Jamiat Chief Urges Muslims To Avoid Prohibited Animal Sacrifice, Social Media Posts On Slaughtered Animals
New Age Islam News Bureau
27 May 2026
Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind chief Maulana Arshad Madani
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· Jamiat chief urges Muslims to avoid prohibited animal sacrifice, social media posts on slaughtered animals
· Shot for throwing stones: Israeli forces killing West Bank teens weekly
· Saudi king, crown prince exchange Eid greetings with Muslim leaders
· Shia and Sunni clerics perform Eid prayer together in Azerbaijan - CMO Chairman
· CAIR Condemns Reported Plan to Strip Muslim Custodianship of Al-Aqsa Mosque As ‘Dangerous and Illegal’
· 30,000 Armed Fulani Militants Operating In Nigeria — US Commission
· Singapore court says parents, not judges, should settle religious disputes over children
· True essence of Eid lies in piety and renewing commitment to faith and righteousness: President Dr Mohamed Muizzu
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India
· ‘Shouldn’t be punished for helping Muslim’: AAP leader backs ‘Mohammad’ Deepak, offers ₹50,000 help to keep gym afloat
· Bakrid goat dispute triggers communal tension at Mumbai’s Mira Road housing society, 200 police deployed
· Eid prayers disallowed at Srinagar's Jama Masjid for 8th year in a row
· What the celebration of Mughal Empire leaves out—jihad, extraction and imperial plunder
· Karnataka dairy farmers protest after Muslim groups boycott Bakrid cattle purchase over ‘intimidation’
· India at UN asserts right to self-defence against Pakistan’s cross-border terror
· Delhi court issues notice to Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma on plea over ‘miya voters’ remarks
· Supreme Court rejects urgent hearing on cow slaughter ban plea before Bakrid
· DU assures high court of alternate exam date for law students set to celebrate Eid-ul-Azha on May 28
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Mideast
· Explosion hits Greek-owned tanker off Oman coast
· No feasts, no joy: Gazans mark a dark Eid
· Israel says killed new chief of Hamas armed wing in Gaza strike
· Undeclared chemical weapons found in Syria: OPCW
· Turkish President Erdogan says Turkiye to keep supporting talks in call with Iran’s Pezeshkian
· Sheep theft ruins festivities for Palestinian shepherd
· Cash-strapped Syrians living in tent settlements struggle to return home after Assad’s fall
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Arab World
· Syrian pilgrims with disabilities praise Hajj services
· Hajj pilgrims converge on Mina as Eid begins after night in Muzdalifah
· 1.7m pilgrims performing Hajj this year, 2.04% more than last year
· Environmental body conducts 1,500 inspections during Hajj
· President Sheikh Mohamed performs Eid Al Adha prayers at Abu Dhabi's Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
· Joy and celebration as thousands of UAE worshippers perform Eid Al Adha prayers
· UAE Council for Fatwa extends Eid greetings to UAE President
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Europe
· Umar al-Qadri: We can be both proudly Irish and proudly Muslim this Eid
· Muslims across Pembrokeshire celebrate Eid al-Adha
· Azerbaijan observes Eid al-Adha with nationwide prayers and sacrifice
· Manchester mosque to welcome 15,000 worshippers on Eid day
· Oxford Union to delay appearance by Tommy Robinson, after criticism from faith leaders
· Abu Bakr Eid sale to help drive over £140m into Yorkshire economy
· Senior MP reveals Russia’s strategy for strikes on Kiev
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North America
· CAIR-Northern Ohio Hosts Safety and Security Workshop for Mosque and Islamic School Leadership
· CAIR-CA Calls on Gov. Newsom to Investigate Inequitable Distribution of Nonprofit Security Grants, Ensure Adequate Funding for Muslim Organizations
· CAIR-NY Condemns Vandalism Targeting Queens Kosher Bagel Shop
· CAIR: American Muslims to Mark End of Pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj) with Communal Prayers, Celebrations
· Sharia’s Growing Influence on U.S. Finance
· GOP Battles Sharia: Is Islamic Law a Threat or Dog Whistle?
· Canada needs to stop being America’s doormat
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Africa
· Son of Libya’s Haftar vows to make up for ‘lost years’ under Qaddafi
· Eid-el-Kabir: Kaduna gov urges Nigerians to embrace sacrifice, unity
· Ethiopian Muslims Celebrate Eid al-Adha with Prayer, Unity
· Al-Sunni meets FIFA President Infantino, pushes ‘football diplomacy’ and extends invitation to Libya
· Senegal’s Sonko slams Prime Minister appointment in first speech as speaker
· Taraba Governor Sends Message To Residents, Warns Against Religious Division
· NAF Destroys Terrorist Hideouts In Borno Airstrikes
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Southeast Asia
· Muslims nationwide mark Eid al-Adhaa with prayers, royal attendance across states
· Ministers urge Muslims to reflect on sacrifice, unity in Eid al-Adhaa messages
· Anwar, Dr Wan Azizah perform Eid al-Adhaa prayers at Masjid Putra with 10,000 congregants
· Sultan Ibrahim hosts royal family gathering for Hari Raya Eid al-Adhaa at Johor palace
· Malaysian Armed Forces expresses gratitude to TMJ for ‘unwavering support’ amid military training row
· Anwar reaffirms Malaysia’s stand against West Asia aggression in call with Iran president
· Malaysia strengthens UN peacekeeping role and training
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South Asia
· President extends Eid al-Adha greetings to leaders of Muslim countries and Islamic international organisations
· PM extends Eid-ul-Azha greetings to Muslims at home and abroad
· Govt turns to foreign loans to plug deficit
· BGB boosts vigilance on parts of India border
· Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid visits Russia for security talks
· China and Pakistan pledge closer coordination on Afghanistan after Sharif’s Beijing visit
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
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Jamiat chief urges Muslims to avoid prohibited animal sacrifice, social media posts on slaughtered animals
May 26, 2026
Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind chief Maulana Arshad Madani
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NEW DELHI: Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind chief Maulana Arshad Madani on Tuesday urged Muslims to avoid sacrificing prohibited animals and advised those facing obstruction in offering buffalo sacrifice to take the administration into confidence and perform the sacrifice at a place where there is no disruption.
Eid-ul-Azha will be celebrated in India on May 28.
In his message to the Muslim community ahead of Eid-ul-Azha, Madani said that a person on whom sacrifice is obligatory must perform this obligation, but added that, in view of the current situation, Muslims should take precautionary measures on their own.
"Avoid advertising, especially sharing pictures of slaughtered animals on social media," Madani said.
He also urged Muslims to strictly follow government guidelines while performing the sacrifice and avoid sacrificing prohibited animals, reported ANI.
"If mischievous elements, at any place, prevent the sacrifice of a buffalo, some sensible and influential people should take the administration into confidence, and then sacrifice should be offered.”
"If, however, there is no way to fulfil this religious obligation, then a sacrifice should be offered in a nearby place where there is no difficulty," the Jamiat chief said.
Emphasising cleanliness during the festival, Madani urged Muslims, Jamiat volunteers and imams to actively participate in cleanliness drives by forming volunteer teams to properly dispose of waste after the sacrifice.
He said the teams should help keep their areas clean and ensure that no one faces discomfort or harm because of their actions.
Meanwhile, former vice-president Hamid Ansari on Monday appealed to Muslims not to slaughter cows during Eid-ul-Azha and urged the Centre to consider Madani’s suggestion of declaring the cow as the national animal.
Ansari’s remarks came days after Madani said the cow should be granted the status of the national animal. He had said Muslims would have no objection to such a move and would instead be pleased that mob lynching carried out in the name of cow protection could come to an end.
Madani also questioned what political compulsion was preventing the government from declaring the cow the national animal when a majority of people in the country regard it as sacred and accord it the status of a mother.
Source: indiatimes.com
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/jamiat-chief-urges-muslims-to-avoid-prohibited-animal-sacrifice-social-media-posts-on-slaughtered-animals/articleshowprint/131327509.cms
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Shot for throwing stones: Israeli forces killing West Bank teens weekly
May 27, 2026
Sameh Shtayyeh, the father of 15-year-old Youssef Sameh Shtayyeh who was killed on April 23, by Israeli soldiers in the city of Nablus, hugs his son as they visit his grave at the cemetery in the village of Till, west of Nablus, in the Israeli-occupied Palestinian West Bank. (AFP)
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NABLUS: Youssef Shtayyeh came home from school on an April afternoon, dropped his bag in the hallway and headed straight back out to join his friends.
Minutes later, he was dead — shot by an Israeli soldier, just 100 meters (yards) from his home.
He was 15. His is not an isolated case.
Since Israel launched a major military operation against armed Palestinian groups in the northern West Bank in January 2025, one Palestinian minor has been killed every week on average across the territory, up from one every three weeks in 2021, according to UNICEF, the UN children’s agency.
Seventy teenagers, mostly aged 15 to 16, have been killed to date, 65 of them by Israeli forces, according to a UNICEF report dated May 12.
Then came Youssef Kaabnah, 16, killed on May 13.
Then Fahd Oweis, 15, two days later.
The Israeli military said both had “hurled stones” at soldiers.
It is almost certainly what Shtayyeh had been doing too, on April 23, in Nablus — the largest city in the northern West Bank, a Palestinian territory occupied by Israel since 1967.
Youssef and his friends were on a side street above a main road when a couple passing in a car spotted them throwing stones. The couple also saw a military convoy below.
One jeep stopped. Then the others.
“A soldier got out, then two more. They started shooting at the kids,” the passing driver told AFP, declining to be named for safety reasons.
‘Designed to kill’
A neighbor filmed what followed.
Two shots. Then screams.
Youssef grabbed the car door.
“He said, ‘Please don’t leave me, I’m scared. Take me to my father, take me home,’” the driver recalled.
Youssef’s father Sameh Shtayyeh, a 48-year-old building contractor, told AFP he had no idea what had caused the soldiers to open fire on his son as he “wasn’t there.”
In a panic, the driver told the boy to get in the car and sped to the hospital.
By the time they reached the facility, the boy was silent.
Youssef’s heart had stopped.
“A gunshot wound — entry in the back, exit through the chest,” surgeon Bahaa Fattouh, who treated him, told AFP.
Doctors resuscitated him and rushed him to the operating theater. His heart stopped again.
This time, it did not revive.
“Earlier, we used to treat minor injuries — legs, arms, rubber bullets,” said Fattouh.
But since the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, “we only see lethal wounds — chest, head.”
Wounds, Fattouh said, that were “designed to kill.”
“Most patients die on the operating table.”
‘Standard procedure’
AFP contacted the Israeli military on the day of the incident, and again after returning from Nablus last week.
The response was identical: “A terrorist threw stones at soldiers. The soldiers applied the standard arrest procedure, which ended with fire being directed at the suspect.”
Israeli daily Haaretz recently quoted the military’s commander for the West Bank, Major General Avi Bluth, saying troops had killed 42 Palestinians for throwing stones in 2025.
He described stone-throwing as “terrorism.”
Standing at the spot where his son fell, Sameh Shtayyeh stares down at the road below.
“Whether he threw stones or not — what does it matter? Where is the danger to an army patrol?” he asks bitterly.
At protests “in Israel, in France, people throw stones and bins” and face nothing worse than arrest, he said.
He buried Youssef in the family village of Tell, five kilometers (three miles) from Nablus.
Weeks later, women were still holding a vigil at the flower-covered grave, topped with a portrait of the teenager showing him on a football pitch with a ball at his feet.
His father had promised to take him to Saudi Arabia to watch Cristiano Ronaldo play.
Now, each time Sameh comes home, Youssef is not there to greet him.
His eldest son returns from school — but Youssef is not there.
He glances at the back seat of his car. Youssef is not there.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2645069/middle-east
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Saudi king, crown prince exchange Eid greetings with Muslim leaders
May 27, 2026
JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received congratulatory messages from leaders across the Islamic world ahead of Eid Al-Adha, according to a report carried by the state-run Saudi Press Agency.
The messages were sent on the occasion of the Islamic holiday, which coincides with the peak days of the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.
King Salman, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, and Crown Prince Mohammed, who is also the Kingdom's prime minister, replied with cables expressing appreciation for the greetings and prayers conveyed by leaders of Muslim-majority countries, SPA reported.
The Saudi leaders prayed for continued security, stability and prosperity for the Islamic world and asked God to accept the good deeds of all during the Hajj and Eid season.
The exchange of messages came as more than 1.7 million pilgrims gathered in the Kingdom for Hajj 2026, one of the world’s largest annual religious gatherings.
Saudi authorities said 1,707,301 pilgrims are performing Hajj this year, an increase of about 2 percent from 2025, reflecting sustained global demand for pilgrimage places despite regional and international challenges.
According to official statistics, more than 1.54 million pilgrims arrived from outside Saudi Arabia, the majority by air, while about 160,000 pilgrims were domestic worshippers and residents.
Saudi officials have credited expanded infrastructure, digital services and enhanced crowd-management systems for improving the movement of pilgrims between the holy sites of Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah.
Authorities also expanded the Makkah Route Initiative, which allows pilgrims to complete immigration and customs procedures in their home countries before departure. Nearly 389,000 pilgrims used the service this year, up almost 24 percent from last year.
More than 441,000 personnel were deployed this season to support Hajj operations, including security forces, healthcare workers, transport coordinators and emergency response teams overseeing the movement and safety of pilgrims.
Source: arabnews.com
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2645068/saudi-arabia
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Shia and Sunni clerics perform Eid prayer together in Azerbaijan - CMO Chairman
27 May 2026
© APA | Chairman of the Caucasus Muslims Office, Sheikh-ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazade
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This year as well, Shia and Sunni clerics performed the Eid prayer together in Azerbaijan, Chairman of the Caucasus Muslims Office, Sheikh-ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazade, told journalists after the Eid prayer at the Taza Pir Mosque, APA reports.
“This happens in very few countries. Azerbaijan is one of them. Azerbaijan is an example for the whole world. This is unity and solidarity. These efforts continue with the support of our state leadership and will continue in the future as well,” the Sheikh-ul-Islam added.
Source: apa.az
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https://en.apa.az/religion/shia-and-sunni-clerics-perform-eid-prayer-together-in-azerbaijan-cmo-chairman-508750
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CAIR Condemns Reported Plan to Strip Muslim Custodianship of Al-Aqsa Mosque As ‘Dangerous and Illegal’
May 26, 2026
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today condemned reported plans pursued by Israeli and U.S. officials, as well as Jared Kushner, to strip Jordan of its historic custodianship over the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied Jerusalem in an attempt to end Muslim leadership over the holy site.
CAIR also called on the Trump administration to address the reporting and disavow any such “dangerous and illegal” plans.
According to media reports, discussions are underway to transfer oversight of the holy site away from Jordan despite its internationally-recognized custodial role.
In a statement, Washington, D.C.-based CAIR said:
“Any attempt to further strip Al-Aqsa Mosque of its religious character would be illegal, dangerous and an affront to nearly two billion Muslims around the world. Key members of the Israeli government have made no secret of the fact that they wish to up end the status quo and would, if they could, destroy the Al-Aqsa compound.
“The Israeli apartheid government’s attacks on religious institutions and its denial of Muslim and Christian religious rights are completely out of control. The international community must reject any effort to erode protections for Palestinian religious sites or diminish the rights of worshippers in occupied Jerusalem.”
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
Do you like reading CAIR press releases and taking part in our action alerts? You can help contribute to CAIR’s work of defending civil rights and empowering American Muslims across the country by making a one-time contribution or becoming a monthly donor. Supporters like you make CAIR’s advocacy work possible and defeating Islamophobia an achievable goal. Click here to donate to CAIR.
Source: cair.com
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https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-condemns-reported-plan-to-strip-muslim-custodianship-of-al-aqsa-mosque-as-dangerous-and-illegal/
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30,000 Armed Fulani Militants Operating In Nigeria — US Commission
May 27, 2026
By Enioluwa Adeniyi
The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has said an estimated 30,000 armed Fulani militants are operating across Nigeria in groups ranging from 10 to 1,000 members.
Naija News reports that the commission stated this in its May 2026 report titled, Nonstate Violators of Religious Freedom in Nigeria: Fulani Militants.
According to the report, the militants have become some of the deadliest non-state actors driving religious freedom violations in Nigeria.
USCIRF said attacks carried out by armed actors of Fulani ethnic background had intensified insecurity across the Middle Belt and Southern regions.
It said the violence had left thousands dead, displaced communities and deepened tensions between religious groups.
“Violence by Fulani militants caused the highest number of deaths among all religious communities in Nigeria over the last year as compared to attacks by organised insurgent groups and criminal gangs,” the report stated.
The commission said many of the attacks were directed at Christian communities, although Muslim communities had also suffered raids, killings and kidnappings.
The report said the groups do not have a centralised leadership structure but sometimes collaborate with criminal gangs and extremist organisations.
The report said, “These actors operate in a variety of contexts and with a multiplicity of likely aims and motivations.
“While many Fulani militant groups wage independent attacks, others periodically coordinate with a wide range of other actors, from conventional bandit gangs seeking financial enrichment to recognised terrorist organisations that espouse a violent interpretation of Islam.”
USCIRF said the militants often attack isolated rural communities at night using motorcycles, automatic weapons and machetes.
“They often wield machetes and descend on vulnerable communities during the night, eliciting terror as a way to force victims to quickly leave and to achieve greater control of desired land,” the report added.
The commission said attacks by Fulani militants and other armed groups had displaced at least 1.3 million people in the Middle Belt.
It said many of the displaced persons were forced into overcrowded camps lacking adequate sanitation and security.
The report also cited several attacks in 2025 and early 2026, including mass killings in Benue and Plateau states.
“One attack in Benue in June 2025 killed at least 200 people, including internally displaced persons living in a Catholic mission,” USCIRF said.
