el-Rufai narrated how he moved his daughter out of a school when he found out
that some values he believed in were being neglected.
He also stated that many television
stations shows these days stylishly sneak in these alien values in their
programmes to contaminate the minds of unsuspecting individuals.
Worried by the development, Hon.
KabiruMaipalace who called on Nigerians to be very vigilant about what their
children are being taught, urged State Governors to also continue to monitor
and if necessary, shut down schools who err in this regard.
He observed that parents spend more time
with their children than the children spend in schools with their teachers and
should not fail in their duties to duly monitor literature, programmes and
contents children take in as all contents are supposed to be age-rated.
Also speaking, Hon. Isiaka Ibrahim who
bemoaned the high rise in moral decadence that should be tackled by all MDAs
and Arms of government, called on UBEC and the state versions through the
Ministry of education to ensure compliance with the due diligence.
While calling for the protection of the
vulnerable pupils in schools, Hon. Awaji Abiante wondered why textbooks which
should be vetted and discarded get into the school system.
He therefore called for the strict
application of the relevant Laws on same sex marriage or courtship in the
Nigerian society.
In his address, Hon. Adebayo Adepoju
praised the spirit of the motion and stressed the need to enforce the relevant
Laws on this issue as Nigeria is a sovereign nation that does not have to
succumb to undue external pressure.
Also speaking, Hon. Garba Inuwa who
stressed the need to enforce standard curriculum for teaching Nigerian pupils,
called for screening of social media content that comes into the country.
Hon. AbubakarFulata who urged State and
Federal Governments to act on it as education falls into the Concurrent List,
kicked against all forms of “pervasive culture” being introduced into Nigeria.
On her part, Hon. Toyin underscored the
need to make it a criminal offence to make use of these pervasive material
after they are banned.
After robust debate on the motion,
Deputy Speaker, Hon. Benjamin Kalu referred it to the House committee on Basic
Education for further legislative action.
In the bid to ensure effective
censorship of the educational materials, the House mandated Federal Ministry of
Education, the Nigeria Educational Research and Development Council and the
Education Research Council (ERC) to carefully vet and censor the contents of
educational materials used in Nursery and Primary schools in the country and
ensure that they are appropriate and devoid of any connotation of immoral
behaviour.
Source: tribuneonlineng.com
Please click the following URL to read
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---------
South African President and Dutch Royals
Foster Diplomacy and Address Global Conflicts
Oct 20, 2023
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa
welcomed the Dutch royal couple, King Willem-Alexander and his wife Queen
Máxima of the Netherlands at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Thursday.
Their majesties were on a state visit at
the invitation of the president to focus on strengthening the ties and
partnership between the Netherlands and South Africa.
While reflecting on the colonial history
between the two countries, Ramaphosa took the opportunity to speak on the
ongoing conflict between Russia and the Ukraine, as well as the Israel-Hamas
conflict that has left thousands dead and many more wounded.
"Our resolve to build a peaceful,
equal future is being sorely tested and where reconciliation and healing is
sorely needed," Ramaphosa said.
His majesty King Willem-Alexander
commended South Africa's fighting spirit to end apartheid and the country's
commitment to reconciliation following the end of Dutch colonial rule in 1795.
"After colonial ties were severed,
a sense of kinship remained but it wasn't until the 1960s that a broad
awareness of injustice towards the black population emerged in the
Netherlands," he said.
The royal couple will conclude their
trip with a visit to Cape Town, where they will meet the city's mayor, Geordin
Hill-Lewis, and the premier, Alan Winde.
Source: africanews.com
Please click the following URL to read
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https://www.africanews.com/2023/10/19/south-african-president-and-dutch-royals-foster-diplomacy-and-address-global-conflicts/
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Sudan: Number of families suffering from
hunger almost doubles
October 19, 2023
The number of families suffering from
hunger has almost doubled in the past year in Sudan, where a war between generals
has plunged the country into chaos for six months, WHO and UNICEF said on
Wednesday.
The conflict has killed over 9,000
people, according to a largely underestimated toll, and left millions displaced
and refugees, worsening the country's health crisis, where more than half of
the inhabitants need aid. humanitarian to survive.
According to the World Health
Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), "the
number of families suffering from hunger has almost doubled" over the past
year. “700,000 children suffer from severe acute malnutrition and 100,000
children need life-saving treatment against acute malnutrition accompanied by
medical complications,” alerted the two UN agencies in a press release.
“More than 20.3 million people, or more
than 42% of the country's population, face high levels of acute food
insecurity” and this is particularly true in areas where clashes rage, notably
in Darfur, Khartoum, South Kordofan, and West Kordofan, said a UNICEF
spokesperson in an email to AFP.
Citing a projection from Johns Hopkins
University, the statement said "at least 10,000 children under the age of
5 could die by the end of 2023 due to increased food insecurity and service
disruptions." essential" since the start of the conflict in Sudan.
The press release specifies that this
modeling is developed by the Lives Saved Tool program, which, according to its
website, is funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
War broke out on April 15 between the
army led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhane and the paramilitaries of the Rapid
Support Forces (RSF) of General Mohamed HamdaneDaglo.
With more than 7.1 million internally
displaced people – including 4.5 million since the start of the conflict –
Sudan now has the largest number of displaced people in the world, the
statement said.
Millions of children are exposed to
various diseases, such as cholera, dengue fever, measles, and malaria, while
the health system is significantly strained by attacks and fighting, warn the
WHO and the Unicef.
Health facilities are occupied, looted,
or destroyed. Around 70% of hospitals in conflict-affected regions are not in
working order.
Cholera, a highly contagious disease,
has for example already killed 65 people, many of them children, and will cause
many more deaths if it is not quickly brought under control, indicate the two
organizations.