It also referenced the 2025 Yelwata massacre in Benue State, where more than 200 Christians, “mostly sleeping women and children,” were reportedly killed and over 3,000 people displaced.
Attacks Timed Around Christian Holidays
USCIRF said some attacks were deliberately carried out during Christian religious holidays.
“Militant actors have often carried out operations during Christian holidays such as Christmas or Easter to further maximise the psychological impact,” the report stated.
It said suspected Fulani militants killed at least 32 people in Niger State in February 2026.
The report also said Holy Trinity Parish in the Kafanchan Diocese of Kaduna State was attacked, with three people killed and 11 others abducted, including the parish priest, Father Nathaniel Asuwaye.
USCIRF also documented kidnappings targeting both churches and mosques.
“In February 2026, armed men kidnapped an imam and seven worshipers from a mosque in Plateau,” the report stated, adding that the abductors demanded ₦16m ransom.
The commission said Palm Sunday and Easter attacks in April 2026 left dozens dead in Plateau, Kaduna and Benue states.
“On Easter Sunday, Fulani militants reportedly killed five worshippers at two churches in Kaduna State while abducting 31 others,” it added.
The report said conflicting narratives about the violence had complicated efforts to determine the motivations behind the attacks.
The commission said, “Some observers have argued that environmental and economic factors are the driving force behind Fulani militants’ acts of violence, while others have suggested that these actors are engaged in a concerted campaign of outright genocide against non-Muslims, especially Christians.
“In fact, multiple and overlapping factors, including religion in many cases, likely spur Fulani militants to attack communities or individuals.”
USCIRF Faults Govt Response
The commission criticised federal and state authorities for what it described as inadequate responses to the violence.
“Victims have long reported that security forces are consistently slow to respond to attacks on their communities,” USCIRF said.
It added that some Christian advocates accused security agencies of favouring Muslim communities during investigations and security operations.
The report noted that governors from 11 states launched an initiative in June 2025 to establish ranch lands for herders in a bid to reduce clashes over grazing routes and farmland.
USCIRF linked renewed Federal Government action to the October 2025 decision by US President, Donald Trump, to designate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern over religious freedom violations.
The commission said President Bola Tinubu classified kidnappers and violent armed groups, including Fulani militants, as “terrorists” in December 2025.
It added that security agencies rescued 309 hostages in January 2026 during operations in Kogi and Kwara states, arresting 129 suspected Fulani militants and killing 55 others.
MACBAN Denies Backing Violence
The report also highlighted growing scrutiny of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN).
It said the organisation had faced allegations from Christian leaders that it failed to stop militant violence and land invasions.
MACBAN, however, denied supporting criminal activity.
“We do not support, condone, harbour, finance, or protect any form of criminality, extremism or violence,” the association said, according to the report.
USCIRF said the US Congress introduced the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026 in February, proposing sanctions against MACBAN over allegations of involvement in severe religious freedom violations.
Despite recent security measures and peace initiatives, the commission warned that violence remained widespread.
“As a result, central Nigeria remains entrenched in an intense, daily, and seemingly perpetual crisis of insecurity,” the report concluded.
USCIRF said the crisis was likely to continue “until the federal and several state governments create broader underlying conditions that are more conducive to the safe practice of religious freedom.”
Source: naijanews.com
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https://www.naijanews.com/2026/05/27/30000-armed-fulani-militants-nigeria-us/
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Singapore court says parents, not judges, should settle religious disputes over children
27 May 2026
SINGAPORE, May 27 — A Singapore court has rejected a divorced father’s attempt to compel his ex-wife to send their two children to a church camp, with a judge warning against using the courts to enforce one parent’s religious preferences over another’s objections.
In a judgment published yesterday, District Judge Kow Keng Siong said the court should remain neutral in family disputes involving religion, identity and conscience, according to CNA.
“In family disputes touching on religion, identity and conscience, judicial restraint is often the wiser choice,” Judge Kow said.
The former couple, who obtained an interim divorce judgment in January 2025, share two children — a son born in 2016 and a daughter born a year later. Both children are baptised and attend Christian schools, while their mother has care and control over them.
The father had sought a court order requiring his ex-wife to ensure the children attended a four-day church camp, transport them daily and split the registration costs. He argued the camp would support their religious development and provide “wholesome activities that benefit their creative and physical development”.
He also accused his former wife of showing “a consistent pattern of obstructing the formation of the Christian faith” in the children by not taking them to various religious activities since May 2024.
The mother denied this, saying scheduling conflicts linked to school commitments prevented attendance at some events. She also argued that forcing her to transport the children daily would be “oppressive and unreasonable”.
The court heard that the couple’s son had recently expressed suicidal thoughts and was undergoing counselling. The mother said he had told her he felt stressed about attending the camp, while their daughter was also reluctant to go.
Judge Kow said the case raised a broader question over when courts should intervene in religious disagreements between parents.
“Consideration for a child’s welfare is not a licence for judicial micromanagement of the child’s life,” he said. “The court is not intended to function as a day-to-day surrogate parent tasked with resolving every ordinary parenting disagreement.”
He added that the courtroom was “ill-equipped to determine which parent’s religious preference for the child should prevail”.
The judge found there was no evidence the children’s absence from the camp would harm their welfare, or that the mother was attempting to erase their Christian identity.
“For avoidance of doubt, nothing in this judgment prevents the father from sharing his faith with the children during his own access time,” Judge Kow said.
Source: malaymail.com
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https://www.malaymail.com/news/singapore/2026/05/27/singapore-court-says-parents-not-judges-should-settle-religious-disputes-over-children/221535
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True essence of Eid lies in piety and renewing commitment to faith and righteousness: President Dr Mohamed Muizzu
26 May 2026,
In his official address to the nation on the occasion of Eid al-Adha 1447H, President Dr Mohamed Muizzu stated that the true essence of Eid lies in enriching the soul with piety and renewing the collective resolve to prioritise faith and the path of righteousness.
The President expressed profound gratitude to Almighty Allah for bestowing the blessed occasion of Eid al-Adha upon us, and extended warm Eid greetings and best wishes to all Maldivians, including those who travelled to perform the sacred pilgrimage of Hajj this year.
He highlighted that Eid al-Adha stands as an enduring testament to compassion, uniting the entire Muslim Ummah through the profound lessons and wisdom ordained by Almighty Allah. He also reflected on how the joy that begins with the equality of the sacred plains of Arafat and spreads in every direction is one of the brightest symbols of human compassion.
Furthermore, the President emphasised the core values Eid imparts: instilling exemplary moral values in the youth, and finding personal fulfilment in bringing joy to the vulnerable and lonely within our communities. He noted that the bonds of unity revitalised during Eid are a driving force for sustaining peace and harmony across the nation. Additionally, he urged the public to uphold Islamic values during their celebrations and festivities, and to refrain from practices that conflict with traditional Maldivian values and customs.
The President concluded with prayers that these blessed days of Eid continue to bring joy and prosperity to the nation, and that Almighty Allah keep our beloved Maldives and the entire Muslim Ummah under His eternal protection.
The President also extended his Eid greetings on social media, conveying heartfelt well-wishes and calling on the people of the Maldives to offer abundant praise to Almighty Allah, recite the Takbeer, and celebrate Eid in keeping with the Islamic spirit.
Noting that travelling to the islands with family and strengthening community bonds is a time-honoured Maldivian tradition, he offered prayers that this Eid be one in which brotherhood is deepened and every citizen feels a sense of peace and contentment.
Source: presidency.gov.mv
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https://presidency.gov.mv/Press/Article/36718
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India
‘Shouldn’t be punished for helping Muslim’: AAP leader backs ‘Mohammad’ Deepak, offers ₹50,000 help to keep gym afloat
27 May, 2026
Aam Aadmi Party leader Sanjay Singh has come out in support of ‘Mohammad’ Deepak, an Uttarakhand gym owner who says he is struggling to keep his business running following a high-profile incident in Kotdwar earlier this year.
Deepak Kumar came to national attention after intervening in a dispute involving an elderly Muslim shopkeeper and a group linked to the Hindu nationalist group, Bajrang Dal. Now, the gym owner says mounting financial pressure, including four months of unpaid rent, may force him to sell equipment and leave the city.
“No person should be punished for helping an elderly Muslim for the sake of humanity,” Singh wrote on X. “Deepak's gym is on the verge of closing today. Help Deepak, I have assisted him with 50 thousand from my salary. You too extend a helping hand; good people's morale should remain high.”
What started the issue
On January 26, alleged members of Bajrang Dal objected to the name of a garment shop, ‘Baba School Garments,’ run by 71-year-old Vakil Ahmed.
The men claimed the word “Baba” should not be used by a Muslim man in his shop and pressured the shopkeeper to change the name. The group was allegedly intimidating the elderly man when Deepak Kumar stepped in.
Asked his name, he replied, “My name is Mohammad Deepak.”
He later explained that he used this identity to show unity and equal rights across communities, rather than religious division. A video of the confrontation went viral at the time.
Who is ‘Mohammad’ Deepak?
Deepak Kumar is a 42-year-old gym owner known locally as ‘Mohammad’ Deepak He runs the ‘Hulk’ gym in Kotdwar. He now says he may have to leave the city. He said that he had not paid rent for four months and his landlord has asked him to vacate.
“My landlord has given an ultimatum since I could not pay the rent for the last four months. I now think of selling the equipment and moving out of the city to take up a job,” Deepak told PTI. He said the monthly rent was ₹40,000, but his gym had only 60-65 members, which was not enough to cover costs.
Deepak also alleged that his business was affected by pressure from local activists linked to Bharatiya Janata Party and Bajrang Dal. “These activists visit the homes of gym members whose parents affiliate with the BJP to discourage them from coming to the gym,” he told PTI. “This targeted campaign has severely destabilised my business,” he added.
What led to this?
On January 31, days after he stood up to the elderly Muslim man, a group gathered outside the shop and near Deepak’s gym. Roads were blocked and slogans were raised. Police registered multiple FIRs related to the incident. Deepak said his gym faced disruptions afterwards and that his clients were also pressured.
He said at the time, “I am not a Hindu, I am not a Muslim, I am not a Sikh, and I am not a Christian. First and foremost, I am a human being. Because after I die, I have to answer to God and to humanity, not to any religion.”
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also praised Deepak, calling him a defender of the Constitution and humanity. He accused the ruling party in Uttarakhand of siding with groups spreading fear.
Legal cases linked to the incident
Police have registered three FIRs in connection with the incident, HT reported earlier. The first is against 30-40 unidentified people linked to Bajrang Dal and other groups for blocking roads and disturbing public peace during the protest.
The second is based on a complaint by Vakil Ahmed, alleging abusive and caste-based remarks by protesters. The third is against Deepak Kumar and others, accusing them of using derogatory language and threatening violence during a later confrontation.
Deepak Kumar has also approached the Uttarakhand High Court seeking to quash the FIR against him and requesting police protection.
What the High Court said
The Uttarakhand High Court rejected his plea for police protection and criticised parts of his petition. The court said an accused cannot seek police protection and called such requests inappropriate at this stage. It also said the police are capable of ensuring safety and said that there was no strong evidence of threat.
The court also called some of the requests in the petition “illogical” and said they could put pressure on the investigation, PTI reported.
Now, amid financial hardships, people on the internet have also been donating to Deepak, as seen in the comments section of Sanjay Singh’s post.
Source: hindustantimes.com
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Bakrid goat dispute triggers communal tension at Mumbai’s Mira Road housing society, 200 police deployed
Manish Kumar Pathak
May 27, 2026
A simmering dispute over goats brought into a residential complex for Eid ul Adha sacrifice escalated into communal tension at Mira Road on Tuesday, prompting heavy police deployment after right-wing activists staged protests outside the housing society and clashes broke out between members of the two communities.
Tension flared at a residential complex in Mira Road ahead of Eid ul Adha, popularly known as Bakrid, after a dispute broke out over more than 50 goats being housed within the society premises, prompting heavy police deployment and detention of several persons.
The unrest began at Poonam Cluster 1 on Monday night after residents and right-wing activists objected to the construction of a temporary shed for sacrificial goats inside the housing complex. The society, which consists of over 550 flats, is a mixed-population locality with several Muslim families residing there. Locals said that over the last few years, Muslim families had been bringing sacrificial animals, especially goats, which are tied in sheds and later sacrificed during Eid. As per earlier rules, municipal corporations have the authority to grant temporary permission for sacrifice in housing society common areas if certain conditions are met, including hygiene, sanitation and the absence of nearby licensed slaughter facilities.
“This has been happening in the society for quite a few years, with goats being tied and even slaughtered. However, a section of the residents has opposed this for some time and a similar issue had occurred last time as well. Many residents feel uncomfortable with slaughter taking place and goats being moved around in the society, and the problem escalated on Monday,” a resident of the society, who did not wish to be named, said.
Bakrid goat dispute triggers communal tension at Mumbai's Mira Road housing society, 200 police deployed Police stand guard in front of a housing society named Poonam Estate Cluster 01 after a clash broke out between two communities regarding animal sacrifice ahead of Bakrid, at Mira Road in Mumbai on 26 May 2026. (Express photo by Sankhadeep Banerjee)
The issue escalated on Monday night when a section of residents called Bajrang Dal activists into the society complex to intervene in the matter. According to police, around 10 pm, local Bajrang Dal leader Pawan Thakur and several activists reached the society and asked residents to remove the animals, leading to an argument.
Around two hours later, Bajrang Dal functionary Nagnath Kamble arrived at the complex with supporters. At around 12.50 am on Tuesday, an unidentified man allegedly attempted to attack Kamble with a knife from behind. Harsh Singh, another Bajrang Dal activist who was standing nearby, intervened and suffered injuries to his left hand while trying to stop the attacker.
In his complaint, Singh alleged that he and others tried to catch the suspect, but the man assaulted him and fled the spot. Singh was later taken to hospital for treatment.
Based on his statement, the Kashimira police registered an FIR against an unidentified person under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Following the incident, police deployed more than 200 personnel around the residential complex and nearby areas to prevent any escalation.
Bakrid goat dispute triggers communal tension at Mumbai's Mira Road housing society, 200 police deployed The issue escalated on Monday night when a section of residents called Bajrang Dal activists into the society complex to intervene in the matter. (Express photo by Sankhadeep Banerjee)
Tensions, however, resurfaced on Tuesday afternoon when over 100 members of Bajrang Dal gathered outside the society and began reciting the Hanuman Chalisa, demanding that the animals be moved out. This led to further scuffles between Muslim residents and Bajrang Dal activists. Police said minor clashes broke out between members of the two communities before officers intervened and dispersed the crowd.
The situation further escalated around 2.30 pm as Bajrang Dal activists allegedly brought a pig to the area, stating that if Muslims were allowed to bring in goats they would bring pigs into the society. The police prevented the animal from being taken inside the premises and immediately brought the situation under control.
Amidst rising tensions the local administration intervened in the matter, with residents being informed that the goats would be shifted out of the premises to a designated spot made available by the Mira Bhayander Municipal Corporation. The goats were later moved out.
“Several families had brought goats into the society for qurbani ahead of Eid, following which objections were raised by some residents. The administration held meetings with both sides and, with consensus, an alternative space provided by the municipal corporation was identified. The goats have now been shifted there,” said DCP Rahul Chavan.
Bakrid goat dispute triggers communal tension at Mumbai's Mira Road housing society, 200 police deployed Following the incident, police deployed more than 200 personnel around the residential complex and nearby areas to prevent any escalation. (Express photo by Sankhadeep Banerjee)
Senior BJP leader Kirit Somaiya also visited Mira Road along with supporters during the protest.
“Goats are deliberately being brought into Hindu-majority localities to create an atmosphere of fear among vegetarian and Jain families. If anyone uses a religious occasion to spread hatred, it will not be tolerated,” Somaiya alleged.
Local Congress leaders, meanwhile, alleged that the BJP and its affiliates were trying to create communal trouble. A Congress corporator from Ward No. 22, Zuber Inamdar, said, “Residents have been bringing goats into the building every year, and this is not the first time. However, slaughter has never taken place within the premises. This time, a few society members objected even to bringing the goats into the society. A shed had also been erected, but following a complaint, municipal officials removed it. The issues were later sorted out, but a few members of the VHP and Bajrang Dal created and escalated the controversy.”
Meanwhile, police said one person has been detained in connection with the attack on the Bajrang Dal activist that took place on Monday night. Several others have been detained for the scuffle that broke out on Tuesday afternoon. No arrests have been made so far.
“We have detained one person in connection with the attack on Harsh Singh. After inquiry, he will be formally arrested in the case,” a police officer said.
Source: indianexpress.com
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What the celebration of Mughal Empire leaves out—jihad, extraction and imperial plunder
AABHAS MALDAHIYAR
27 May, 2026
Our nation is fascinating—we enthusiastically mark five centuries since the First Battle of Panipat, the event that established Timurid Gūrkāniyān rule in parts of Bharat, still inaccurately remembered as the Mughal Empire. Barely any attention was paid to the 450th anniversary of the Maratha revenge for the Third Battle of Panipat in 2021. Given the manner in which history has been taught here, many may not even know that Panipat was ever avenged.
The issue, however, is not observation itself. History must be remembered, for every triumph and tragedy has shaped who we are. The problem begins when remembrance turns into a celebration of a reign that largely brought difficult times for the nation.
I speak here of the establishment of Timurid rule after the First Battle of Panipat. Even in that battle, one sees early signs of what followed. While Panipat is often remembered for Babur’s cannons and military skill, little is said about his use of villages around Panipat as human shields, drawing non-combatants into war. Baburnama has proof that massive plunder followed, with wealth flowing toward Samarkand, Khurasan, Kashghar, Iraq, Mecca, and Medina. Babur himself acknowledged Bharat’s riches and, after the battle of Chanderi, declared that he had conquered Dar-ul-Harb (territories ruled by non-Muslims).