They call for preserving and restoring
health and nutrition systems to avoid an “unacceptably high number of deaths”
among children and vulnerable populations.
Source: africanews.com
Please click the following URL to read
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https://www.africanews.com/2023/10/19/sudan-number-of-families-suffering-from-hunger-almost-doubles/
--------
Boko Haram Kills Two Nigerian Soldiers
As Troops Blame Army Commander For Lack Of Ammunition, Inadequate Equipment
October 19, 2023
Two Nigerian soldiers attached to the
152 Battalion Banki, Borno State have been killed by Boko Haram terrorists.
SaharaReporters gathered that the
soldiers were killed on Thursday morning while foot-scanning the road heading
to their deployment area.
The terrorists also went away with their
AK-47 rifles and a RPG gun.
Speaking to SaharaReporters, a soldier
blamed the death of the two army personnel on poor firepower and inadequate
equipment to combat the insurgents.
According to him, another soldier
attached to the same battalion was killed during an attack on troops who were
on farm protection.
He accused the commanding officer,
Lieutenant Colonel MZ Dikko of lack of command and shortchanging of junior
personnel.
“We soldiers of 152 Battalion in Banki
are demanding that our Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel MZ Dikko be
changed for lack of command, showing “I don't care” attitude. We are losing our
colleagues daily, two were killed today, currently in this battalion; we are
facing shortage of ammunition for all calibre of weapons.
“If you come under attack with
terrorists and you finish exchanging fire or exhaust your rounds, to replace
them would be a big problem. Anytime we ask during monthly parade, he would
respond that he wasn’t given enough ammunition by the army authorities. Imagine
and they expect us to face Boko Haram and save people while our guns don’t have
ammunition.
“Five days ago, the terrorists attacked
our soldiers when they were on farm protection and killed one of our sergeants
who was the MST commander. They went away with his personal weapon, AK-47.
Military Police came to our unit for investigation, from 21 SAB Brigade Bama
and 7DIV and this commanding officer gathered all solders that were attacked
and told them to lie to Military Police that it was an ambush and not farm
protection.
“Again today, this morning, Boko Haram
terrorists attacked our soldiers who were foot scanning the road heading to our
deployment area. It happened around 07:26 am and they killed two of our
soldiers. As I'm speaking to you right now, their corpses are in our Medical
Reception Center. Two of them are regular 22NA, one is identified as Private
Sunday Obida; they were only six of them scanning the road.
“It was an officer in the camp,
Lieutenant Goje that called them that CCTV sighted like 20 Boko Haram
terrorists around the area and the CO told them to go, he asked six soldiers
without proper equipment to go and face 20 terrorists. They told him about
reinforcement but he ignored their demands, now two of them were killed.”
Source: saharareporters.com
Please click the following URL to read
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https://saharareporters.com/2023/10/19/breaking-boko-haram-kills-two-nigerian-soldiers-troops-blame-army-commander-lack
----------
Pakistan
Pakistan calls for addressing root
causes of terrorism
October 20, 2023
Pakistan has stressed for addressing the
root causes of terrorism.
Speaking at the Open Meeting of the 1373
Counter Terrorism Committee in New York, First Secretary at Permanent Mission
of Pakistan to the United Nations Jawad Ajmal said the causes are: injustice,
oppression, foreign and illegal occupation and suppression of right to
self-determination. Denial of these fundamental human rights and state
terrorism will only lead to violent narratives.
The First Secretary emphasized the
regulation of technology companies, social media platforms and internet
providers to curb their misuse and prevent the proliferation of hate and
xenophobia including Islamophobia leading to violence and hatred against
peoples and nations.
He said capacity building of state
agencies is essential for countering cyber terrorism.
Jawad Ajmal said we need a global plan
of action to educate and caution our young and vulnerable about the dangers of
radicalization and online recruitment.
He said the existing global
counter-terrorism architecture is in urgent need of reform to address new and
emerging forms of terrorism including state terrorism, right wing, extremist
and fascist movements, to develop norms based on principles and to also counter
narratives that facilitate and promote stigmatization of Islam and
Muslims.
Source: radio.gov.pk
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.radio.gov.pk/20-10-2023/pakistan-calls-for-addressing-root-causes-of-terrorism
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President visits embassy of Palestine,
expresses solidarity with Palestinian people
October 19, 2023
President Dr Arif Alvi today visited the
embassy of Palestine in Pakistan and expressed solidarity with the Palestinian
people who were being subjected to indiscriminate killings by Israel.
He urged the international community to
condemn Israel’s brutalities and its disproportionate reaction which killed
thousands of innocent people.
The President called for an immediate
ceasefire and the opening up of a humanitarian corridor to send aid to the
people lacking food, electricity and water.
He said that Pakistan would always stand
by Palestine and would only accept a solution that was acceptable to the
Palestinians.
The Palestinian Ambassador thanked the
President of Pakistan for visiting the Embassy of Palestine during such
difficult times. He termed Israel's actions in Gaza as genocide of the
Palestinian people.
Earlier, the President also recorded his
remarks in the condolence book in the Palestinian embassy and expressed his
deep condolences with the people of Palestine and the families of the martyrs,
who lost their lives in the barbaric Israeli attacks.
Source: radio.gov.pk
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.radio.gov.pk/19-10-2023/president-visits-embassy-of-palestine-expresses-solidarity-with-palestinian-people
--------
Pakistan Court Forbids Arrest of ex-PM
Nawaz Sharif on His Return
October 20, 2023
(Reuters) - A Pakistan court on Thursday
barred authorities from arresting a former three-time prime minister, Nawaz
Sharif, upon his expected return home on Saturday from four years in
self-imposed exile, his lawyer said.