The same disposition became more visible after the Rajput resistance at Bayana, when he broke his wine vessels, invoked jihad, and proclaimed:
“They shattered them as, Allah willing, soon shall be shattered the idols of the idolaters, distributing the fragments among the poor and needy.”
And then came the Battle of Khanwa, after which Babur assumed the title of Ghazi (victor in a jihad fought by the sword) and declared:
For Islām’s sake, I roamed the untamed wilds,
Ready for battle against the pagans, the Hindūs,
Resolved to embrace the Shahid’s martyrdom.
Thanks be to Allāh! I became a Ghāzī.
The Fathnama (Fatḥ-i-Pādshāh-i-Islām), composed at the hands of Shaikh Zain, further states in Baburnama:
Upon hearing the thunderous approach of the forces of Islam, the accursed Kafir enemies of Muḥammad’s religion gathered their ill-fated troops and advanced with a unified resolve, placing their trust in their towering, monstrous elephants, as the Lords of the Elephant once did when they marched to overthrow the sanctuary (Ka‘ba) of Islam.
The Battle of Khanwa was clearly framed as a conflict between the armies of Islam and the kafirs (non-Muslims). Equally striking is the reference to the tower of Hindu heads that follows:
All the Hindus slain, wretched and lowly,
By matchlock fire, as if under elephants’ might,
Piles of their bodies rose like hills,
From each mound, a fountain of flowing blood.
The point I seek to draw here is simple: when Babur fought Muslim armies such as the Lodis, he did not invoke jihad. But against the brave Hindu king Rana Sangram Singh at Khanwa, the language of jihad emerged prominently. Since Rana Sangram Singh is mentioned, another popular claim also deserves clarification. A triangulation of sources suggests that Rana Sanga did not invite Babur into Hindustan; rather, it was Babur who reached out seeking an alliance against the Lodi power.
Limits of ‘syncretism’
Another aspect worth touching upon is the idea of syncretism, a theme many are eager to celebrate. And perhaps there is no better place to begin than the famous rakhi episode of Humayun and the Queen of Mewar Karnavati. What actually transpired, as opposed to the popular tale of Rani Karnavati sending a rakhi and Humayun marching to preserve its honour? The story largely enters popular imagination through James Tod’s Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan:
When her Amazonian sister, the Rathor queen, was slain, the mother of the infant prince took a surer method to shield him in demanding the fulfilment of the pledge given by Humayun when she sent the rakhi to that monarch.
Gulbadan Begum’s Humayun-nama remains completely silent on the rakhi episode. More importantly, contemporary correspondence suggests not only that Humayun never came to honour a rakhi, but also why he chose not to intervene. In his exchanges with Bahadur Shah, Humayun openly justifies his inaction on the grounds that Bahadur Shah was engaged in a campaign against kafirs. The decision appears to have been guided less by legendary bonds of honour and more by religious considerations. Historian Mahomed Kasim Ferishta records Humayun writing to Bahadur Shah in the book History of the Rise of the Mahomedan Power in India:
O thou the ravage of Chittor,
In what way wilt thou subdue infidels?
Knowest thou, that while employed at Chittor?
A king cometh to subdue thee?
Ferishta further records Bahadur Shah’s reply:
I, who am the ravager of Chittor,
Will conquer the idolaters by valour;
And he who dares not succour Chittor.
Shall see in what way he himself shall be conquered.
This point deserves attention: Bahadur Shah was Humayun’s enemy, yet Humayun chose not to oppose him in a campaign directed against kafirs. Another historian, Abdul Qadir Badayuni, also notes that Humayun hesitated precisely for this reason. The romantic layers added later fade before this admission, revealing a choice shaped by religious considerations.
If tradition is to be believed, Rani Karnavati’s appeal may indeed have reached the Timurid court. But the outcome remained unchanged. Humayun did not ride to the defence of Chittor, and Bahadur Shah’s confidence rested on the belief that a Muslim ruler would not take up arms against a fellow Muslim for an infidel cause.
The broader pattern also becomes difficult to ignore. Timurid rulers often distinguished between Muslim and Hindu polities in political dealings. One incident recorded by ‘Abd al-Qadir Badayuni makes this sentiment starker in Muntakhabu-t-Tawarikh. During the Battle of Haldighati, when asked how friendly Rajputs could be distinguished from enemy Rajputs, Asaf Khan reportedly replied: “They will experience the whiz of the arrows, be what may—on whichever side they may be killed, it will be a gain to Islam.”
With that, let us turn to another aspect frequently celebrated in this legacy: interreligious marriages.
Under Jahangir, a Hindu woman could enter a Muslim household only through conversion. But a Muslim woman entering a Hindu household was treated as a serious offence, even inviting capital punishment. Jahangir himself records in his memoir Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri:
They ally themselves with Hindus, and both give and take girls. Taking them is good, but giving them, God forbid! I gave an order that hereafter they should not do such things, and whoever was guilty of them should be capitally punished.
And what of Shah Jahan, often remembered through marble and romance? Under his rule, a Muslim woman married to a Hindu faced a stark reality: either the husband converted to Islam or the marriage stood annulled, according to Bādshāh-Nāma.
Take the case of Dalpat Singh of Sirhind. He married a Muslim woman, Zinab, renamed her Ganga, and raised their children as Hindus. Shah Jahan ordered him to accept Islam or face death. He chose death over conversion and was executed, a grim footnote to the celebrated idea of Ganga Jamuni Tehzeeb.
Then comes the enduring legend of Jodha Bai—Akbar’s third wife—perhaps the most romanticised symbol of this narrative. Contemporary Timurid sources such as the Ain-i-Akbari and Akbarnama do not mention a queen by that name. The figure largely emerges later in colonial narratives. The woman commonly identified as Jodha Bai entered history as Mariam-uz-Zamani, lived under that title, and was buried according to Islamic rites.
The pattern itself remains notable. Hindu princesses entering the Timurid zenana did not retain their original identities. Their names altered, their political roles expanded, and dynastic considerations often shaped their place in the imperial structure.
Under Shah Jahan, apostasy from Islam invited harsh punishment, and cases involving forced or pressured conversions repeatedly appear in chronicles. During the rebellion of Jujhar Singh, his sons were renamed Imam Quli and Ali Quli, while Udai Bhan (Jujhar Singh’s eldest son) reportedly chose death over conversion.
Marble, famine & imperial extraction
Another aspect often overlooked in discussions of Timurid rule is the state of the economy.
The Taj Mahal, commissioned in 1631, reportedly cost 41.8 million silver rupees at a time when a farmer’s family survived on roughly one dam (copper coin) a day (one rupee was equal to 40 dams). This coincided with the devastating Deccan Famine of 1630–32, which claimed around 7.4 million lives, worsened by imperial campaigns that ravaged Malwa and the Deccan, leaving ‘scarcely a vestige of cultivation’, as chroniclers recorded. I was shaken after reading the agony of people, and surprisingly, court chronicler Abdul Hamid Lahori didn’t push it under the rug:
“Inhabitants were reduced to the direst extremity. Life was offered for a loaf, but none would buy. Dog’s flesh was sold for goat flesh. The pounded bones of the dead were mixed in flour and sold. Men began to devour each other, and the flesh of a son was preferred to his love. The number of deaths caused obstructions in the roads. Those lands which had been famous for fertility and plenty of resources retain no traces of production.”
Peter Mundy, the 17th-century British traveller and merchant who visited the region during the famine, wrote in his diary:
“Surat (Gujarat)- Great famine, highways unpassable, infested by thieves looking not for gold but grain; Kirka- Town empty. Half inhabitants fled. Another half dead; Dhaita- Children sold for 6 dams or given for free to any who could take them so they might be kept alive; Nandurbar (Maharashtra)-No space to pitch a tent, dead bodies everywhere. Noisome smell from a neighbouring pit where 40 dead bodies were thrown. Survivors searching for grains in the excrement of men and animals. Highway stowed with dead bodies from Surat to Burhanpur.”
He gives complete details about how the Timurid lords were treating people. He wrote:
In Bazar lay people dead and others breathing their last with the food almost near their mouths, yet dying for want of it, they not having wherewith to buy, nor the others so much pity to spare them any without money. There being no course taken in this Country to remedy this great evil, the rich and strong engrossing and taking perforce all to themselves.
While famine consumed the countryside, Shah Jahan’s imperial camp remained stocked and abundant with supplies arriving from all directions. Even amid this devastation, taxes continued to flow. Timurid revenue extraction was among the highest in the world, often taking more than half of peasant produce, compared to systems such as Vijayanagara that took roughly one-sixth. Records also suggest that nearly 62 per cent of revenue was spent on just 665 court elites. Coupled with devastated cultivation, revenue diversion, and failed rains, the famine of 1630–1632 claimed around eight million lives. The Taj Mahal, celebrated as a monument of love, acquires a far darker shadow when viewed through this lens.
According to economist Angus Maddison, India held the world’s largest GDP share until AD 1000, at one point accounting for nearly one-third of global output. Even when the Timurid Empire was established, Hindustan already held a 24.4 per cent share of world GDP, second only to China. This challenges the claim that the Timurids created India’s prosperity.
During their rule, GDP share declined, and India fell behind China by AD 1600 under Akbar. While overall GDP remained comparatively stable, GDP per capita saw negative growth between AD 1500 and 1820, suggesting that while imperial wealth accumulated, ordinary people grew poorer. Contemporary accounts also describe continued outflows of wealth, including state-funded Hajj expenditures and lavish patronage to Meccan elites.
Records suggest that large amounts of Indian wealth also flowed outward through state patronage of Hajj and diplomatic gifting. Under Akbar, Hajj caravans reportedly carried donations of Rs 6 lakh and Rs 5 lakh, with an additional Rs 1 lakh sent to the Sharif of Mecca. Jahangir continued this pattern through costly gifts and endowments, while Aurangzeb spent heavily on foreign Muslim rulers, embassies, and donations to Mecca.
Contemporary observers such as Francois Bernier noted that this outward flow was largely one-sided, while ordinary subjects at home continued to face heavy taxation and hardship. Bernier’s descriptions of Aurangzeb’s period paint a stark contrast between imperial luxury and public misery.
He wrote that labourers perished under oppressive governors, children of the poor were sold into slavery, and peasants abandoned lands in despair. Artisans producing luxury goods for the Timurid aristocracy often lived in poverty, with prices fixed by buyers and refusal risking imprisonment or death. Even weavers of world-famous brocades reportedly moved about half-clothed. English diplomat Thomas Roe similarly observed dazzling riches in the imperial court alongside widespread poverty among common people.
The contrast becomes sharper under Shah Jahan. During Nauroz in 1628, Mumtaz Mahal received Rs 50 lakh, Jahan Ara Rs 20 lakh, and Raushan Ara Rs 5 lakh, while Rs 1.6 crore from the treasury was spent on rewards and pensions. Yet after the devastating famine, when corpses lined highways and families sold children in desperation, famine relief amounted to only Rs 1 lakh. Mumtaz’s annual maintenance alone stood at Rs 1 crore, while the treasury held Rs 6 crore, and the Peacock Throne itself was valued at Rs 3 crore.
Maddison estimated that 15–18 per cent of national income sustained the state and associated elites, with nearly 21 million people dependent on this imperial ecosystem. He described the Mughal state as ‘parasitic,’ focused largely on hoarding wealth rather than productive investment. Historian JF Richards noted that agriculture formed the backbone of revenue extraction. Tapan Raychaudhuri called the state an ‘insatiable Leviathan,’ while economic historians argued that surplus was systematically extracted from peasants. Despite limited irrigation within India, large funds continued flowing outward, including projects beyond the subcontinent, reinforcing the pattern of extraction amid declining per capita prosperity.
It is impossible to compress the story of Timurid rule in Hindustan into a single essay, and I have merely scratched the surface. I end with one disturbing account recorded by Badayuni under Akbar: women found unveiled in public, or accused of lying or quarrelling with their husbands, could reportedly be pushed into prostitution as punishment. Behind the grandeur of courts and monuments lay harsher realities often left untold.
History often arrives draped in marble, poetry, and romance, while concealing its scars beneath silk. Monuments may dazzle the eyes, but chronicles often unsettle the conscience. And this deserves repeating: it was never that the Timurids had no desire to leave India and had somehow become part of the region. They repeatedly attempted to reclaim Samarkand, for that was the homeland they longed for and remembered as their own. They didn’t imagine Hindustan as home; it was a dominion to rule, a land to draw from. The dream simply remained unfulfilled because the project of Samarkand never materialised.
Source: theprint.in
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Karnataka dairy farmers protest after Muslim groups boycott Bakrid cattle purchase over ‘intimidation’
Kiran Parashar
May 26, 2026
Tension gripped the weekly cattle fair in Karnataka’s Hassan district Tuesday after local Muslim organisations announced a boycott of purchasing animals for slaughter ahead of the upcoming Bakrid festival. The move caused anxiety among local dairy farmers who threatened to march their cattle directly to the deputy commissioner’s office if their livelihoods were affected.
The Muslim community’s decision to boycott cattle purchase comes exactly a week after local authorities and right-wing activists intercepted 11 vehicles transporting livestock, seizing the animals and diverting them to cow shelters.
The economic fallout of the decision was immediately visible Tuesday morning. Anticipating high festive demand, hundreds of farmers from surrounding districts arrived at the Hassan weekly market, only to find themselves without buyers.
For local farmers, the livestock market in Hassan, which typically runs from 4.30 am to 8.30 am every Tuesday, is a critical opportunity to liquidate unproductive cattle and fund upcoming crop cycles. Business typically peaks in the weeks leading up to Bakrid, attracting buyers from neighbouring districts.
“We have been selling cattle for generations; it is our primary livelihood,” said a protesting dairy farmer identifying himself as a Vokkaliga Gowda. “Right now, I desperately need Rs 40,000 to purchase seeds and fertilisers for the upcoming agricultural season. I do not care if the money comes from the government, an independent organisation, or the Muslim community; I need it to survive. If they prevent us from trading our livestock, we will have no choice but to take out our cattle at the deputy commissioner’s doorstep.”
‘Security threats prompted boycott’
Defending the boycott, advocate Anshad-e-Palya, representing the collective Muslim organisations of Hassan district, held a press conference and stated that the decision was a protective measure taken in response to targeted intimidation.
“Intimidating posters were erected across several Muslim-majority neighbourhoods warning community members against buying cattle,” Anshad said.
“The text explicitly threatened that anyone found handling cattle would see their homes razed. We checked this with the police, municipal corporation, and the district administration, all of whom denied installing them. Clearly, some miscreants might have done this, and strict action needs to be taken.”
Meanwhile, Shubhanwita, Superintendent of Police, told The Indian Express that none of the government agencies put up these posters. “As of now, no complaint has been filed. However, I have asked the local inspector to check where the banner was printed and who gave the order. The stuff mentioned in the banner is totally false, and no one has the authority to raze houses,” she added.
Anshad further argued that the Muslim community has faced targeting since the passage of the Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Act in 2020 under the previous BJP administration.
“Though only 20 to 25 per cent of the local Muslim population consumes beef, the entire community is being painted as illegal cattle traders,” Anshad alleged.
“People are routinely targeted, harassed, and assaulted while legally transporting or handling livestock. Faced with these safety risks, the community arrived at a unanimous decision to completely boycott the purchase of cows and buffaloes,” he added.
“The Muslim community is already socially, economically, and educationally backward. It is unfortunate that the administration, which should be focusing on these issues and working towards the community’s progress, is instead lending support to tactics that intimidate and threaten the community,” the community associations said in a statement.
What the law says
Under the Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Act, 2020, the slaughter of cows, calves, bullocks, and bulls is entirely prohibited regardless of age.
The law, however, permits the slaughter of buffaloes if the animal is above 13 years of age and has been officially certified by a competent authority as permanently fit for nothing other than disposal. Because buffaloes regularly live between 15 and 25 years, they often spend their final decade past their productive prime for breeding or dairy. This often creates a financial bottleneck when farmers cannot sell these animals.
Source: indianexpress.com
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India at UN asserts right to self-defence against Pakistan’s cross-border terror
27 May 2026
India on Tuesday asserted at the UN that it has “every right” to defend itself against cross-border terrorism and warned Pakistan that there would be “consequences” for sponsoring such acts.
Responding sharply to Pakistan at a UN Security Council meeting, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Harish Parvathaneni, said New Delhi was compelled to counter “baseless and unwarranted remarks” made by Islamabad and “set the facts straight.”
“Independent India began its life battling cross-border aggression by Pakistan, which coveted Indian territories that had become part of India through complete, legal and irrevocable accession,” Parvathaneni said during the UNSC debate on ‘Upholding the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and strengthening the UN-centred international system.’
The meeting, chaired by China under its May presidency of the 15-member Council, was presided over by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
Parvathaneni’s remarks came after Pakistan Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar raised the issue of Jammu and Kashmir and referred to the Indus Waters Treaty, which India put in abeyance following the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians.
The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba, had claimed responsibility for the attack.
Slamming Pakistan’s record, Parvathaneni said its use of cross-border terrorism and doctrine of “bleeding India by a thousand cuts” exposed the hollowness of its stated commitment to the UN Charter.
“India has every right to defend itself from such cross-border terrorism. Pakistan will have to accept that there are consequences to its sponsorship of cross-border terrorism,” he said.
He added that Pakistan, through wars, unprovoked aggression and continued support for cross-border terrorism, had repeatedly violated the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity and peaceful coexistence.
“Pakistan’s harnessing of terrorism, religious extremism, violent radicalism and anti-India rhetoric has continued unabated since its creation. The facts are on public record. Pakistan must credibly and irrevocably end its support for all forms of terrorism,” India said.