Lawyer Azam Nazeer Tarar told reporters
that Sharif had been granted protective bail, under which authorities could not
arrest him until he himself appears before a court on Oct. 24, adding that
Sharif would address a rally in the city of Lahore upon his return.
Sharif's younger brother, Shehbaz
Sharif, was prime minister from 2022 until this year, when his government was
replaced by a caretaker administration upon the dissolution of parliament in
advance of a general election due early next year.
The younger Sharif welcomed the court's
decision.
"He was implicated in absurd cases
and subjected to mistreatment," Shehbaz Sharif said on the X social media
platform, formerly known as Twitter.
"Any fair hearing would have
established his innocence."
Nawaz Sharif was in 2018 convicted on
corruption charges, which he denied, in two cases and sentenced to a total of
14 years in prison.
A court allowed him to travel to London
for medical treatment in 2019 under a rare surety bond, under which he undertook
to return after treatment. Later, he was declared an absconder after failing to
return.
The veteran politician has said he was
ousted as prime minister in 2017 by leaders of the powerful military and the
judiciary after he fell out with the generals.
The military, which has ruled Pakistan
for extended periods since independence in 1947 and retains significant
influence, even over civilian government, denies that.
Tarar said Sharif would follow up
appeals against his convictions, which have been pending since he left, in the
hope of overturning them and campaigning for the general election.
Upon his return on Saturday, he would
address a rally in his old stronghold of Lahore, Tarar said.
"It is everyone's constitutional
rights to freely do political activities," Tarar said.
Sharif's party has said he would like to
contest a seat in the general election but that would depend on the court
over-turning his convictions.
Groomed by the military when he entered
politics in the late 1970s, Sharif fell out with then army chief, General
Pervez Musharraf, during a second stint as prime minister and was ousted in a
1999 coup.
Musharraf ruled for nearly a decade when
Pakistan, which supported the U.S.-led "war on terror", was rocked by
Islamist militant violence. Sharif returned to Pakistan and to politics in
2007.
Source: tolonews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://tolonews.com/world-185631
----------
Kakar: Pakistan, Russia Share Common
Interest Against Terrorism
NaweedSamadi
Anwaar ul Haq Kakar, Pakistan's
caretaker prime minister, said at a meeting with Russian President Vladimir
Putin that Moscow and Islamabad have a common interest in fighting terrorism in
Afghanistan.
In a meeting with Putin on the sidelines
of the 3rd Belt and Road Forum in Beijing, Kakar noted that the steps taken to
fight terrorism should be carried out in a coordinated manner.
“Pakistan and Russia have a convergence
of interest-- terrorism for one. At the regional approach which emanates particularly
from Afghanistan in and around the areas which traditionally more influenced by
Russian Federation, and the neighborhood in which we reside along with China...
” the Pakistan PM said.
The Pakistan PM added that with the
cooperation of Russia, they have had good cooperation in the energy and
agriculture sectors in Afghanistan.
"They and every other country have
contributed a bag of flour to Afghanistan for their own interests, and they
have gained ten times themselves due to the ineffectiveness of the officials of
the previous government, who did not manage it well,” Mohammad Afzal Habib, a
political expert told TOLOnews.
“International cooperation regarding the
situation in Afghanistan depends on regional policies. These agreements may not
be effective in Afghanistan's affairs in the short term,” said Sayed Muqadam
Amin, an international relations expert said.
Meanwhile, some military experts have
different views on Pakistan's presence and fight against terrorist groups,
accusing Pakistan of financing terrorism in Afghanistan.
“The base of terrorism is in Pakistan,
and it has been 45 years, the equipment and financier of the 45-year war in
Afghanistan is not Afghans,” Yusuf Amin Zazi, another military expert said.
This comes as some Tajikistan media
reported that 24 new outposts were built by Tajikistan on the border with
Afghanistan.
Imam Ali Rahman, the president of
Tajikistan, has previously said that the country requires hundreds of security
facilities along its border with Afghanistan because of security threats. With
the establishment of these outposts the number of outposts along the border
with Afghanistan will reach 100.
However, the Islamic Emirate has
repeatedly said that no terrorist group is present or active in Afghanistan and
that they will not allow any group to disrupt security in the country. Source: tolonews.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-185626
----------
Imran’s production order issued in
contempt cases
October 20, 2023
Iftikhar A. Khan
ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of
Pakistan has finally issued production orders for jailed PTI Chairman Imran
Khan in contempt cases fixed for hearing on October 24.
Advocate Shoaib Shaheen, while appearing
on October 11 before a four-member bench of the ECP, headed by Member Sindh
Nisar Ahmad Durrani, had said the PTI chairman was in jail and it was not
possible for him to attend the ECP cases unless a production order was issued.
A written order shared with the media on
Thursday says “it is matter of record that the matter was pending adjudication
since August 2022 and has to be decided without any further delay.
Since the respondent is in jail and his
personal appearance is mandatory to proceed further with the matter. ln such
view of the matter, there is no alternate except to issue production order of
respondent namely Imran Ahmed Khan Niazi“.
Issuing the production order under
Section 10 of Elections Act, 2017, read with rule 4 of Elections Rules, 2017,
and further read with relevant provision of Contempt of Court Ordinance, 2003,
the Order said “under this production order, respondent shall be produced only
before Election Commission of Pakistan on 24.10.2023 at 10am and, after
culmination of proceedings, the respondent shall be returned into jail
forthwith”.
ECP directs PTI chief be produced on Oct
24; bailable warrants issued for Fawad Chaudhry
The bench asked the office to convey the
directions to the Superintendent of Adyala Jail, Rawalpindi, to make all
necessary arrangements for producing the respondent before the ECP.
Inspector General of Police, Islamabad,
and Inspector General of Police, Punjab, have been asked to ensure foolproof
security arrangements for production of Mr Khan when the case comes up for framing
of the charge against him.
The charge is to be framed against the
former prime minister in two separate cases — one for contempt of the
Commission and the other for contempt of Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar
Sultan Raja.
The ECP bench also issued bailable
warrants against former PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry in the contempt of ECP and
CEC cases.
One of the orders reads: “The previous
order dated 22.08.2023 was to be complied by respondent but he is not in
attendance despite direction for personal appearance. Qamar lnayat, Advocate,
appeared on behalf of Faisal Fareed Chaudhry, Senior Counsel for respondent.
He states that respondent is unwell due
to which he is unable to appear before Commission and Faisal Fareed has to
appear before Honourable High Court. He made a request for adjournment. lt
reveals from previous order sheets that respondent is seeking adjournments on
one or the other pretext and is reluctant to appear voluntarily.
“In such view of the matter, we have
been left with no alternate except to issue bailable warrant of respondent.
Consequently, bailable warrant of arrest against respondent (Fawad) is issued
in the sum of Rs50,000/ with two sureties in the like amount each,” the orders
read.
According to the orders, the bailable
warrant shall be executed through the Inspector General of Police, Islamabad,
who shall ensure the compliance strictly in accordance with law. The office is
to take the follow-up action and list the matter on October 24 at 10am for
framing of the charge against the respondent.
Source: dawn.com
Please click the following URL to read
the full text of the original
https://www.dawn.com/news/1782248
---------
Pakistan sends humanitarian aid for
people of Gaza
October 20, 2023
Iftikhar A. Khan
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has sent aid,
including medicines and tents, for the people of Gaza, according to the Foreign
Office spokesperson.
A chartered aircraft carrying 100 tonnes
of essential medical supplies, tents, and blankets departed from Islamabad for
Egypt on Thursday.
From Egypt, these items will be sent to
the people in the besieged enclave, said Mumtaz Zahra Baloch.
The first consignment of relief items
was sent a day after Israel announced it would not block humanitarian aid
entering the besieged Gaza Strip from Egypt.
Ms Baloch said Pakistan remained deeply
concerned about the situation of Palestinian brothers and sisters in Gaza.
“We strongly condemn the Israeli
aggression and blockade, particularly the recent attack on a Gaza hospital”,
she said, referring to the Israeli strike at Al Ahli Hospital, which resulted
in the death of over 500 people.
President visits Palestine embassy,
condemns Israel’s atrocities
She added that Israel’s actions
“violated international humanitarian and human rights laws”.
“Deliberate attacks against civilian
targets constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity. We call for an
immediate ceasefire, an end to the siege of Gaza and the facilitation of
humanitarian corridors for unrestricted relief supplies.
President visits Palestine embassy
Separately, President Arif Alvi on
Thursday visited the embassy of Palestine in Islamabad and condemned “Israel’s
brutalities”.
He also called for an immediate
ceasefire besides opening a humanitarian corridor to supply aid and food to
residents in the Gaza Strip, according to a statement issued by the presidency.
President Alvi met the Ambassador of
the State of Palestine in Islamabad Ahmed Jawad Rabei, and expressed solidarity
with the Palestinians on behalf of the government and people of Pakistan.
He urged the international community to
condemn Israel’s brutalities and disproportionate reaction, which killed
thousands of innocent people.
“The president called for an immediate
ceasefire and the opening of a humanitarian corridor to send aid to the people
lacking food, electricity, and water.”
The president said Pakistan would always
stand by Palestine and only accept a solution acceptable to the Palestinians.
Speaking on the occasion, the president
said the United Nations should debate the atrocities in Gaza, and the UNSC
should pass a resolution to stop Israeli atrocities.
“Such brutal actions created more
possibilities of hatred leading to more wars,” the statement added while
quoting the president.
He underscored that war has “destroyed
any possibility of peace”.
“[W]alls were being raised to stop the
Palestinian people from trying to achieve a peaceful two-state solution. Such
walls will not withstand and would be breached by the people.”
“As long as a two-state solution is
being suppressed, people will react”, President Alvi added.
The Palestinian ambassador thanked the
president for visiting the embassy during a difficult time. He termed Israel’s
actions in Gaza “genocide of the Palestinian people”.
The president also recorded his remarks
in the condolence book in the embassy and expressed sympathies with the
families of the martyrs who lost their lives in Israeli attacks.
Source: dawn.com
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https://www.dawn.com/news/1782264/pakistan-sends-humanitarian-aid-for-people-of-gaza
--------
Adiala jail superintendent gets IHC
notice
October 20, 2023
Malik Asad
ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court
(IHC) on Thursday issued a show-cause notice to the Adiala Jail superintendent
for failing to appear before the court despite orders.
A division bench, comprising Justice
Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb and Justice Arbab Mohammad Tahir, heard a series of
petitions requesting better facilities for PTI Chairman Imran Khan, currently
incarcerated in Adiala Jail.
Government law officers failed to attend
the hearing when it began, though they arrived later. Justice Aurangzeb
expressed dissatisfaction, suggesting that the law officers seemed more
interested in celebrating the bail granted to PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif than
fulfilling their duties to assist the court.
The bench was informed that the jail
superintendent was also absent. Consequently, the court issued a show-cause
notice and adjourned hearing.
Later, legal representatives for Mr Khan
met him in jail.
In a separate development, the Special
Court (Official Secrets Act) also issued a notice to the Adiala Jail
superintendent on a petition requesting the provision of an exercise bike for
Mr Khan.
The PTI chief had requested equipment
for his workout in jail, including an exercise bike.