Source: newindianexpress.com
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https://www.newindianexpress.com/india/2026/May/27/india-at-un-asserts-right-to-self-defence-against-pakistans-cross-border-terror
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Delhi court issues notice to Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma on plea over ‘miya voters’ remarks
Somya Panwar
May 27, 2026
A Delhi court has issued notice to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and the Delhi Police in a plea filed by activist Harsh Mander seeking an FIR against the BJP leader for his alleged “inflammatory hate speech” and remarks over “miya” voters made in January this year.
Additional Sessions Judge Sonu Agnihotri was hearing a revision petition against the order dismissing Mander’s application to register a First Information Report (FIR) against CM Himanta Biswa Sarma.
“Counsel for Petitioner further drew my attention to the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Zero FIR and E-FIR issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, filed by Petitioner on record with the revision petition. In view of submissions made by Counsel for Petitioner, issue notice of revision petition to Respondents on filing of appropriate PF / Speed Post for 15.07.2026,” the May 26 order stated.
On April 20, 2026, the trial court had dismissed Mander’s application under Section 175(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) seeking registration of an FIR against Himanta Biswa Sarma, on the ground that the alleged offence did not cause enmity or disharmony within the jurisdiction of the court.
Challenged order
In April, Delhi-based social activist Harsh Mander had filed an application seeking the registration of an FIR against Himanta Biswa Sarma over an allegedly provocative and communally charged statement he made on January 27, 2026, during an event in Digboi in Tinsukia district, Assam.
According to Mander’s application, Sarma had allegedly publicly stated that “four to five lakh Miya voters” would be removed from the electoral rolls during the special intensive revision (SIR) process in the state.
The plea further alleged that Sarma incited people against miyas, referring to Bengali-origin Muslims in Assam, by saying that ‘‘only if they face troubles will they leave Assam” and that ‘‘we are ensuring that they cannot vote in Assam”, the application noted.
However, the Saket court noted that there was no material on record to show that the alleged statements made by Himanta Biswa Sarma had caused enmity or disharmony among any group within the jurisdiction of this court.
The court observed there was no material indicating any insult to the religious beliefs of any class of citizens within its jurisdiction, or to provoke any community to commit offences against another. Therefore, it was held that no offences under sections 196 (hate speech), 197 (remarks that threaten national integration, promote discord), 299 (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings), 302 (words, sounds, gestures with deliberate intent to insult or hurt religious beliefs), or 353 (creation, publication or circulation of false statements or reports to induce public mischief) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) were made out within the court’s jurisdiction.
On April 20, 2026, the court opined that there was no ground to register an FIR against Sarma, and dismissed the petition.
Source: indianexpress.com
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Supreme Court rejects urgent hearing on cow slaughter ban plea before Bakrid
27.05.26
The Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to entertain a plea for urgent hearing of a petition seeking a ban on cow slaughter across the country ahead of Bakrid on May 28.
A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi questioned why the urgency was felt only two days before the festival.
“Day after tomorrow is Bakrid, so we are seeking to have a hearing tomorrow so that if your lordships are persuaded, an interim order can be passed," advocate Barun Kumar Sinha pleaded on behalf of petitioner Satish Kumar Aggarwal, former vice-president of the Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha.
“You remember this a day before? There is no urgency,” CJI Kant said and proceeded to take up other items on the day’s cause list.
With the top court declining any out-of-turn hearing, the matter is likely to be listed after Bakrid.
Aggarwal submitted that the cow was sacred for Hindus, Jains and Buddhists and slaughtering it was contrary to several state Acts. The Supreme Court had in 2005 prohibited cow slaughter in public places in violation of statutory norms, the petitioner pointed out.
The petitioner has sought a direction to all states and Union Territories to enforce anti-slaughter laws to protect cows and calves, and for authorities to notify guidelines for regulating slaughterhouses in their respective jurisdictions and initiate action against those refusing to comply.
According to the petition, the apex court had in 2005, "after an elaborate consideration of the constitutional, social, economic, cultural, and scientific aspects concerning cow protection, upheld the validity of legislative measures imposing a complete ban on cow slaughter" in the “State of Gujarat vs Mirzapur Moti Kureshi Kassab Jamat" case.
“The present petition is being instituted in larger public interest with the object of ensuring due compliance with the aforesaid binding judgment and to secure faithful implementation thereof by the respondent authorities throughout the country,” the petitioner argued.
Aggarwal claimed that the respondent authorities had failed to effectively implement and enforce the judgment.
The inaction has encouraged illegal cow slaughter in different parts of the country, causing “grave injury to the sentiments and fundamental beliefs of the petitioner and members of the Hindu, Jain and Buddhist communities”, he submitted.
The petitioner claimed there were several unlicensed slaughter centres in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha, the northeastern states, Maharashtra and Punjab.
“Further, the slaughtering of cows and their progeny in open areas is creating law and order issues, apart from causing hygiene and environmental problems. Therefore, slaughterhouses are required to be regulated strictly in accordance with the existing laws," the petitioner said.
"The cow is regarded as a sacred animal by Hindus and has been worshipped since time immemorial. The killing of cows by butchers deeply hurts the religious sentiments and beliefs of Hindus. Therefore, the sacrifice of cows by any person belonging to any community deserves to be prohibited.
"The state governments are under a constitutional obligation to enforce the judgment of this Hon’ble Court in State of Gujarat vs Mirzapur Moti Kureshi Kassab Jamat read with the existing laws relating to animal protection,” the petition added.
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DU assures high court of alternate exam date for law students set to celebrate Eid-ul-Azha on May 28
26.05.26
The Delhi University on Tuesday assured the Delhi High Court of holding a special examination after July 4 for law faculty students who miss their semester examination that coincides with Eid-ul-Azha (Bakrid) on May 28.
The varsity's counsel made the statement before Justice Jasmeet Singh, who was hearing a petition by a sixth-semester Law Faculty student on the issue.
The DU counsel said students should email the Law Faculty Dean by tomorrow regarding their decision not to appear in the examination.
"(The DU counsel said) Students belonging to the minority community and/or students who wish to celebrate the festival of Eid-ul-Azha on May 28, 2026, may inform the Dean, Faculty of Law, by tomorrow (Wednesday) and the exam proposed to be held on that day will be held after July 4. Taking his statement on record, the petition is disposed of," the court said.
The court clarified that the rescheduled examination will be communicated to the students who have sought exemption at least one week in advance.
The petitioner, Saif Rashid Saeed, objected to the DU's decision to proceed with holding the examination on May 28 despite the Central government notifying that date as a holiday of Eid-ul-Azha or Bakrid.
The petition said the varsity's refusal to hold the examination on May 28 was manifestly arbitrary, unreasonable and deprived the petitioner and other similarly placed students of their right to peacefully observe and celebrate an important religious festival.
The petitioner's counsel said even the Supreme Court and the high court have declared May 28 as a holiday for the festival.
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Mideast
Explosion hits Greek-owned tanker off Oman coast
May 26, 2026
DUBAI: United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said on Tuesday that a tanker had reported an external explosion on the vessel’s port side, close to the waterline, 60 nautical miles off Oman’s capital Muscat.
UKMTO said the vessel, identified as the Olympic Life, and its crew were safe, although the tanker reported some bunker fuel had been discharged into the sea. It said the cause of the incident was unknown.
According to MarineTraffic vessel-tracking data, the Greek-owned Very Large Crude Carrier was sailing past Muscat at around 0700 GMT, heading out of the Gulf of Oman, and was not carrying cargo.
The vessel is owned by Athens-based Olympic Shipping & Management, the successor to Olympic Management founded by late shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis, according to the Onassis Foundation’s website.
The company was not immediately available for comment.
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No feasts, no joy: Gazans mark a dark Eid
May 27, 2026
KHAN YOUNIS, Palestinian Territories: New clothes for children, sacrificial sheep and Eid biscuits, the hallmarks of the Muslim holiday, are all either unaffordable or unavailable in Gaza, casting a shadow over what is usually a time of celebration and joy.
“I go to the market only to look around because I cannot afford to buy anything. Whenever I ask about prices, I return heartbroken,” Nadia Abu Shamala, a Palestinian resident of Gaza, told AFP.
“This year, Eid comes with none of the joy we once knew in Gaza because of the effects of the war, the soaring prices, and our inability to provide even the simplest needs for our children,” said the 40-year-old woman from Gaza’s north displaced to the central Gaza city of Deir Al-Balah for over two years.
Despite a US-brokered ceasefire that began in October 2025, Israeli air strikes are still common in Gaza, where 80 percent of buildings were damaged in the war and most of the population depends on aid for basic needs, according to the United Nations.
Israel controls all entry points to Gaza, and lets trucks of foreign aid and private sector goods enter in numbers that are too low to bring down war-inflated prices or shortages, NGOs on the ground say.
“The truce is a big lie, but in any case, we are trying to create joy for the children,” said Abu Abdullah Al-Mosadar, 59, who told AFP he pooled around 13,000 shekels ($4,570) with his brother to buy a sheep for sacrifice.
It is an amount that very few Gazans can afford.
“I know it is very expensive, but I decided to perform the sacrifice this year,” said Mosadar, a former property dealer from one of central Gaza’s well-established families, adding that he hopes to start his construction and real estate business when circumstances permit.
Sheep shortage
Central to Eid Al-Adha celebrations, which mark the end of the Hajj pilgrimage to Makkah, is the sacrificing of a sheep.
According to Islamic tradition, God asked the Prophet Ibrahim, or Abraham in Jewish and Christian tradition, to sacrifice his son as a test of faith, only to stop him at the last moment and provide an animal to sacrifice instead.
But in tiny Gaza, livestock cannot enter from the outside, and only one quarter of the pre-war’s sheep population remains, or about 15,000 for the coastal territory’s 2.1 million inhabitants, according to the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
“Regarding prices this year, sacrificial animals are witnessing an unprecedented increase due to the limited supply and the rising costs of breeding, feed, and transportation, and the shutdown of many farms,” said Raafat Asaliya, spokesperson for Gaza’s agriculture ministry.
As a result, “a sheep or goat that was sold before the war for around 1,000 shekels is now priced between 11,000 and 15,000 shekels,” Asaliya said.
Gazans say they are shocked by the prices of sheep this year.
“We have never heard of such prices in our lives,” Ahmed Abu Salem, a resident of Gaza City, told AFP.
“Families like ours, who used to make sacrifices every year, are now unable even to buy one kilogram of meat for our children,” the 50-year-old said.
Tent-made sweets
With gas in short supply, baking and cooking at home becomes an issue as well, Abu Ahmed Wafi, a 42-year-old displaced with his family in south Gaza, told AFP.
“The markets are mostly filled with kaak, maamoul, and sweets. We used to dream of making them at home as we always did before, but prices have risen sharply and there is no cooking gas available to bake them,” Wafi said.
In the south Gaza city of Khan Younis, one family managed to prepare trays of maamoul, the Eid biscuits, under a makeshift shelter covered in a reused tarp bearing the logo of UN children agency UNICEF.
Sitting on the ground, a woman and her daughter assembled the dough in circles Gaza-style, before a man baked them in a makeshift clay oven.
From her tent in Deir El-Balah, an exhausted Shamala hoped for better days.
“We are still living in tents with no atmosphere of joy, only worries, fear, and exhaustion, without any of the happiness we once knew,” she said.
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Israel says killed new chief of Hamas armed wing in Gaza strike
May 27, 2026
JERUSALEM: Israel said on Wednesday it had killed the new head of Hamas’s armed wing in Gaza, Mohammed Odeh, in a strike the day before, days after killing his predecessor in a similar attack.
In a post on X, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said the “commander of the armed wing of the Hamas terrorist organization in Gaza was eliminated yesterday and sent to meet his associates in the depths of hell.” Hamas has not yet commented.
“Under the direction of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz, the IDF has just carried out a strike in Gaza targeting Mohammed Odeh — the new commander of the military wing of the Hamas terrorist organization and one of the architects of the October 7 massacre,” an earlier joint statement issued by Netanyahu and Katz said.
Odeh was appointed as chief of the Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades after his predecessor Ezzedine Al-Haddad was killed in a strike in Gaza earlier in May.
Gaza’s civil defense agency, which operates as a rescue service under Hamas, said that a woman had been killed in an Israeli airstrike in the Rimal neighborhood in western Gaza City.
“Odeh served as head of Hamas intelligence during the October 7 massacre and was appointed approximately one week ago as successor to Ezzedine Al-Haddad,” the statement from Netanyahu and Katz said.
“Odeh was responsible for the murder, abduction, and injury of numerous Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers,” it said.
In the aftermath of the October 7 assault, Netanyahu pledged to target and eliminate the masterminds behind the attacks, which, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures, resulted in the deaths of 1,221 people.
Israel’s retaliatory response in Gaza has killed at least 72,803 people, according to the territory’s health ministry, which operates under Hamas authority.
The United Nations considers these figures to be reliable.
Since Hamas’s cross-border assault, the Israeli military and intelligence services have waged a campaign targeting the group’s senior political leaders and militant commanders in Gaza and across the region.
During the war triggered by the Hamas attacks, Israel has claimed responsibility for assassinating several Hamas leaders, including the group’s former political chief Ismail Haniyeh.
Israeli soldiers also killed Yahya Sinwar, who was widely regarded as a key mastermind behind the October 7 attack.
Mohammed Deif, the longtime commander of Hamas’s armed wing and considered an architect of the attack, was also killed during the war.
Israeli strikes have also targeted Hamas operatives in Lebanon, as well as senior Iran-backed Hezbollah commanders allied with the group, including former Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah.
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Undeclared chemical weapons found in Syria: OPCW
May 27, 2026
THE HAGUE: Dozens of undeclared chemical weapons have been found in Syria, a global watchdog said on Tuesday, in its monthly report on its activities in the country.
The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) said a team was deployed at the start of this month “to verify the accuracy and completeness” of Syria’s declaration about its chemical weapons stockpiles.
The search was carried out at a number of “high-priority undeclared locations” in the northern coastal and central regions, with the backing of the Syrian authorities.
“Dozens of undeclared chemical munitions such as aerial bombs and rockets, as well as separately found chemicals and related equipment... have been found at several of these undeclared locations, together with thousands of pages of documentation,” the report said.
Syria joined the OPCW in 2013 and agreed to reveal and hand over its stockpiles of toxic agents for destruction, under pressure from Russia and the United States to avoid the threat of airstrikes from Washington and its allies.
But the OPCW, based in the Dutch capital, The Hague, believes that the declaration was incomplete and that other weapons have still not been accounted for.
The chemicals and equipment found are currently being analyzed and the search was ongoing, the body added.
“The outcome of this deployment will be reported in further detail in due course,” it said.
Syria’s ousted former president Bashar Assad was repeatedly accused of having used chemical weapons during the 13 years of civil war in the country.
Since he was removed from power in 2024, the fate of Syrian stockpiles has been a source of serious concern.
The foreign ministry of the new government in Damascus last year pledged to dismantle all traces of Assad’s chemical weapons program.
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Turkish President Erdogan says Turkiye to keep supporting talks in call with Iran’s Pezeshkian
May 26, 2026
ISTANBUL: Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said Turkiye would continue providing support for peace talks during a phone call with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, the Turkish presidency said on Tuesday.
Erdogan said the conflicts in the region had cast a shadow over the Muslim Eid holiday period, adding that he believed the Iranian people would overcome the challenges.
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Sheep theft ruins festivities for Palestinian shepherd
May 26, 2026
MUSAFER YATTA: Palestinian shepherd Sameeha Rasheed was planning for the sacred ritual of sacrificing her family’s sheep for the Eid Al-Adha holiday, but West Bank Jewish settlers stole them in a pre-dawn raid, she said.
Instead of celebrating, Rasheed has been left with nothing and deprived of the income she would have received from selling the sheep her family did not use.
The settlers stole around 45 sheep from her home in Masafer Yatta, a collection of Palestinian hamlets near Hebron, she said.
Before the theft, they stole the family’s guard dogs, so no one was alerted when the men broke in before dawn on May 21 and herded the animals away.
“This is our livelihood; my husband and I live from the income from these sheep. I don’t have anything to get treatment for my husband or spend on myself,” said Rasheed, whose husband has cancer.
Rasheed said settlers had been carrying out near-daily attacks on shepherds in the area, spraying pepper gas toward homes and children.
CCTV footage obtained and verified by Reuters showed masked men moving sheep out of the farm at night.
Reuters verified the location as near Masafer Yatta by matching buildings, structures, and terrain to archival and satellite imagery.
Settler violence against Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank has surged since the Gaza war began in October 2023. Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid has called it “Jewish terror” and a national disgrace.
Asked for comment on the sheep theft, the Israeli military said it had deployed troops to the area but did not see any settlers, and it had handed the case to the Israeli police.
A spokesperson for the Yesha Council, which represents municipal councils of Jewish settlements in the West Bank, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
About 4,000 head of livestock have been stolen by settlers since the start of 2026, according to Palestinian Ministry of Agriculture spokesperson Mahmoud Fatafta.
He added that Palestinian farmers had lost more than $5 million due to settler attacks.
Israel’s far-right governing coalition has enabled a rapid expansion of settlements, with some ministers openly advocating for the annexation of the West Bank.
Most countries deem the settlements, built on land captured in the 1967 war, illegal. Israel disputes this, citing historical and biblical ties to the land.
Palestinians have long sought an independent state in the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem, territories Israel captured and occupied in 1967.
More than 700,000 settlers live in East Jerusalem and the West Bank, among more than 3 million Palestinians, according to a EU report in 2024.
“When we have sheep during the time to sacrifice, during Eid Al-Adha, we sell them. But now there are no sheep, not for us to sacrifice nor even to sell,” Rasheed said.
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Cash-strapped Syrians living in tent settlements struggle to return home after Assad’s fall
May 26, 2026
ATMEH, Syria: Sobhieh Al-Saleh thought she would finally leave her tent and return home the moment a rebel offensive in late 2024 ousted then President Bashar Assad, and brought an end to more than a decade of conflict.