Source: dawn.com
Please click the following URL to read
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https://www.dawn.com/news/1782262/adiala-jail-superintendent-gets-ihc-notice
--------
Pakistan dispatches consignment carrying
relief assistance for people of Palestine
October 19, 2023
Pakistan has dispatched the first
consignment carrying relief assistance for oppressed people of Palestine.
The relief assistance, carrying one
thousand winter tents, four thousand blankets and three tons of medicines, will
reach Palestine via Egypt.
The assistance, sent by the Pakistan
Army and the National Disaster Management Authority, will provide an immediate
relief to the affected people of Gaza.
It was said that Pakistan was standing
by its Palestinian brothers and sisters and will continue supporting them.
Source: radio.gov.pk
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https://www.radio.gov.pk/19-10-2023/pakistan-dispatches-consignment-carrying-relief-assistance-for-people-of-palestine
--------
Cipher case: Explosive statements of
witnesses will add to Imran woes
October 20, 2023
Ansar Abbasi &Azaz Syed
ISLAMABAD: Statements of high-profile
prosecution witnesses in the cipher case make it a much graver alleged
criminality against Imran Khan mainly on three counts: a) using the secret
communication for his political gains; b) harming Pakistan’s relations with the
US; and c) misplacing or not returning the document.
Statements of the witnesses recorded by
the FIA totally disapproved Imran Khan’s view that it was a regime change
conspiracy against his government. They endorsed that the PTI chairman gave his
choice meanings to the cipher to use it for his political gains and to defeat
the no-confidence trust against his government.
It only goes on to show how the
politicisation of the cipher issue hurt Pakistan’s relations with the US and
benefited some other countries, highlighting the sensitivities involved in
connection with the handling of cipher.
Official documents available with The
News show that in view of the seriousness of the case, a complaint in the
cipher case was filed by the-then secretary interior Yousaf Naseem Khokhar
while the prosecution witnesses include Azam Khan, former secretary to the
ex-PM Imran Khan, former foreign secretary Sohail Mehmood, former ambassador to
US Asad Majeed Khan, the-then additional secretary (America) and presently
Pakistan’s ambassador to the UAE Faisal Niaz Tirmizi, the then director
general, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Noman Basher Bhatti, Joint Secretary PM’s
Office Shoaib Sarwar, Joint Secretary PM’s Office, HaseebGohar, Deputy
Secretary PM’s Office, Deputy Secretary Cabinet Division, Director Secret
Section Political, Foreign Ministry, Deputy Director, Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, and several others.
The interior secretary said he was duly
authorised by the government to file a complaint with the FIA in the cipher
case under Official Secrets Act 1923.
Azam Khan, the-then secretary to PM, in
his statement, said that Imran Khan, upon reading the content of the cipher,
found it a blunder on the part of the US official, and urged that it could be
effectively used to create a narrative against the opposition parties and the
state institution for collusion. According to Azam Khan, the former PM also
stated that the cipher telegram could be used to counter the no-confidence
motion against him.
Imran Khan, said Azam Khan, talked about
making a political narrative that opposition parties were conspiring with the
US in collusion with the establishment to remove his government. Azam Khan said
the PM received a copy of the cipher from him and never returned it. When he
was asked about it, he told his secretary that he had misplaced it and would
search for it. Azam Khan said he told the prime minister that the cipher was a
decoded secret document and its content could not be disclosed or discussed in
public.
The-then foreign secretary Sohail
Mehmood, in his statement, said that he was shocked to see Imran Khan and Shah
Mehmood Qureshi referring to cipher in a public meeting for their personal and
political gain and without realising how seriously they had damaged the entire
cipher security system of the country.
The former foreign secretary said Imran
Khan waved the cipher telegram in public and twisted the fact to the benefit of
foreign states. He said that later he received an internal note from additional
secretary (Americas) about how the US expressed its concerns about Imran Khan’s
statements in the public rally.
Later, in a cabinet meeting, he said he
spoke against declassification of the cipher and highlighted the sensitivities
involved. He also warned how the declassification of the cipher could damage
Pakistan’s relations with the US and some other countries. He said the foreign
states, which did not want Pakistan’s cordial relations with the US, had
benefited from the episode.
The-then Pakistan’s ambassador to the
US, Asad Majeed Khan, in his statement, talked about his meeting with Donald Lu
and the subsequent communication he sent to FO in Islamabad. He said that he
simply reported what was discussed between him and Donald Lu and there was no
mention of the word “threat” or “conspiracy” in his communication sent to
Islamabad.
Asad Majeed said he had suggested that
demarche should be issued to the US, both in Islamabad and in Washington. He
also referred to the National Security Committee meetings, which discussed the
cipher case, and concluded there was no foreign conspiracy for regime change in
Pakistan.
The-then additional secretary
(Americas), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Faisal Niaz Tirmizi, in his statement
said that the US authorities had conveyed to him that PM Imran Khan’s handling
of the cipher was not taken well by Washington.
Noman Bashir, DG, Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, in his statement, said ciphers are secret and classified documents and
their misuse benefits foreign powers and compromises the cipher security system
of Pakistan.
Shoaib Sarwar, joint secretary (Foreign
and Social Affairs Wing) of the PM’s Office, said that as per practice, cipher
addressed to the PM arrived in his office but he had neither seen nor read the
diplomatic cable. He added that the cipher was never sent back to his office.