But she still lives in the Al-Karama camp, a tent settlement in the northwest town of Atmeh in Idlib province near the Turkish border, with her husband, seven sons and four daughters.
“I went and saw my house and it was completely razed to the ground,” she told The Associated Press about her home in Al-Lataminah on the other side of Idlib province that she left at the height of the conflict. Though more than half the camps’ residents have left, like many other Syrians living in poverty, she can’t afford to rebuild her home and return.
So in the meantime, she continues to live in misery. Every year, the rain leaks through the tent, and every summer she and the estimated 40,000 others still in that sprawling camp have to deal with the sweltering heat and flies.
Syria’s uprising-turned-civil war from 2011 until late 2024 battered the country, and plunged more than 90 percent of its population of around 26 million into poverty. Rebuilding it will cost hundreds of billions of dollars, according to UN figures.
The war killed 500,000 people, wounded more than 1 million and displaced more than half Syria’s prewar population of 23 million.
The government under interim President Ahmad Al-Sharaa has made strides in restoring ties between Syria and the international community, waiving crippling sanctions and promising sweeping reforms.
More than a year after the war had ended, more than 7 million Syrians displaced within the country can’t return home. A million of them still live in tents, like Al-Saleh, according to the United Nations.
Al-Sharaa has vowed that displaced Syrians will no longer live in tents and will have alternative housing by the end of 2027. Saudi Arabia has pledged to support this initiative with $1.5 billion.
But despite major investor commitments and partnerships being signed to bring jobs and money into the country, the scale of the devastation means that alleviating poverty and bringing people back home will take time.
The World Bank estimates that postwar reconstruction would cost around $216 billion. Almost 18 months after the fall of the five-decade Assad family rule, large parts of Syria’s main cities like Aleppo and Raqqa in the north, and Homs in the center, as well as parts of Damascus, remain in ruins.
At the same time, time isn’t on the government’s side. Humanitarian agencies, which for years have experienced major budget cuts, continue reducing the size of their programs that millions of Syrians still rely on.
“Where are we going to get money to rebuild? We’re barely able to provide ourselves with bread and water,” Al-Saleh said. “No aid has come to the camp since the liberation.”
Most recently, the World Food Program announced on May 13 that it reduced by half its food assistance program to the most vulnerable that once supported 1.3 million people. It also cut a bread subsidy program that millions relied on.
At the same time, inflation has surged in Syria, making it difficult for people to save adequately to rebuild.
“The cost of building materials has surged beyond comprehension. I can barely afford to take my medications,” said Abdulhamid Abu Alaa, who lives with his family in the same camp as Al-Saleh.
He said that he and many others are still paying off debts from loans they took to help cover their basic expenses.
Abu Alaa said that despite Syria’s major diplomatic and economic breakthroughs, he urges the government to respond quickly to the country’s poorest who still live in abysmal conditions.
“The government’s priorities need to change, and put the needs of the poorest people above all things,” he said.
The United Nations still vows to do the best it can with its resources to help ease the financial burdens of Syrians and support Al-Sharaa’s project for 2027.
On a visit to a camp in Idlib’s Maarat Misrin area, the UN resident and humanitarian coordinator in Syria, Nathalie Fustier, said that the private sector and international financial institutions might need to help Al-Sharaa reach the late 2027 deadline.
“I don’t know exactly how long it will take,” Fustier said. “Maybe there will still be camps, but we will be working again and again to end these camps.”
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Arab World
Syrian pilgrims with disabilities praise Hajj services
May 26, 2026
MINA: Syrian pilgrims with disabilities, Uday Othman and Nour El-Din Halabi, have expressed deep gratitude for the comprehensive services and accessible infrastructure provided by Saudi Arabia for this year’s Hajj season.
The pilgrims said that specialized support services, including dedicated golf carts and accessible transportation, enabled them to reach the Grand Mosque and perform their rituals with ease and tranquility.
They emphasized that the organization and high-quality care received from the moment of arrival reflect the Kingdom’s commitment to creating a safe, barrier-free environment that enables people with disabilities to perform their spiritual duties comfortably.
The pilgrims said their longing to visit Makkah and the holy sites made them forget their hardships and disabilities, noting that difficulty brings greater spiritual reward through faith and perseverance.
Expressing indescribable joy at their first Hajj journey, they praised the warm reception and generous hospitality extended by field teams. They also prayed for all personnel responsible for organizing this year’s seamlessly integrated Hajj services.
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Hajj pilgrims converge on Mina as Eid begins after night in Muzdalifah
May 27, 2026
MINA: More than 1.7 million Muslims converged on Mina before dawn on Wednesday to perform the symbolic stoning ritual marking the start of Eid Al-Adha, after spending the night in the holy site of Muzdalifah, in one of the most logistically demanding stages of the annual Hajj pilgrimage.
Pilgrims arriving from Arafat collected pebbles in Muzdalifah late Tuesday for the ritual of stoning Jamarat Al-Aqaba, the largest of the three pillars representing Satan, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
The overnight movement from Arafat to Muzdalifah unfolded under extensive security, health and transport operations as authorities sought to manage one of the world’s largest annual human gatherings.
Millions of pilgrims, dressed in white ihram garments, moved along pedestrian corridors stretching roughly 25 km from Arafat to Mina via Muzdalifah.
Water misting stations lined parts of the route to help ease desert temperatures as worshippers walked between the holy sites.
In Muzdalifah, pilgrims spent the night in prayer and Qur’an recitation before preparing to return to Mina at dawn for the first stoning ritual of the Hajj’s third day, known as Yawm Al-Nahr, or the Day of Sacrifice.
Saudi authorities said crowd movement remained smooth as security personnel, medical teams and service workers coordinated transport, emergency response, sanitation and field guidance operations.
The third day of Hajj coincides with the first day of Eid Al-Adha, one of Islam’s most important holidays, commemorating Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience to God.
After performing the first stoning ritual, pilgrims are expected to carry out animal sacrifices and either shave or trim their hair, marking a partial exit from the sacred state of ihram.
Many then travel to the Grand Mosque in Makkah to perform Tawaf Al-Ifadah — circling the Kaaba seven times — and Sa’i, the ritual walk between the hills of Safa and Marwa.
Pilgrims will later return to Mina for additional stoning rituals over the following days of Tashreeq.
On Tuesday, pilgrims gathered on the Plain of Arafat for the spiritual climax of Hajj, praying and listening to the annual Hajj sermon at Namirah Mosque before beginning their journey to Muzdalifah after sunset.
Arafat, located about 20 km southeast of Makkah, holds deep significance in Islamic tradition and is associated with the reunion of Adam and Eve. The site is dominated by Jabal Al-Rahmah, or Mount of Mercy, where pilgrims spend hours in supplication and reflection.
This year’s Hajj has drawn 1,707,301 pilgrims, according to Saudi authorities, up 2.04 percent from 2025.
Of those, 1,546,655 arrived from outside Saudi Arabia, while 160,646 are domestic pilgrims and residents. Most international pilgrims traveled by air.
Saudi officials have attributed the increase to expanded services, digitalized pilgrimage systems and tighter coordination among security, health and logistics agencies.
The Kingdom also expanded its Makkah Route Initiative, which allows pilgrims to complete immigration and customs procedures before departure from their home countries. Nearly 389,000 pilgrims used the program this year, up almost 24 percent from last year.
Authorities said more than 441,000 personnel were deployed to support Hajj operations this season, overseeing crowd management, transportation networks, medical care and emergency response as pilgrims move through the final major stages of the pilgrimage.
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1.7m pilgrims performing Hajj this year, 2.04% more than last year
MOHAMMED AL-KINANI
May 27, 2026
ARAFAT: More than 1.7 million pilgrims are performing Hajj this year, the majority of whom live outside of Saudi Arabia, according to authorities in the Kingdom.
The total number of 1,707,301 is an increase of of 34,071, or 2.04 percent, compared with the 1,673,230 who attended the 2025 Hajj.
This comes amid continuing efforts to streamline pilgrimage operations, expand facilities at entry points and enhance services, officials said, and reflects the steady demand for Hajj places despite evolving regional and global conditions.
The increased attendance also underscores the Kingdom’s ongoing focus on operational efficiency, they added, particularly through the digitalization of services, improved crowd-management systems, and enhanced coordination between security, health and logistical authorities.
Figures provided by the General Authority for Statistics reveal that 1,546,655 pilgrims traveled from outside of the Kingdom to perform Hajj, while 160,646 are citizens or residents of Saudi Arabia. The vast majority of those arriving from abroad, 1,485,729, traveled by air, 54,429 entered the country through land crossings, and 6,497 arrived by sea.
The number of pilgrims who benefited from the Makkah Route Initiative, a service that allows them to complete all entry, passport and customs procedures at the point of departure and transports them directly to their accommodation, thereby avoiding long queues at airports on arrival, increased to 388,694, compared with 314,337 last year, an increase of about 23.7 percent.
The total number of people working in support of Hajj operations increased to 441,049 from 420,070 last year. However, the number of volunteers decreased from 34,540 in 2025 to 26,701, a decline of 22.7 percent.
The General Authority for Statistics said its figures were based on administrative data provided by the Ministry of Interior as the primary source, in line with a statistical framework adopted during recent Hajj seasons to ensure accuracy and reliability. The full Hajj data and detailed reports are available on the authority’s website.
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Environmental body conducts 1,500 inspections during Hajj
May 26, 2026
JEDDAH: The National Center for Environmental Compliance conducted almost 1,500 field inspections during the Hajj season as part of a comprehensive environmental monitoring plan covering Makkah and Madinah.
The initiative aims to enhance environmental compliance and ensure a safe and healthy environment for pilgrims.
Abdullah Al-Ayouni, the center’s director general of inspection and compliance, said the campaign involved more than 60 male and female inspectors, and targeted high-impact facilities and activities.
He said the operational plan was implemented in three phases, with priorities based on environmental risk levels and the impact on air, water, soil quality, noise levels, and proximity to pilgrimage routes and holy sites.
Al-Ayouni added that the center used advanced environmental monitoring technologies and mobile measuring devices to improve inspection efficiency and resource use during Hajj.
Inspections focused on facilities near the holy sites and central areas frequented by pilgrims, ensuring compliance with environmental regulations and operational readiness throughout the season.
The general manager said that the center continues to receive and respond to environmental reports around the clock via the unified hotline 988.
The campaign is part of broader national efforts to strengthen sustainability standards and maintain public health and environmental safety during the pilgrimage season.
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President Sheikh Mohamed performs Eid Al Adha prayers at Abu Dhabi's Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
May 27, 2026
President Sheikh Mohamed led Eid Al Adha prayers on Wednesday morning at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi.
The UAE leader exchanged greetings with fellow worshippers celebrating the start of the cherished religious festival.
Dr Omar Habtoor Al Darei, Chairman of the General Authority of Islamic Affairs, Endowments and Zakat, highlighted the value of honesty in his Eid sermon delivered at the mosque.
He spoke of how honesty serves as the foundation of the trust and strength through which societies prosper and civilisations are built.
He praised the UAE leadership for demonstrating sincerity of purpose and unity in resolve, helping to establish a strong and stable country.
He said honesty was reflected in safeguarding the nation's interests, defending it and standing firm against those who seek to undermine it.
Sheikh Mohamed was joined in prayer by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court; Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi; Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior; Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence; Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Development and Fallen Heroes’ Affairs, and chairman of the International Humanitarian and Philanthropic Council; Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamed, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Special Affairs; Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad, Adviser to the UAE President; Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Khalifa, Adviser to the UAE President; Sheikh Khaled bin Zayed, chairman of the Board of Trustees of Zayed Authority for People of Determination; Sheikh Nahyan bin Zayed, chairman of Zayed For Good Foundation; Sheikh Omar bin Zayed, vice chairman of Zayed For Good Foundation; Sheikh Zayed bin Mohamed; Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed
Sheikh Mohamed and the accompanying ministers, officials and sheikhs recited Al Fatiha in memory of UAE Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
UAE leaders joined worshippers at mosques across the Emirates to herald the start of the festivities.
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, joined sheikhs, officials, citizens and residents in performing prayers at Zabeel Grand Mosque in Dubai.
Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Ruler of Fujairah, took part in the first morning prayers of Eid Al Adha at the emirate's Sheikh Zayed Mosque.
Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mualla, Ruler of Umm Al Quwain, offered the Eid Al Adha prayer at the Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Mualla Mosque.
Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, performed morning prayers at Sheikh Saqr bin Mohammed Al Qasimi Mosque.
Source: thenationalnews.com
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https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/uae/2026/05/27/president-sheikh-mohamed-performs-eid-al-adha-prayers-at-abu-dhabis-sheikh-zayed-grand-mosque/
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Joy and celebration as thousands of UAE worshippers perform Eid Al Adha prayers
Ali Al Shouk
May 27, 2026
Thousands of worshippers gathered at mosques across the UAE on Wednesday to perform traditional prayers on the first morning of Eid Al Adha.
Friends, family and community members came together after sunrise to mark the start of one of the most significant periods in the Islamic calendar.
This year's festivities take place against the backdrop of conflict, with the region holding out hope that a path to peace can be secured after months of uncertainty caused by the Iran war.
Cherished occasion
Fayz Majid Latif, 48, from India, was among the worshippers at Al Farooq Omar bin Al Khattab Mosque in Al Safa, Dubai.
He said the first day of the festival was a special occasion, uniting generations in celebration of their faith.
“The first day is the fun day of Eid. We come with family members to perform Eid prayers," he said. "We have to follow the tradition and pass it from one generation to another."
He attended the mosque, which is close to his home, with his son, brother-in-law and other family members. “I have lived in the UAE for 25 years. I make sure to pray first and then we go to have breakfast with family and friends," he said.
'A chance to reconnect'
Syrian resident Mohammed Hassan, 84, has been a regular visitor to Al Safa mosque for the past 15 years.
“I came with my wife and daughter. A visit to the mosque is always first on the agenda,” said Mr Hassan. “Usually, our family members gather for traditional breakfast. The youngest should go to greet the oldest relatives and exchange Eid wishes. It is a nice way to reconnect.”
Bilal Ahmad, 33, from Pakistan, performed prayers at the mosque with a group of friends and will later sit down for a customary Eid Al Adha meal.
"The best thing is having a family lunch or breakfast but my family is not here, so I have it with friends,” Mr Ahmad said. “I go to a different mosque every Eid. We are following in the footsteps of our prophet during Eid Al Adha. After resting we will go to mall or park to continue the celebration.
“It is nice to see everyone smiling and greeting each other with best wishes. I love having the Eid in the UAE.”
Eid Al Adha is the second of the two Eid holidays observed every year by millions of Muslims across the Arab world.
Its name translates to the Festival of the Sacrifice, as it commemorates the Prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience to God's command.
Eid Al Adha coincides with the end of the Hajj season, when pilgrims travel to Makkah to perform a series of rituals. The pilgrimage is one of the five pillars of Islam.
It is typically a time for friends and family to reflect on their faith, come together for communal gatherings and dinners, and take part in charitable acts.
The UAE's leadership has sought to demonstrate the generous spirit of the holiday through a series of humanitarian initiatives aimed at improving lives.
President Sheikh Mohamed, along with Rulers of other emirates, ordered the release of thousands of prisoners and settled their financial obligations ahead of Eid Al Adha.
A Dh1.54 billion ($419.3 million) housing aid package for Emiratis in Abu Dhabi was also unveiled this week, while the UAE unveiled plans to waive Dh834 million in interest fees on bank loans taken out by more than 2,000 retired citizens on limited incomes.
Source: thenationalnews.com
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https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/uae/2026/05/27/thousands-of-uae-worshippers-unite-to-perform-eid-al-adha-prayers/
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UAE Council for Fatwa extends Eid greetings to UAE President
May 27, 2026
ABU DHABI: Shaykh Abdullah Bin Bayyah, Chairman of the UAE Council for Fatwa, congratulated President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE leaders and people on Eid Al-Adha, praying for continued prosperity, security and blessings for the UAE and the wider Muslim world.
He said Eid reflects gratitude, unity and compassion, and urged strengthening family ties, supporting those in need and promoting social harmony.
He also prayed for the safety and acceptance of Hajj pilgrims and for the UAE’s continued stability and prosperity.
Eid Al-Adha, also known as the "Festival of Sacrifice," is one of the two major holidays celebrated in Islam, commemorating Prophet Abraham's unwavering faith and willingness to sacrifice his son.
The holiday focuses heavily on devotion, compassion, and charity.
Source: gulfnews.com
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https://gulfnews.com/uae/uae-council-for-fatwa-extends-eid-greetings-to-uae-president-1.500554262
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Europe
Umar al-Qadri: We can be both proudly Irish and proudly Muslim this Eid
27 May, 2026
For the seventh year in a row, Muslims are gathering this week in Croke Park to celebrate Eid al-Adha prayers, one of the most important moments in the Islamic calendar, in the symbolic heart of Irish sporting and cultural life.
For many Muslims in Ireland, including myself, it is a deeply meaningful occasion. Croke Park is more than a stadium. It represents community, resilience, history and Irish identity itself. To see hundreds of Muslim families welcomed there again this year is a reminder that identities do not weaken when shared; they grow stronger.
As someone who has spent close to two decades working on pluralism and integration through interfaith and intercultural efforts, I see in this gathering something hopeful about the future of Ireland. It shows that it is possible to be proudly Irish and proudly Muslim at the same time.
Yet alongside these positive moments, there is also a growing anxiety in public debate about who gets to belong in Ireland and who gets to call themselves Irish. We seem to be working with different definitions of what it means to be Irish.
For some, Irishness is primarily ethnic and ancestral. It is tied to generations of family history, inherited culture and deep historical roots on this island. That perspective is not inherently wrong. Heritage matters. History matters.
However, taken exclusively, such an understanding can become limiting and dangerous. It risks excluding people whose loyalty, attachment and contribution to Ireland have been formed through lived experience rather than ancestry alone.
There are many people in Ireland today who may not share centuries of family history on this island, but who have built their lives here, raised families here, contributed to society here and formed deep emotional connections to this country.
These two ideas do not have to contradict each other. We can honour the special heritage of native Irish people while also recognising that contemporary Ireland includes people who became Irish through belonging, contribution and shared civic life.
Irish identity itself has never existed in isolation. The Ireland that absorbed Norse and Norman influences, preserved its identity through colonisation and carried its culture across a global diaspora was never built on closed-mindedness. Even Christianity, now deeply woven into Irish identity, originated in the Middle East.
In short, Irish identity has always evolved through encounters, exchanges and adaptation. I understand this complexity on a personal level.
I was born in Pakistan and moved to the Netherlands at the age of two. Growing up there, I considered myself both Pakistani and Dutch. When I moved to Ireland in 2003, and after spending more than two decades here raising a family, contributing to society and becoming an Irish citizen, Ireland has also become a central part of my identity.
That does not mean I am Irish in exactly the same way as someone whose family has lived here for generations. Identity is not a competition, nor does one form of belonging invalidate another.
That is why moments like Eid prayers in Croke Park matter so much. They demonstrate that integration is not about erasing identities but about creating space for them to co-exist within a shared national story.
Of course, integration also works both ways. Those who come to live in Ireland should seek to learn about Irish culture, respect its traditions, contribute positively to society and participate fully in the country’s civic life. A healthy multicultural society is built on mutual respect, shared values and shared responsibility.
Ireland of the future will not look exactly like the Ireland of the past. Change can feel uncomfortable, but change is also part of every living society. The question is whether Ireland chooses to respond to that change with fear or with confidence.
This debate became particularly visible recently following the appointment of Suad Mooge as Dublin Rose.
Mooge was born and raised in Ireland. She is a medical scientist in Histology and a small business owner. Yet for some, her Somali heritage and Muslim identity appeared to place her outside their understanding of what Irishness looks like.
The reaction to her appointment revealed how unsettled some people remain by the idea that Irish identity can expand while still remaining distinctly Irish.
To me, however, Suad Mooge represents something positive about modern Ireland. She reflects a generation that is fully part of this country while also carrying different cultural and religious backgrounds. That reality does not diminish Irish identity. It reflects its continuing evolution.
Irish identity has survived colonisation, famine, suppression and mass emigration. It survived because it was carried by people who believed deeply in this country, both on this island and far beyond it, often under circumstances far more difficult than these.
The future of Ireland will not be built by excluding people who have made this country their home. It will be built by finding ways for old and new Ireland to co-exist together; respecting heritage while accepting that Irish identity, like every living identity, continues to evolve.
Source: irishexaminer.com
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https://www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/commentanalysis/arid-41851617.html
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Muslims across Pembrokeshire celebrate Eid al-Adha
May 27, 2026
MUSLIM families across Pembrokeshire are today celebrating Eid al-Adha, one of the most important festivals in the Islamic calendar.
Known as the Festival of Sacrifice, Eid al-Adha remembers the Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to obey God and is also linked to the annual Hajj pilgrimage to Makkah.
The festival is marked with special prayers, visits to family and friends, shared meals, charity, and the giving of meat or food to those in need.
Many Muslims dress in their best clothes, exchange greetings of “Eid Mubarak”, and use the occasion to bring families, neighbours and communities together.
In Pembrokeshire, as across Wales and around the world, the celebration is a time of faith, generosity and reflection.
For many Christians in Wales, the importance of Eid al-Adha in the Muslim calendar can be loosely compared to the significance of Easter or Christmas — a major religious festival centred on faith, family and reflection. However, unlike Easter, which commemorates the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, Eid al-Adha remembers the Prophet Ibrahim’s devotion and willingness to obey God.
Eid Mubarak to all those celebrating.
Source: pembrokeshire-herald.com
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https://pembrokeshire-herald.com/139327/muslims-across-pembrokeshire-celebrate-eid-al-adha/
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Azerbaijan observes Eid al-Adha with nationwide prayers and sacrifice
27 May 2026
Eid al-Adha (Qurban Bayrami) is being observed across Azerbaijan today, with the country marking one of the most significant religious holidays in the Islamic calendar.
According to Caliber.Az, this year’s public holidays fall on May 27–28. Festive prayers were performed in mosques nationwide this morning, as worshippers gathered to observe the occasion. In line with Islamic tradition, the ritual sacrifice may be carried out over a period of three days.
For the sixth consecutive year, Azerbaijanis are celebrating Eid al-Adha as a victorious nation, including in the liberated territories.
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev extended his congratulations to the people on the occasion of Eid al-Adha, conveying his best wishes for happiness, prosperity, and well-being.
The Council of Qazis of the Caucasus Muslims Office issued guidance on the observance of the holiday, noting that pilgrims performing the Hajj in Mecca are required to carry out the sacrifice. Elsewhere, those who are able are encouraged to perform the ritual and distribute meat among poor and needy families, in accordance with religious prescriptions.
Usually, sheep are considered the preferred sacrificial animal. However, goats, cattle, and camels may also be offered. Everyone is free to distribute the meat as they wish, but helping the poor and needy is considered closer to the spirit of our religion.
The ritual of sacrifice must be carried out in clean and sanitary conditions, in suitable designated places. According to Sharia rules, the sacrificial animal must be healthy and fit for slaughter. Sick, thin, or defective animals are not considered suitable for sacrifice. Animals are typically slaughtered once they reach a certain age. Goats and sheep should be about one year old, bulls and cows should be more than one or two years old, and camels must be at least five years old. According to Sharia, it is important that the animal is slaughtered in the name of Allah with the intention of sacrifice, facing the Qibla.
The sacrificial meat is generally divided into three parts: one part is kept by the person performing the sacrifice, the second is recommended to be distributed to the poor and needy, and the third is given as a gift to relatives.
In order to carry out the slaughter and sale of sacrificial animals in accordance with regulations and rules, and in safe and sanitary conditions, services for the sale and slaughter of sacrificial animals will be organised at 138 locations across the country.
At these sales points, customers will be offered sacrificial animals that have passed veterinary inspection and have been slaughtered in compliance with sanitary and hygienic requirements. In addition, in a number of regions, mobile slaughter tents will be set up in coordination with the Food Safety Agency of Azerbaijan, where the slaughter and sale of sacrificial animals will be carried out under veterinary supervision.
During the holiday period, from 08:00 to 20:00, citizens can use the above-mentioned services for the sale and slaughter of sacrificial animals.
It is mentioned in hadiths that prayers offered on the night and day of Eid al-Adha are accepted.
It should be noted that in Azerbaijan, the days of Eid al-Adha are officially declared non-working days.
Source: caliber.az
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https://caliber.az/en/post/azerbaijan-observes-eid-al-adha-with-nationwide-prayers-and-sacrifice
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Manchester mosque to welcome 15,000 worshippers on Eid day
26 MAY 2026
A Manchester mosque says it will welcome over over 15,000 worshippers through its doors on Eid day.
Eid ul-Adha prayers will take place throught the morning on Wednesday,
Manchester Central Mosque says it will run multiple prayer sessions throughout the morning to manage demand, with significant crowds expected from across the city region and beyond.
Organisers have put in place detailed arrangements covering stewarding, parking, access routes and crowd flow to support the large turnout.
Eid ul-Adha follows the completion of Hajj iand is marked by Muslims around the world through congregational prayer and charitable giving.
This year’s prayers come after a Ramadan in which the mosque was the target of serious incident in which a man entered the building carrying an axe while worshippers were praying.
President of Manchester Central Mosque, Hammad Khan said: "Eid ul-Adha is one of the most significant days in our calendar, bringing thousands together in prayer and sacrifice. It is a moment of reflection, unity and gratitude.
"We are expecting a very large turnout, and everything is in place to ensure worshippers can attend safely and comfortably.
“The strength of our community has been clear over recent months, and Eid is another important moment for us to come together."
Worshippers are being encouraged to plan their visit in advance, follow official guidance on travel and parking, and allow extra time due to expected congestion around the mosque and surrounding areas.
Source: asianimage.co.uk
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https://www.asianimage.co.uk/news/26139902.manchester-mosque-welcome-15-000-worshippers-eid-day/
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Oxford Union to delay appearance by Tommy Robinson, after criticism from faith leaders
byJAMES MACINTYRE
26 MAY 2026
THE Oxford Union (OU) has delayed an appearance by the far-Right activist Tommy Robinson, due this week, until later in the term, after criticism from faith leaders including the Bishop of Oxford, Dr Steven Croft.
Last week, Dr Croft and Imam Monawar Hussain — an imam at Eton College and the founder of the Oxford Foundation, a charity that promotes religious and racial harmony — jointly called on the society to withdraw its invitation, saying that they were “disturbed and saddened” by the proposed debate.
The OU was not responding to press queries this week, but on Saturday, it announced on Instagram that it was delaying the debate — “This house believes the West is right to be suspicious of Islam” — in order to “allow time for planning of the event”.
Dr Croft and Mr Hussain, who co-chair both the Oxfordshire and the Thames Valley Faith and Civic Leaders Forums, wrote in a joint letter: “This invitation comes at a time of rising tensions between communities. As faith and civic leaders across Oxfordshire and the Thames Valley we stand together against hatred, racism, and those who would divide our communities.”
They continued: “Those who have issued this invitation need to be mindful not only of the University of Oxford but of the city in which they live and study as students — a city which has a long tradition of hospitality to migrants and the poorest sections of society.
“We make a strong appeal in these weeks and months of global tension that this invitation should be reconsidered and withdrawn for the sake of this city and its peace.”
Mr Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, led thousands of people in a Unite the Kingdom rally in central London on 16 May, during which 20 people were arrested (News, 18 May).
In its social media statement at the weekend, the OU said: “The Fifth Week debate has been postponed from 28 May to later this term to allow time for planning of the event. We are grateful to our local partners and stakeholders for their continued support and engagement. We expect to confirm the new date shortly, following discussions with our speakers.”
Source: churchtimes.co.uk
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https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2026/29-may/news/uk/oxford-union-to-delay-appearance-by-tommy-robinson-after-criticism-from-faith-leaders
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Abu Bakr Eid sale to help drive over £140m into Yorkshire economy
PrintBy Tony Corbin
26 May 2026
The retailer has introduced discounts on a wide range of household essentials, including flour, rice, cooking oil, spices, dairy products and desserts, as families prepare for one of the most significant dates in the Islamic calendar.
The sale follows a strong Ramadan period, which is estimated to have contributed around £174 million to the Yorkshire economy, based on household spending patterns.
With approximately 442,000 Muslims living in the region, the most accurate way to assess economic impact is by household: Estimated households: 442,000 ÷ 3.8 = 116,000 families
Average household size: 3.8 people.
During Ramadan and Eid ul Fitr, average household spending is estimated at around £1,500, leading to a total of approximately £174m.
Even using a more conservative estimate of 110,000 households spending £1,200, the total still reaches £132m.
While Eid ul Adha differs in nature – with spending concentrated over a shorter period – it remains a major economic driver.
Using the same household-based model, but adjusting for a shorter festival window, average household spending is estimated at between £950 and £1,200 during Eid ul Adha.
This leads to projected totals of: 116,000 households × £1,200 = £139m
Conservative estimate: 110,000 households × £1,000 = £110m
This would place total Eid ul Adha spending between £110m and £140 across Yorkshire.
Unlike Ramadan, where spending is spread across daily meals and staples, Eid ul Adha spending is more concentrated and focused.
The largest share is driven by meat purchases, with strong demand for fresh halal lamb and beef as families prepare traditional meals.
This is followed by increased spending on food and hospitality, as households host gatherings, alongside seasonal purchases such as clothing and gifts.
Abu Bakr Supermarket says its Eid sale is designed to support families while also driving wider economic activity.
Hamza Hussain, chief executive of the company, said: “Ramadan showed the scale of spending across our communities, and Eid ul Adha continues that momentum in a more concentrated way.
“Families are still coming together, preparing meals and celebrating, and that creates strong demand across food and retail.”
He added: “As a Yorkshire-based retailer, we work closely with local suppliers and staff, meaning this increased activity has a direct impact on jobs and businesses across the region.”
Although Eid ul Adha spending is slightly lower than the £174m generated during Ramadan and Eid ul Fitr, the combined effect means Islamic festivals contribute well over £250m annually to Yorkshire’s economy.
With retailers, suppliers and communities preparing for the celebrations, Eid ul Adha is set to deliver another significant boost – reinforcing its growing importance to the region’s economic landscape.
Source: talkingretail.com
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https://www.talkingretail.com/news/industry-news/abu-bakr-eid-sale-to-help-drive-over-140m-into-yorkshire-economy-26-05-2026/
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Senior MP reveals Russia’s strategy for strikes on Kiev
26 May, 2026
The Russian military will begin targeting bunkers used by Ukrainian military commanders and leadership in response to Kiev’s continued terrorist attacks on civilians, senior MP Andrey Kartapolov says. Ukraine’s parliament – the Verkhovnaya Rada – and Vladimir Zelensky’s office are not on the target list, he told Parliamentskaya Gazeta on Tuesday.
In the wake of the deadly Ukrainian drone attack on a college in the Lugansk People’s Republic, Moscow announced a new strategy, pledging to systematically hit assorted targets across the Ukrainian capital in retaliation. The strike killed at least 21 people, mostly teenage girls sleeping in a dormitory, in what the Russian Foreign Ministry characterized as the manifestation of “the Nazi and terrorist nature of the Kiev regime.”
Russia’s “patience has run out,” Kartapolov said, commenting on the tragedy. Kiev’s tactics have spiraled into “blatant terrorism against our civilians,” the head of the State Duma Defense Committee stated, adding that Moscow would now abandon its self-imposed commitment not to target Ukraine’s capital.
When asked about potential targets, the lawmaker stated that neither the Verkhovnaya Rada building nor Zelensky’s office counts as a “decision-making center.” Ukrainian MPs do not control the troops, and Zelensky himself does not even visit his office any longer, the MP stated.
“Decision-making centers [are] underground fortified [military] command and control centers,” as well as bunkers used by the Ukrainian security services and leadership, said Kartapolov, himself a retired colonel general and former deputy defense minister.
Earlier, the Russian Foreign Ministry urged foreigners to leave the Ukrainian capital and warned locals to stay away from military, industrial, and government sites. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov discussed the issue with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio as well.
The EU has openly dismissed the warnings, accusing Moscow of “unacceptable escalation.” The bloc’s foreign policy spokeswoman, Anitta Hipper, said on X on Tuesday that Brussels summoned the Russian Charge d’Affairs over the ministry’s call and stated that “the EU delegation stays in Kiev.”
The Russian military maintains that it never targets purely civilian sites in Ukraine and focuses on military or dual-use installations.
Source: rt.com
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https://www.rt.com/russia/640619-mp-russia-strategy-strikes-kiev/
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North America
CAIR-Northern Ohio Hosts Safety and Security Workshop for Mosque and Islamic School Leadership
May 26, 2026
On May 21, CAIR-Northern Ohio hosted a virtual safety and security workshop for mosque and Islamic school leadership in response to the terrorist attack at the Islamic Center of San Diego, which took the lives of three worshippers on May 18th.
CAIR-Ohio’s Executive Director, Faten Husni Odeh, stated,
“We are devastated at the tragedy that occurred at the Islamic Center of San Diego. Amin Abdullah, Mansour Kaziha and Nadir Awad should be honored as heroes for their actions in trying to protect the worshippers and students. No one should have to feel unsafe at their places of worship and schools.”
An in-person safety and security workshop was being scheduled in response to another incident that was stopped by federal law enforcement in March where a Medina man was arrested for planning an attack at the Columbia Station Mosque during Ramadan.
Odeh stated,
“With Friday prayer and Eid Al-Adha celebrations around the corner, we wanted to make sure our community was reminded of how to keep their congregations safe. My team worked around the clock to put this program together and we will continue to work closely with mosque and Islamic school leaders to ensure that there are no hesitations or barriers in doing what needs to be done for worshippers, students and teachers in our community to feel comfortable in our spaces.”
The presentation included guest speaker, Mohammad Daoud, a Marine Corps veteran and graduate of Ohio State University with a degree in security and intelligence with more than a decade of experience in security. Daoud is also the owner of a security company, Lux Vitae.
Daoud stated,
“In this day and age, we are at a point where we can’t continue to exercise our welcoming nature without caution. I was honored to be a part of the safety and security workshop for our community leaders.”
The workshop was attended by more than twenty leaders from across the state.
Odeh stated,
“We encourage community leaders to read the Best Practices for Community Safety Guide, published by CAIR National and to know we will continue to be a resource for our community.”
Attendees were encouraged to register to vote and make informed decisions when electing public officials.
Odeh stated,
“Our elected public officials have a duty to all of their constituents and spreading anti-Muslim hate with their rhetoric and harmful legislations is deadly. Our elected public officials should be held accountable, and if not by law then at the polls.”
Source: cair.com
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https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-northern-ohio-hosts-safety-and-security-workshop-for-mosque-and-islamic-school-leadership/
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CAIR-CA Calls on Gov. Newsom to Investigate Inequitable Distribution of Nonprofit Security Grants, Ensure Adequate Funding for Muslim Organizations
May 26, 2026
The California chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CA) today called on Governor Gavin Newsom and the California Office of Emergency Services (CAL-OES) to investigate and address the underrepresentation of Muslim-serving organizations in state nonprofit security grant allocations and ensure these groups receive adequate security funding amid increasing attacks targeting the Muslim community.