There are many other witnesses who also
gave their statements about the handling and movement of the cipher. An FO
official, dealing with ciphers, said that the copy of the cipher sent to the
secretary to the PM for the premier was never returned to the cipher centre of
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Source: thenews.com.pk
Please click the following URL to read
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https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1120799-cipher-case-witnesses-statements-increase-gravity-of-criminality-against-imran
---------
India
Boycott Of Muslim Traders Row: Karnataka
HC Stays FIR Against Hindutva Leader
October 20, 2023
SharanPumpwell Karnataka HCPumpwell
approached the High Court seeking to quash the FIR against him filed under
Section 153 A of the Indian Penal Code for promoting enmity between different
groups. The High Court Thursday granted an interim relief and put a stay on the
FIR. (X/ SharanPumpwell)
The Karnataka High Court has stayed a
case of promoting enmity between different groups filed by the Mangaluru police
against Vishwa Hindu Parishad joint secretary SharanPumpwell for attempting to
bar the participation of Muslim merchants in the annual Dasara festivities at a
temple in Mangaluru.
The Mangaluru city police had booked a
case against Pumpwell earlier this week after he and his followers planted
saffron flags on shops owned by Hindus in the vicinity of the Mangaladevi
temple in order to call for a boycott of Muslims during the festivals in the
temple.
Pumpwell approached the High Court
seeking to quash the FIR against him filed under Section 153 A of the Indian
Penal Code for promoting enmity between different groups. The High Court
Thursday granted an interim relief and put a stay on the FIR.
The High Court granted an “ad-interim
order as prayed for in the application”.
Mangaluru city police commissioner
Anupam Agarwal had on October 18 said that a case had been registered.
Agarwal said, “Pumpwell issued a press
statement urging all Hindus to purchase their items of necessity only from
shops owned and run by members of the Hindu community. This statement and act
create enmity on grounds of religion. Based on the complaint of PSI (L&O)
Mangaluru South Police Station Manohar Prasad, a case was registered at
Mangaluru South Police Station against SharanPumpwell and others.”
Pumpwell told the media that neither he
nor the organisation are against Muslims carrying out business but against
those who do not believe in idol worship.
The controversy, which started last year
in coastal Karnataka during the BJP’s tenure, later spread to other parts.
According to Rule 12 of the Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and
Charitable Endowments Act, 2002, “No property, including land, building or
sites situated near the institution shall be leased to non-Hindus.”
Source: indianexpress.com
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https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/bangalore/karnataka-hc-interim-stay-probe-mangaluru-vhp-leader-opposing-muslim-stores-dasara-8992308/
---------
Gyanvapi Row: Varanasi Court Reserves
Verdict On Plea Seeking Inclusion Of 'Wazookhana' In ASI Survey
20th October 2023
By PTI
VARANASI: A Varanasi court on Thursday
reserved till October 21 its order on a plea seeking inclusion of the Gyanvapi
mosque's "Wazookhana" in the ongoing ASI survey of the mosque complex
here.
At present, the "Wazookhana"
(a small reservoir for Muslim devotees to perform ritual ablutions), where a
structure claimed by Hindu litigants to be a 'Shivling' exists, is not part of
the survey by the Archeological Survey of India due to a Supreme Court order
protecting that spot in the complex.
The plea was filed by Rakhi Singh, one
of the petitioners in Varanasi's Gyanvapi-Shringar Gauri case, in the district
court.
"While completing the hearing today
on the petition, District Judge AK Vishvesh reserved its order till October 21,"
District Government Counsel Rajesh Mishra said.
Meanwhile, in a related case, District
Judge Vishvesh ordered to move the hearing of a 'transfer' plea, seeking the
handing over of keys of a basement at the Gyanvapi complex to the Varanasi
district magistrate, to his court from the court of civil judge (senior
division).
Earlier, during the hearing in the
Wazookhana case, the Hindu side's advocate Madan Mohan Yadav said it was argued
that without the survey of Wazookhana, the truth of the Gyanvapi complex cannot
be revealed.
The mosque management committee, while
presenting its objection to the argument, told the court that the area of the
Wazookhana was sealed on the orders of the Supreme Court and alleged that the
Hindu side made such a demand to put this matter on hold.
Therefore, this demand of the Hindu side
should not be accepted, the mosque committee said.
The ASI is carrying out a scientific
survey of the Gyanvapi mosque complex, next to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple
here, to determine whether the 17th-century mosque was constructed over a
pre-existing temple.
The ASI survey began in July after the
Allahabad High Court upheld a Varanasi district court order and ruled that the
step is "necessary in the interest of justice" and will benefit both
the Hindu and Muslim sides.
The mosque committee had also moved the
Supreme Court against the high court's order.
The apex court had on August 4 refused
to stay the high court's order on the ASI survey.
In its order, the apex court, however,
asked the ASI not to carry out any invasive act during the survey.
The ASI has been granted till November 6
to complete the survey of the mosque complex.
Meanwhile, District Government Counsel
Mishra said that a petition regarding handing over of keys of a basement at the
Gyanvapi mosque complex to the Varanasi district magistrate was filed in the
court of Civil Judge (Senior Division) Nitesh Kumar Sinha in September.
"A plea to transfer the hearing of
this case to the court of the district judge was filed later on the grounds
that all the cases related to Gyanvapi are being heard there.
District Judge AK Vishvesh today ordered
that the matter will now be heard in his court," Mishra said.
Source: newindianexpress.com
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https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2023/oct/20/gyanvapi-row-varanasi-court-reserves-verdict-on-plea-seeking-inclusion-of-wazookhana-in-asi-surve-2625684.html
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PFI Moves SC Challenging UAPA Tribunal's
Decision Confirming Centre's Five-Year Ban
20th October 2023
By PTI
NEW DELHI: The Popular Front of India
(PFI) has moved the Supreme Court against an Unlawful Activities (Prevention)
Act (UAPA) tribunal confirming the five-year ban imposed on it by the central
government.
A bench of Justices Aniruddha Bose and
Bela M Trivedi, which was scheduled to hear the plea, adjourned the matter
saying the petitioner has circulated a letter for adjournment.
In its petition, the PFI has challenged
the March 21 order of the UAPA tribunal by which it had confirmed the September
27, 2022 decision of the Centre.