On May 22, CAL-OES released its FY 2025 California State Nonprofit Security Grant Program (CSNSGP) allocations. CSNSGP is available to nonprofit organizations—including organizations with religious affiliations—that are at high risk for violent attacks and hate crimes due to ideology, beliefs, or mission. The grant provides support for physical security measures, such as reinforced doors, gates, lighting, and access control systems, as well as the development and enhancement of security plans and protocols.
Of the 343 organizations awarded security grants, only about 6% were readily identifiable as Muslim-serving. Among the Muslim-affiliated awardees, none were identified as Shi’a Muslim-serving organizations. In contrast, approximately 27% were apparently Christian-affiliated organizations, and 35% were apparently Jewish-affiliated organizations.
This discrepancy in funding for faith communities was also evident in previous years. In the FY 2024 CSNSGP allocations, approximately 7% of awardees were Muslim-affiliated organizations, compared to 40% Jewish-affiliated organizations and approximately 27% Christian-affiliated organizations. In the FY 2023 allocations, less than 6% of awardees were Muslim-affiliated organizations, while 52% and 20% were Jewish- and Christian-affiliated organizations, respectively.
California’s religious demographics include an estimated one million Muslim residents, 1.3 million Jewish residents, and more than 20 million Christian residents.
In a statement, CAIR-CA CEO Hussam Ayloush said:
“Amid ongoing violence targeting the Muslim community nationwide—including the recent deadly attack on the Islamic Center of San Diego—the low representation of Muslim-serving organizations receiving CAL-OES’ CSNSGP allocations raises serious and urgent concerns. For the past three years, we’ve seen a troubling pattern of underrepresentation in a program meant to protect vulnerable communities.
“Gov. Newsom’s office must increase outreach to Muslim organizations and conduct an immediate and thorough review to ensure that there is no discriminatory bias in the decision-making process for security grant allocations—especially given the alarming increase in anti-Muslim rhetoric from some elected officials, right-wing groups, and the media, and the baseless scrutiny against Muslim-serving organizations that receive the same public funding as other faith-based groups.”
Last week, CAIR called on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to restore Muslim community access to the federal Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) following the recent deadly anti-Muslim terror attack on the Islamic Center of San Diego, warning that Muslim communities, mosques, Islamic schools, community centers, and nonprofit institutions are being deprived of opportunities to enhance their security. In 2025, DHS also reportedly discussed proposals for a “blanket ban” on Muslim organizations receiving security grants.
According to CAIR’s most recent civil rights report, complaints of anti-Muslim bias and discrimination have continued to rise nationwide, reflecting an ongoing pattern of Islamophobia impacting communities across the country.
CAIR offers a “Best Practices for Mosque and Community Safety” booklet to help keep religious facilities safe. The advice in the booklet is applicable to all houses of worship. The organization encourages all mosques, Islamic schools, and community institutions to review their safety plans, remain vigilant, and report any threats, harassment, or suspicious activity to local law enforcement and their local CAIR-CA office.
CAIR-CA is a chapter of CAIR, America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
Source: cair.com
Please click the following URL to read the text of the original Story
https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-ca-calls-on-gov-newsom-to-investigate-inequitable-distribution-of-nonprofit-security-grants-ensure-adequate-funding-for-muslim-organizations/
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CAIR-NY Condemns Vandalism Targeting Queens Kosher Bagel Shop
May 26, 2026
The New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY), a chapter of the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today condemned vandalism targeting a kosher bagel shop in Queens, New York, and called for a full investigation into the incident.
Police are reportedly investigating the incident as a possible hate crime.
In a statement, CAIR-NY Executive Director Afaf Nasher said:
“CAIR-NY condemns this act of vandalism targeting a kosher business in Queens. Houses of worship, businesses, and community institutions should never be targeted because of their faith, ethnicity, or perceived national origin. Criminal acts and bias-motivated intimidation undermine the safety of all New Yorkers.
“We urge community leaders, elected officials, and residents to reject antisemitism and all other forms of bigotry. Law enforcement authorities should conduct a thorough investigation and hold anyone responsible accountable.”
She said Washington, D.C., based CAIR and the American Muslim community stand in solidarity with all those challenging antisemitism, systemic anti-Black racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia, white supremacy, and all other forms of bigotry.
CAIR-NY’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR-NY es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
You can help contribute to CAIR’s work of defending civil rights and empowering American Muslims across the country by making a one-time contribution or becoming a monthly donor. Supporters like you make CAIR’s advocacy work possible and defeating Islamophobia an achievable goal. Click here to donate to CAIR.
Source: cair.com
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https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-ny-condemns-vandalism-targeting-queens-kosher-bagel-shop/
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CAIR: American Muslims to Mark End of Pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj) with Communal Prayers, Celebrations
May 26, 2026
On Wednesday, May 27, American Muslims plan to mark the beginning of the holiday marking the end of the yearly pilgrimage to Mecca, called Hajj, with communal prayers and celebrations at locations around the country. The prayers and the holiday that follows Hajj are called Eid ul-Adha (EED-al-ODD-ha), or “festival of the sacrifice.”
Eid ul-Adha, commonly referred to as just “Eid,” commemorates the Prophet Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son Ishmael at God’s command. The holiday is celebrated with prayers, small gifts for children, distribution of meat to the needy, and social gatherings. During this holiday, Muslims exchange the greeting “Eid Mubarak” or “blessed Eid.”
[NOTE: For actual pilgrims, the rites of Hajj continue for some time after the Eid prayers. Eid al-Fitr, which comes at the end of the month-long fast of Ramadan, is the other of the two “Eid” holidays Muslims celebrate each year.]
WHEN: On Wednesday, May 27. The prayers are held in the morning. Many communities also hold day-long Eid festivals for families.
WHERE: The Eid prayers and festivals are held either in local mosques or in public facilities designed to accommodate large gatherings. Call local CAIR chapters or other Muslim organizations for details about Eid celebrations.
PHOTO OPPORTUNITY: Each year at Eid ul-Adha, American Muslim families attend prayers and celebrations. Many places of prayer organize children’s activities. The prayers themselves are quite visual, with worshipers arranged in neat rows and bowing in prayer in unison. Participants exchange embraces at the conclusion of the prayers.
CONTACT: Contact a CAIR chapter for information about local activities.
[NOTE: Because this is a religious service, reporters and photographers of both sexes should dress modestly. Photographers should arrive early to get into position for the best images. Photographers are also advised not to step directly in front of worshipers and to seek permission for close-ups.]
Earlier this year, CAIR announced the release of its Eid Everywhere Campaign Toolkit, a resource developed to help parents, students, educators, CAIR chapters, and community advocates secure recognition and religious accommodations for Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha in K–12 schools and colleges nationwide.
[NOTE: Eid al-Fitr (EED-al-FITTER), or “feast of fast-breaking,” is the first of the two major Muslim holidays after the end of the month-long fast of Ramadan. The second holiday, Eid al-Adha (EED-al-ODD-ha), comes near the end of the Hajj, or pilgrimage to Mecca.]
HAJJ BACKGROUNDER:
In the Quran, Islam’s revealed text, God says:
“Thus We settled Abraham at the site of the House (the Ka’aba) (saying): ‘Do not associate anything with Me, and purify My house for those who walk around it, and those who stand there (praying), and those who bow down on their knees in worship. Proclaim the pilgrimage among mankind: they will come to you on foot and on every lean (beast of burden); Let them come from every deep ravine, to bear witness to the advantages they have, and to mention God’s name on appointed days.” Chapter 22, Verses 26-28
Hajj is one of the “five pillars” of the Islamic faith. (The other pillars include a declaration of faith, daily prayers, offering regular charity, and fasting during the month of Ramadan.) Pilgrimage is a once-in-a-lifetime obligation for those who have the physical and financial ability to undertake the journey.
When the main portion of the pilgrimage is completed, Muslims worldwide gather for communal prayers on the first day of Eid ul-Adha (EED-al-ODD-ha), the second of the two major Muslim holidays.
The obligatory and optional activities of Hajj include:
* Entrance into a state of self-control called “ihram,” during which pilgrims are forbidden to harm living creatures, even insects or plants, or raise the voice in anger. The state of ihram is signified (for men) by the wearing of two pieces of unsewn white cloth. This clothing signifies the equality of all before God. No specific clothing is prescribed for female pilgrims.
* Circling (“Tawaf”) of the “Ka’aba,” the stone building Muslims believe was originally built by Abraham and his son Ishmael. The Ka’aba is viewed as the first sanctuary on earth dedicated to the worship of the One God. It is a symbol of unity for Muslims because all prayers, wherever they are performed, are oriented in the direction of the Ka’aba.
* The “Sa’i,” or “hastening” between two small hills near the Ka’aba, to commemorate Hagar’s search for water to offer her son Ishmael.
* The “Day of Arafah.” Arafah (May 26) is a mountain and its surrounding empty plain near Mecca. On this day, the climax of the Hajj season, pilgrims assemble for supplication to God.
* The stoning of three pillars representing Satan’s temptation of Abraham. The stoning indicates the pilgrim’s rejection of evil deeds.
* Cutting the hair to symbolize the completion of Hajj.
* Sacrifice of an animal to help feed the poor, and in remembrance of Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son Ishmael at God’s command. A portion of the meat is distributed to relatives and to the needy.
CAIR urges community members to report any bias incidents to police and to CAIR’s Civil Rights Department by filing a report at: http://www.cair.com/report
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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Source: cair.com
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https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-american-muslims-to-mark-end-of-pilgrimage-to-mecca-hajj-with-communal-prayers-celebrations-6/
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Sharia’s Growing Influence on U.S. Finance
May 27, 2026
One of the areas where Sharia law appears to be making inroads into American society is through the U.S. financial system.
Under Sharia, or Islamic, law, charging interest (“riba”) on loans or earning interest on deposits is forbidden for even observant Muslims living in America, a strange anachronism in a country where interest- and credit-based finance is a cornerstone of the economy.
According to Sharia-compliant fatwas, or rulings, recently issued by the Fiqh Council of North America, Muslims are prohibited even from investing in the stocks of any companies whose interest-based debt exceeds 30% of their market capitalization, or whose interest-based deposits exceed 30% of the market cap of their total equity. Investing in the U.S. aerospace-defense industry is also forbidden (haram). So too is investing in any industries dealing in conventional banking and finance, pork products, entertainment, alcohol, or gambling. Or companies doing business with Israel.
Following pressure campaigns by Muslim lobby groups, American financial giants, including Morgan Stanley, AIG, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Merrill Lynch, Citicorp, Goldman Sachs, and JPMorgan Chase, now offer Sharia-compliant products that strictly adhere to such Islamic criteria.
Islamic restrictions on certain investments have also been integrated into Wall Street mutual funds and indexes, where they’ve been not only recognized but accommodated by U.S. regulators, including the Treasury Department and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
In addition, the Federal Housing Finance Agency, which controls Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, has authorized the mortgage giants to buy Islamic mortgages, which are an interest-free alternative to conventional loans. According to federal data, Fannie and Freddie are now the primary investors in Islamic mortgages, providing billions of dollars in liquidity.
“The Treasury Department and other agencies of the U.S. government have been warned repeatedly, and in detail, that Sharia-compliant finance is used [by Islamist activists] to legitimate and facilitate the penetration of Sharia [in American society],” according to a report by the Washington-based Center for Security Policy. “As such, it is inherently antithetical to American law.”
Muslim advocates counter that investing based on Islamic moral code is no different than investing by secular progressives in so-called ESG funds based on environmental, social, and governance criteria.
Critics argue that Muslim investors and depositors are more apt to donate proceeds to Islamic charities as required by Sharia law. And many of these charities are either hostile to the United States or support terrorist organizations such as Hamas, according to the Thomas More Law Center, which has sued federal regulators for allowing financial giants to promote Sharia-compliant finance products.
Sharia-compliant finance “amounts to a way to dress up substantial opportunities for illegal material support for terror as a protected religious practice of tithing,” according to the Center for Security Policy.
The center also warns that, as Islamists control more U.S. stocks through mutual funds in an age of activist investors, they can use their growing holdings as leverage to shape how and where companies do business.
“The mere threat to withdraw approval of large pieces of a bank’s lending portfolio, for example, because another part of the enterprise is doing business with, say, Israel, may be sufficient to enforce what amounts to a boycott of the Jewish state,” CSP said.
U.S.-based Amana Mutual Funds Trust, a Sharia-compliant investment fund with $6.4 billion in assets, now has the financial clout to influence shareholder meetings at the 33 U.S. companies it holds in its portfolio. Amana has taken large stakes in Google, Apple, NVIDIA, and Microsoft, even though the firm was established by groups the Justice Department says are part of the radical Muslim Brotherhood.
In the wake of the recent Israeli-Gaza war, Amana’s investors have argued for divesting from Google, Microsoft, and other holdings until they stop providing computer services to the Israeli military.
A formal governing body that works with FCNA, the Accounting and Auditing Organization of Islamic Financial Institutions, runs a regular screen to filter out such “unclean” or “impure” investments. AAOIFI was developed from a so-called “Dow Jones fatwa.” (FCNA also receives a steady income by acting as Sharia adviser to Islamic mutual funds.)
“Investment banks and other financial institutions have been hiring Muslim religious authorities to sit on corporate Sharia-compliant finance boards that directly influence the investment of billions of U.S. dollars,” the Center for Security Policy warned.
In effect, critics argue, radical Muslims are running a “parallel financial system” with help from Corporate America and the U.S. government. Wall Street banks say that by catering to the needs of Muslims, they are merely tapping into a fast-growing market.
The Muslim population is forecast to grow twice as fast as the non-Muslim population through 2030, according to the Federal Reserve. And there is “a large latent demand” for Islamic financial products in the United States.
Globally, the Islamic finance industry is almost $6 trillion in size, with the potential North American market valued at more than $1 trillion, according to Cognitive Market Research, which cites among contributing factors “a growing Muslim population, rising awareness of Sharia-compliant financial products, and favorable regulatory environments.”
Some national security experts compare Sharia-compliant finance to a “Trojan Horse” for implementing Islamic law in America. And they warn that if Wall Street and Washington continue to accommodate it, along with mass Muslim immigration, America could soon see the level of Sharia penetration witnessed in the U.K., where the Islamic finance market is now valued at more than $9 billion.
Experts note that in 2014, Britain became the first non-Muslim country to issue Sharia-compliant bonds, known as “sukuk.” More recently, London stopped requiring Muslim students to pay interest on government loans.
Patrick Sookhdeo, a London scholar and Sharia finance expert, says Islamic groups in Britain use their growing financial holdings as leverage to pressure London officials and corporate boards to adopt Sharia practices. He says it’s part of an overall strategy to Islamize British society.
“Islamic banking and finance is one of the multiple tools they use to further their cause,” Sookhdeo says. “It is economic jihad – a key and integrated part of the larger civilizational jihad.”
But many financial advisers argue Islamic banking is nothing more than an “ethical” alternative for Muslims to bank and invest. And they note that by avoiding interest-based loans, Sharia-compliant finance helps mitigate the risk of defaults and financial crises driven by excessive borrowing and debt.
“Muslim investors are increasingly concerned not just with riba (interest and debt-financing) and gambling, but also with the ethical impact of their capital – [and] rightly so,” said Ibrahim Khan, an Islamic finance and investment specialist.
Source: realclearinvestigations.com
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https://www.realclearinvestigations.com/articles/2026/05/27/sharias_growing_influence_on_us_finance_1185046.html
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GOP Battles Sharia: Is Islamic Law a Threat or Dog Whistle?
May 27, 2026
In what they hope will become a hot-button election issue in the November midterms, congressional Republicans unnerved by the spread of Islam are holding hearings and proposing legislation to prevent immigrants who adhere to “Sharia law” from entering or staying in the U.S.
The lawmakers, who have the backing of President Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson, warn that unless mass immigration from nations like Afghanistan and Somalia is curbed, America will soon look like Europe, where critics say waves of Muslim migrants have formed “parallel societies” that undermine local authority and create conditions for jihadi and other criminal activity.
One controversial proposal by GOP Sen. Tommy Tuberville of Alabama would deport any recent Muslim immigrant and deny entry for any new immigrant “who advocates for the imposition of Sharia law in a manner that would violate the Constitution or any federal or state law.”
In practice, the proposed legislation would require the departments of State and Homeland Security to screen immigrants from Muslim nations, including refugees seeking asylum, based on a battery of questions that would seek to suss out radical Islamic beliefs. Entrants subsequently found to have made false statements during the enhanced vetting process would have their visas revoked and be deported. It goes beyond continuing efforts to identify immigrants who might support violence against the U.S. to address wider concerns about belief systems many see as being at odds with American culture.
Noting reports of Iran’s successful efforts to recruit sympathetic Muslims in Europe who have perpetrated a string of arson attacks against Jewish sites, proponents say the increased number of immigrants from countries hostile to America makes such moves necessary.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations and other Muslim-rights groups are slamming the bill as an unconstitutional “religious litmus test.” They argue that Sharia doctrine is based on Islamic holy text, chiefly the Quran and Hadith, and is a total way of life for observant Muslims, no different, they say, than the role that corollary religious texts play in the lives of pious Christians or orthodox Jews.
“Sharia is not a foreign legal system to be banned. It is a moral and spiritual path that calls on American Muslims to pray, give charity, treat others honestly, and stand up for what is right,” CAIR said in a statement. “Trying to ban Sharia would be no different than banning Jewish halacha or Catholic canon law. It is a direct assault on religious freedom itself.”
Unlike mainstream Christianity or Judaism, however, Islamism often sanctions practices at odds with not only American culture but also the U.S. legal system – including domestic violence, female circumcision, child marriage, and honor killings. Sharia also calls for eventual conquest over coexistence, says Ayaan Hirsi Ali, a Hoover Institution research fellow who was born a Muslim in Somalia and now advocates for an Islamic reformation.