The Centre had banned the PFI for five
years for its alleged links with global terrorist organisations such as ISIS
and trying to spread communal hatred in the country.
It had declared as "unlawful association"
the PFI and its associates or affiliates or fronts, including Rehab India
Foundation (RIF), Campus Front of India (CFI), All India Imams Council (AIIC),
National Confederation of Human Rights Organization (NCHRO), National Women's
Front, Junior Front, Empower India Foundation and Rehab Foundation, Kerala.
The notification proscribing the
organisation said the central government is of the firm opinion that it is
necessary to declare the PFI and its associates, affiliates or fronts as
"unlawful association" with immediate effect under the UAPA.
It had said the notification shall,
subject to any order that may be made under section 4 of the UAPA, have effect
for a period of five years from the date of its publication in the official
gazette.
More than 150 people allegedly linked to
the PFI were detained or arrested in raids across seven states in September
last year.
A pan-India crackdown by agencies
against the 16-year-old group had led to the arrest of over a hundred of its
activists and seizure of several dozen properties.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)
notification had said some of the PFI's founding members are the leaders of the
Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), and the PFI has linkages with
Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB).
Both JMB and SIMI are proscribed
organisations.
It said there were many instances of
international linkages of the PFI with global terrorist groups such as the
Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).
The PFI and its associates or affiliates
or fronts have been working covertly to increase the radicalisation of one
community by promoting a sense of insecurity in the country, which is
substantiated by the fact that some PFI cadres have joined international
terrorist organisations, the notification claimed.
Source: newindianexpress.com
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https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2023/oct/20/pfi-moves-sc-challenging-uapa-tribunals-decision-confirming-centres-five-year-ban-2625727.html
-----
Gujarat HC Sentences Four Cops To 14
Days In Jail For Public Flogging Of 5 Muslim Men
Oct 20, 2023
AHMEDABAD: Gujarat high court sentenced
four policemen on Thursday to 14 days' simple imprisonment for contempt of
court as they had violated Supreme Court's orders about treatment of accused in
police custody by flogging members of Muslim community in full public view
while holding them against a pole.
The incident had occurred in Kheda
district's Undhela village on October 4, 2022. The people flogged had been
detained for allegedly pelting stones at a garba event.
The SC bench convicted inspector A V
Parmar, PSI D B Kumawat, head constable K L Dabhi and constable Raju Dabhi of
failing "to protect the faith of the people in the judiciary". The
court made it clear that punishing the cops was not its sole objective but that
it also wanted "to instil in people faith in the majesty of justice."
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/14-days-jail-for-gujarat-cops-who-flogged-muslims/articleshowprint/104567454.cms?val=3728
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Canada Confirms Withdrawal of 41
Diplomats From India, Visa Processing Time to Go Up
October 20, 2023
New Delhi: Canada on Thursday (October
19) has stated that 41 diplomats have left India after New Delhi demanded
‘parity’ over diplomatic representation as it lashed out over Ottawa’s
allegation of Indian agents being involved in killing of a Canadian national.
As a result, Canada will stop the
in-person visa services in all three consulates at Mumbai, Chandigarh and
Bengaluru, while the overall visa processing time for Indian nationals will
increase.
This is likely Canada’s largest
withdrawal of diplomats from a single country at one time.
Last month, Canada had expelled an
Indian diplomat after accusing New Delhi of being potentially involved in the
killing of Hardeep Singh NIjjar, a Khalistan supporter. Angrily dismissing the
charges, India had also expelled a Canadian diplomat, stopped all visa services
for Canadians and asked Ottawa to bring down the number of diplomats in line
with Indian diplomatic presence.
Canadian foreign minister Mélanie Joly
said that India had formally communicated its plan to remove diplomatic immunity
from most of its diplomats by October 20.
“This means 41 Canadian diplomats and
their 42 dependents were in danger of having immunities stripped. Given the
security implications of India’s actions on these Canadian diplomats and their
families, Canada has facilitated their safe departure from India,” Joly told
reporters in Ottawa.
She also said that the consular team has
now been drastically reduced. “Five IRCC staff (Immigration, Refugees and
Citizenship Canada) remain in India and will focus on work that requires an
in-country presence such as urgent processing, visa printing, risk assessment
and overseeing key partners, including visa application centres, panel
physicians and clinics that perform immigration medical exams. The rest of the
work and staff will be reassigned across our global processing network.”
As per Canadian media reports quoting
unnamed officials, the number of Canadian staff who will deal with consular
work has been decreased from 27 to five. They review applications not just from
India, but also Nepal and Bhutan.
Canadian officials stated that 45% of
Canada’s international students, 27% of new permanent residents and 22% of
temporary foreign workers come from India.
Stating that Canada will be forced to
pause all in-person services in the consulates, Joly added, “Immigration,
Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will continue to accept and process
applications from India. However, certain application requirements will need to
be completed locally or on-site in a secure environment. As a result, the
reduction in the size of the IRCC team will affect service standards for
residents of India.”
Canadian media had earlier reported that
India had given a deadline of October 10 for downsizing its embassies, but that
deadline passed without any change.
India had meanwhile reiterated that it
will pursue diplomatic parity with Canada “given the much higher diplomatic
presence of Canadian diplomats or diplomatic presence here of Canada and their
continuing interference in our internal affairs”. However, India had not
publicly announced a deadline for the return of Canadian diplomats.
In her announcement in Ottawa, Joly had
described India’s threat to unilaterally revoke diplomatic immunity as contrary
to international law, including the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
“This action taken by India is
completely unreasonable and escalatory. India accredited each and every one of
the Canadian diplomats they are now expelling. And all of those diplomats were
carrying out their duties in good faith, and to the greater benefit of both
countries,” she said.
Asserting that diplomatic immunities
cannot be unilaterally revoked by host country, Joly noted that if this norm
was broken, “no diplomat anywhere would be safe”.
She also stated that Canada will not
reciprocate Indian actions. “As such, the Government of Canada will continue to
respect diplomatic norms and not reciprocate this action. Canada will continue
to defend international law, which applies equally to all states. Canada will
continue to engage India and remains committed to dialogue as we move forward.”
India disputed Joly’s statement and
claimed that the implementation of diplomatic parity was not a violation of
international law.
“The state of our bilateral relations,
the much higher number of Canadian diplomats in India, and their continued
interference in our internal affairs warrant a parity in mutual diplomatic
presence in New Delhi and Ottawa. We have been engaged with the Canadian side
on this over the last month in order to work out the details and modalities of
its implementation,” said a Ministry of External Affairs statement issued on
Friday afternoon.
It also noted that India’s actions were
consistent with the Vienna Convention of Diplomatic Relations. India cited
VCDR’s Article 11.1 which states: “In the absence of specific agreement as to
the size of the mission, the receiving State may require that the size of a
mission be kept within limits considered by it to be reasonable and normal,
having regard to circumstances and conditions in the receiving State and to the
needs of the particular mission.”
The Indian government’s press statement
concluded that New Delhi “reject[s] any attempt to portray the implementation
of parity as a violation of international norms”.
The Canadian foreign minister also
reiterated that India’s decision “will not distract from Canada’s legitimate
investigation into the killing of Mr. Nijjar”.
“Canada’s priorities in this matter
continue to be the pursuit of the truth, the protection of Canadians, and the
defence of our sovereignty,” she added.
Source: thewire.in
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Former IIT Delhi professor V.K. Tripathi
appeals to Narendra Modi on Gaza siege
20.10.23
Pheroze L. Vincent
Former IIT Delhi professor V.K. Tripathi
has appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to impress upon his Israeli
counterpart to look upon the people of Gaza as his own.
Tripathi is known for his pamphlets that
he distributes across Delhi and other places to promote a Gandhian worldview of
current events.
In his letter to the Prime Minister on Thursday,
he said: “I wish to request you to put efforts, as an Indian nation caring for
human suffering and oppression, to deescalating Israel-Gaza conflict.
“I share the pain of Israeli citizens
who fell victim to Hamas attack. I also feel sad for the Palestinian citizens
who fell victim to retaliatory attack by Israel. Every man and woman on the
Earth has the right to live with freedom, without fear, and have opportunities
for dignified living. War, violence and retaliatory violence take away this
right of innocent victims, hence are bad. Siege of a region or nation by
another state also does the same to an entire population, hence, is bad.”
Urging India to make a moral
intervention, Tripathi added: “In eleven days of current escalation, three
thousand people have died. Now millions at Gaza are under the threat of mass
death. Their lifeline, food, water, electricity etc. has been cut and
devastating bombardment looms. Few hours ago, bombardment on a Baptist Hospital
in Gaza has killed 500 people and injured 600.
“May I urge you to have Israeli Prime
Minister Netanyahu visualise the people of Gaza as his own, and stop the
bombardment and siege. It shall help Israeli people also to enjoy fuller
freedom without the patronage of the gun. It will uplift the soul of India.”
The 75-year-old retired physics
professor started distributing pamphlets to stir the conscience of citizens
after the demolition of the Babri Masjid in 1992.
After the abrogation of Article 370 of
the Constitution and the division of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union
Territories, Tripathi was roughed up by a passerby in South Delhi while
distributing a pamphlet on the disquiet among the erstwhile state’s residents.
That was the first physical assault he faced in his years as a pamphleteer. It
did not deter him and Tripathi was last seen pamphleteering on the streets of
Haryana’s Nuh, soon after the communal riots there earlier this year.
Source: telegraphindia.com
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Tricolour dwarfs all: Nitin Gadkari
inaugurates India's tallest flagpole at Attari-Wagah border with Pakistan
Oct 20, 2023
ATTARI: After a considerable wait, the
Indian national flag was ceremoniously raised atop the nation's tallest
flagpole, situated on the Attari-Wagah border with Pakistan, by Union minister
for road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari on Thursday.The Indian flagpole
in Attari is 18 feet taller than its Pakistan counterpart in neighbouring
Wagah. While the Pakistani flagpole reaches a height of 400 feet, the Indian
flagpole is 418 feet in height.
Gadkari along with Punjab chief minister
Bhagwant Mann, Congress MP Gurjit Singh Aujla, and others pressed the button to
unfurl the tricolour.
Earlier, Gadkari landed at the helipad
at Attari, where he was received by Land Port Authority of India manager Satish
Dharani, who also apprised him about cross-border trade in the region.
The flagpole, erected by the National
Highway Authority of India (NHAI), was constructed for Rs 3.5 crore. It is
mounted on a four-foot pedestal.
In contrast, Pakistan installed its
flagpole on the Wagah border to commemorate its 70th Independence Day on August
14, 2017.
The Pakistan flag can be seen up to 9km
inside India. On Thursday, the atmosphere was notably different at the Attari
border, as locals displayed great enthusiasm and pride in witnessing the event.
A local farmer, Narinder Singh, said
they had for long been seeing the Pakistani flag, but now the tricolour would
fly above it. "Our tiranga (tricolour) has dwarfed all," he added.
After inaugurating the flag, Gadkari
said, "It is the golden day of my life. I have come to the Attari-Wagah
border for the first time. NHAI has installed the tallest national flag here.
This is a place that inspires you to be patriotic."
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
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URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/bangladeshi-hindus-durga-puja-muslim-prayer/d/130940