“It’s the duty of the believer to spread [Sharia] by any means necessary. It’s a political doctrine. There is no separation of politics from religion,” Ali said in a recent exchange with Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), chairman of the Senate Judiciary subcommittee on border security and immigration. “And that’s radically different from Christianity. Christ never said overthrow the [Roman] empire. In fact, he said quite the opposite (including 'Give unto Caesar what is Caesar’s,' according to the Bible).”
At a time when the United States is experiencing a period of immigration turmoil involving national identity, culture, and the once powerful demands of assimilation – as well as fierce partisan fights over Trump administration deportation policies – Republicans have seized on Islam as a symbol of the fracturing of the American project.
While the country has long accommodated religious and ethnic communities with practices in conflict with mainstream culture – including the Amish, Orthodox Jews, as well as countless smaller sects and even cults – many conservatives see the surging Muslim population and ambitions of many Islamic leaders as a wider threat to national unity. They liken their efforts to the pressure put on Mormons more than a century ago to forsake their practice of polygamy.
In a mirror reflection of such concerns, many progressives have been warning about the rise of so-called “Christian nationalism,” while pooh-poohing the threat from Islamism. In 2023, a series of controversial FBI memos relying in part on reporting from the leftist Southern Poverty Law Center categorized “radical-traditionalist Catholics” as potential domestic terrorists.
The broader issue is that the American political zeitgeist seems incapable of converting immigrants to its own values, which will allow Muslims to erect parallel societies. Others see this as a great strength of a nation long defined by its tolerance for diversity and multiculturalism.
Republican Rep. Chip Roy of Texas, who is the author of a companion anti-Sharia bill in the House, is so alarmed by what he calls the “Islamization” of the Lone Star State that he’s started a Sharia-Free America Caucus to draft additional measures to stop Islamic law from taking root in America. Its membership has more than doubled to 63 representatives from two dozen states in just the past few months.
The effort is not confined to customs and practices but also to broader concerns about potential Islamic “no-go zones” that invoke rights to religious liberty and free association. In Texas, a protest movement has risen up against the East Plano Islamic Center, a planned Sharia-compliant “city” just outside Dallas, where the Muslim population has surged to an estimated 110,000 and now makes up about 8% of the total population. The Dallas area now boasts more than 60 mosques. (See sidebar on Sharia's growing influence on U.S. finance).
Documents reveal that the Islamic leaders behind the project have already sold more than 340 residential lots. They say they are building the enclave, anchored by a massive mosque, to serve “the Muslim community” and to one day become the “epicenter of Islam in North America.”
Ret. Plano (Texas) Police Lt. Doug Deaton and other local police worry that EPIC city (as it is known locally), built on 402 acres of unincorporated land, may operate as an Islamic compound unaccountable to authorities. It’s now the subject of both state and federal investigations. If it’s allowed to go forward, protestors fear, other exclusionary Muslim enclaves based on Sharia law could crop up around other cities.
“Sharia is entrenched and operating across the state,” warned Krista Shields, who worked as an American Airlines flight attendant on 9/11 and is now organizing local resistance to EPIC and the overall “Islamic threat.” “This is the construction of a parallel society on Texas soil.”
EPIC’s organizers insist it is not a separatist movement with its own government. They also say the development – which will include Islamic schools, halal grocery stores, and Sharia-compliant banks – will be open to non-Muslims, although it originally was marketed as an exclusively Muslim community.
Supporters of Sharia bans say that while many Muslims living in America are fully assimilated and are either non-observant or practice their faith in a way entirely compatible with Western life, an estimated 65% recently emigrated from Islamic nations where Sharia is practiced and enforced – and are importing those values to these shores.
That’s a major concern, they say, because Sharia law makes crimes of behaviors that are legal in the U.S. – such as blasphemy, apostasy, adultery, and homosexuality – and makes legal many acts that are crimes here, including polygamy, domestic violence, female circumcision, forced child marriage, and even so-called “honor” killings and violent jihad.
These practices are widespread in many of the native countries of Islamic immigrants, and a large share of American Muslims – according to polls – are sympathetic to many of them.
Four in 10 Muslims support the implementation of Sharia rule in the U.S., according to a recent survey conducted by J.L. Partners, a respected New York-based polling firm. American Muslims are far more likely to support legalizing polygamy and outlawing gay marriage and homosexuality altogether than the general population.
Sharia watchdogs are concerned that as the Muslim population grows from immigration and higher birth rates, the democratic process will allow Muslim voters to gain control of city halls, police, and courts – as they’ve already done in the suburbs of Detroit, Minneapolis, and other cities – and eventually mainstream Sharia practices.
There is some evidence that state and local judges are accommodating some Sharia practices in America, something that has become a major concern in Britain. Republicans say their bills would draw a line in the sand and make it clear this is not a viable option.
U.S. law has been slow to catch up with Sharia-related practices that subject women and girls to discrimination and violence.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control estimates that more than half a million young women a year are now at risk of “female genital mutilation” in America, a threefold increase since 1990.
The government says the surge in the now-illegal circumcision procedure – which has been carried out with relative impunity by some Muslim doctors in Detroit, for example – is a result of rapid growth in the number of immigrants from Islamic countries such as Somalia, where the practice is common.
It wasn’t until 2021 that Congress outlawed all forms of the disfiguring ritual, which the CDC says “has no known health benefits” for women, but Muslim communities “believe the procedure will help ensure a woman remains a virgin until marriage.”
Forced child marriage is another growing problem tied to heavy Muslim immigration. Although 10 U.S. states have passed laws against it, there is no federal law criminalizing it.
The Washington D.C.-based Tahirih Justice Center, which protects immigrant women and girls fleeing violence, found that many of the ceremonies for the child brides were held inside mosques. It also found a link to so-called honor violence – almost half the forced marriage victims were subjected to physical violence, including “serious bodily injury,” and even murder attempts. It’s likely that daughters were abused after refusing to enter into a marriage their parents arranged with an older man.
The Department of Justice reports that the U.S. is the “top destination” for immigrants from Islamic nations with “a high prevalence of honor-based violence,” including Afghanistan, Iraq, and Iran. The DOJ estimates that as many as 5.2 million Muslim immigrants could potentially be involved either as victims or abusers and facilitators.
“A majority or plurality of the individuals living in regions that practice honor-based violence are Muslim,” the DOJ said in its study. “Some people have used passages from the Quran to justify certain behaviors related to honor violence.” It acknowledged that “some passages in the Quran define gender roles in ways that subjugate women.”
Statistical crime-reporting on such cases is thin because the U.S. has no federal or state laws addressing such “honor-based” acts as a crime distinct from other types of assault, abuse, or murder.
Multiculturalists say it is important to understand that while such practices may seem abhorrent to most Westerners, many Muslims believe they are essential to maintaining a well-functioning (if patriarchal) society. Islamic women, for example, often continue wearing hijabs, niqabs, burkas after they migrate – clothing that Westerners tend to see as signs of oppression. Although such choices are protected by the Constitution, critics say they reflect a failure of assimilation that may also represent an embrace of other practices more sharply at odds with American customs.
There is also a reluctance to stigmatize Islam. At least one prosecutor in Michigan, which has a large Muslim population, reportedly refused to categorize a local Islamic father’s murder of his daughter as an “honor killing,” arguing, “This has nothing to do with Arabic culture.” He also said the family of the victim didn’t want her death to be “used by the media to promote a continued [anti-]Arab bias.”
In 2021, prosecutors in Houston dropped charges against a Muslim woman for transporting a minor girl to another country to have female circumcision performed on her. A Detroit judge even threw out federal criminal charges against Muslim doctors for performing the procedure on as many as 70 minor girls after the doctors argued they were merely practicing their religion and had the constitutionally protected freedom to do so.
“Most Americans think this is stuff that happens in faraway countries,” Ali said. “But when President Biden was in office, we had literally open borders. So now we’ve had a huge demographic shift and that is why you’re seeing changes in places like Texas.”
There were 4.5 million Muslim Americans living in the U.S. in 2020, according to the most recent figure from the U.S. Religion Census. That number is expected to increase to more than 8 million by 2050, the Pew Research Center projects, making Islam the nation’s second-largest religion. The number of U.S. mosques, now totaling more than 3,500, has exploded alongside the Muslim population.
Like immigrant groups before them, Muslims tend to live close to each other – more than half of American Muslims live in six states: Michigan, New Jersey, New York, California, Illinois, and Texas. (The highest concentrations, as a percentage of total population, are in Minnesota, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Illinois, and the Washington, D.C., area.)
President Biden’s abrupt military withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 brought a new wave of Muslim immigrants to the U.S. The country has struggled to absorb the more than 200,000 Afghan refugees – a population the size of Little Rock, Ark. – who have resettled in U.S. cities with little evidence of successful assimilation.
Critics of Sharia law who are concerned about the country’s ability to assimilate Muslim migrants point to cases like that of Mohammad Imaad. He was among 12,500 refugees airlifted from Afghanistan to Fort McCoy, Wisconsin. When Imaad was arrested in 2021 for beating and choking his wife at the base, he told police he didn’t know he was violating American law because what he did was legal in Afghanistan.
What’s more, staff overseeing the admission of refugees at the base reported multiple cases of female children who presented as “married” to adult Afghan men, as well as a number of polygamous families, reinforcing concerns that America is importing a foreign legal system with the Muslims it resettles here.
“That [Wisconsin case] is a microcosm of the dangers of bringing over Sharia-adherent Muslims,” said Robert Spencer, a senior fellow with the David Horowitz Freedom Center. “They are adherents of a legal system and cultural mores that are radically different from American law. And if we allow [Sharia], they will strip protections from all kinds of people who will be their victims.”
Another Afghan refugee who was resettled in Washington state eventually traveled to D.C. to carry out violent jihad against two National Guard soldiers. Rahmanullah Lakanwal awaits trial on charges that he killed one and seriously injured the other after opening fire on them last Thanksgiving.
“We will almost certainly be seeing similar incidents in the near future in the U.S., as the Muslim population grows, and with it, the influence of Sharia,” Spencer warned.
Every community has bad apples, and defenders of Islam dismiss these as isolated, cherry-picked cases highlighted to attack their faith.
“The vast majority of immigrant adherents of Sharia law – a category that includes all or most Muslims – pose no threat,” argued George Mason University law professor Ilya Somin. “And there is no good reason to bar them from the United States.”
Sharia critics counter that they reflect a wider embrace of Sharia by many Muslims.
A major survey of Muslims focusing on domestic violence published in 2017 by the Dearborn, Mich.-based Institute for Social Policy and Understanding found reluctance to call police in such cases. It confirmed that American Muslims are more likely to involve religious leaders in spousal abuse cases than any other faith community surveyed.
Spencer explained that when observant Muslims beat their wives in America, they don’t think they are doing anything wrong because their behavior is based on a religious belief that Sharia authorities in America have ruled scriptural.
These decrees, often written in Arabic, are handed down to Islamic councils and tribunals that have quietly formed in towns and cities across America as a quasi-legal system. They are made up of imams, scholars, and clerics trained in Islamic jurisprudence primarily at radical Muslim Brotherhood-controlled institutions overseas. Surveys show two-thirds of American imams are foreign-born. They, in turn, adjudicate disputes among Muslims at U.S. mosques, which are largely owned by a trust controlled by the Egyptian-based Brotherhood.
Many of these councils also work closely with American police and courts to soften enforcement of laws against illegal Sharia practices such as spousal abuse, forced child marriage, honor-related violence, and female genital mutilation.
More troubling, critics say, is a U.S. body of elite Islamic jurists widely revered by the American Muslim community that has condoned such behavior in a series of legal opinions known as fatwas, which clerics at the country’s estimated 3,500 mosques and Islamic centers rely on to counsel their flocks.
This Islamic high bench consists of the Fiqh Council of North America (FCNA) and its sister ruling arm, the Assembly of Muslim Jurists of America (AMJA).
FCNA says its mission is “to provide guidance to the Muslims of North America in all matters related to Sharia.” The most respected Sharia authority in the U.S., FCNA, issued a controversial fatwa in 2022 advising Muslims to follow only U.S. laws that do not conflict with Sharia laws: “American law should be honored as long as it does not forbid a required Islamic practice.”
Based in Plainfield, Ind., FCNA was created from the Islamic Society of North America, which the Justice Department has identified as “a member of the U.S. Muslim Brotherhood,” which DOJ says has a secret long-term plan to Islamize America, according to internal Brotherhood documents the FBI introduced in court as part of a major counterterrorism case involving Brotherhood front groups in America. The Fiqh council appears in the Brotherhood manifesto in a list of “our organizations.”
Its top justice, Saudi-educated FCNA Chairman Yasir Qadhi, is one of the Islamic leaders promoting the development of the Islamic mini-city on the outskirts of Dallas where he serves as a resident scholar at the so-called EPIC Mosque that will be expanded and relocated to anchor the sprawling Muslim enclave.
Another member of FCNA’s Executive Committee is Muzammil Siddiqi. He supports the death penalty for homosexuals, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. And after 9/11, he remarked, “Once more people accept Islam, this will lead to the implementation of Sharia in all areas.”
He also stated: “As Muslims, we should participate in the [U.S.] system to safeguard our interests and try to bring gradual change for the right causes. We must not forget that Allah’s rules have to be established in all lands, and all our efforts should lead to that direction.”
One of those rules to be established is the permissibility of wife-beating. In a 2004 fatwa, Siddiqi advised that under Sharia law, Muslim-American men are allowed to administer “light disciplinary action to correct the moral infraction of his wife.”
In a concurring opinion, another respected member of FCNA’s high court, Jamal Badawi, counseled that this corporal punishment for wives who persist “in bad habits” or show “contempt” for their husbands should be confined to “a gentle tap on the body, but never on the face.” He cited a passage from the Quran to support his edict.
Special Muslim Rights
Badawi also promulgates the idea that Muslims living in America have a “right to their personal law that Islam gives [them],” separate from American law, and that under such “Islamic Sharia,” even polygamy should be permissible in America. He argues it is a “quite legitimate” practice and “permitted” by the Sharia. The Quran allows men to marry up to four wives.
Both Siddiqi and Badawi have also ruled that Muslim women must refrain from traveling alone, and when they go outside the home, they should be chaperoned by a male family member.
Born and raised in Egypt, Badawi has been a strong supporter of the establishment of “Sharia courts” in America. He advises that it is the duty of all Muslims in America to work toward an Islamic state, arguing the Muslim holy book mandates it: “The establishment of the Islamic order is a requirement on Muslims whenever possible.”
Badawi is actively making these rulings despite showing up on a Justice Department list of unindicted co-conspirators in the largest terrorist-financing case in U.S. history, in which more than $12 million was funneled to Hamas.
For its part, AMJA has made rulings calling for the death penalty for Muslims who leave their faith in Muslim countries, and prohibiting Muslim-Americans from doing business or charity with the U.S. military.
A senior member of AMJA’s Permanent Fatwa Committee, moreover, has ruled that cutting the clitoris of girls is not only beneficial for them but also a preservation of their “honor.”
“A very small portion of the clitoris may be removed in the procedure,” wrote Dr. Hatam Elhagaly, aka Hatem Al-Hag, in a Sharia opinion for AMJA. He quoted the words of the Muslim prophet Muhammad describing it as “better for her husband.”
Certified in pediatrics by the American Board of Pediatrics, the Cairo-born doctor and Sharia professor acknowledged the practice is controversial, but advised American Muslims to ignore criticism: “We, however, should never doubt anything in our religion because of the bad publicity the media creates about it.”
When the Mayo Clinic fired Elhagaly from its practice after his fatwa was publicly exposed outside the Muslim community, he issued a statement clarifying his position by arguing he was referring to a “ritual nick” and not a full “clitorectomy.” He rationalized that a slight cut is “harmless” to the girl.
Federal statute still outlaws FGM, no matter how small the cut, including even a “nick.”
Deferring to Sharia Tribunals
While there is scant evidence that American judges are using Sharia law in lieu of U.S. laws, more and more are referring cases touching on Islamic law, including divorce and child custody disputes, to so-called Sharia councils or tribunals for settlement through arbitration – without any court review to see if what these all-male panels decide is in the best interest of the wife or the child.
Many U.S. judges are also granting requests by Muslim-Americans to defer rulings to foreign courts in the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia, in effect relying on foreign interpretations of custody and marriage law under Sharia doctrine.
“The most prominent category of foreign law that has been increasingly intruding upon American courts is Islamic Sharia law,” said Louisiana attorney Stephen Gele, who specializes in such interaction between foreign law and American law and is helping several states draft their own anti-Sharia bills, including Louisiana and Florida.
“In hundreds of reported cases throughout the U.S., litigants have attempted to apply Sharia, often succeeding,” he added, citing the enforcement of foreign child custody judgments, marriage contracts, divorce decrees, inheritance, and other matters. “There’s been numerous cases in which child custody judgments from Islamic countries that had Sharia courts [have been upheld in U.S. courts].”
In a Maryland case, a state circuit court enforced a Pakistani child custody order issued under Pakistani Sharia law that granted sole custody to the father. It’s one of the more egregious examples of U.S. courts bowing to the order of a foreign Islamic court, Gele said.
Gele noted that Islamic arbitration tribunals increasingly are “applying Sharia law within the U.S.” with the blessing of state judges, which increases the risk of women and children losing due process protections in U.S. family courts.
In 2021, for example, a Texas judge ordered a woman seeking a divorce from a Muslim man to appear in a Sharia tribunal. Collin County District Judge Andrea Thompson denied Mariam Ayad normal divorce proceedings and instead had her submit to mediation under a panel governed by Islamic legal scholars. Ayad has appealed the decision, arguing that such arbitration violated her rights, because under Sharia law, “a woman's testimony is worth half that of a man’s.”
Demand for Sharia arbitration is so strong in the high-Muslim-growth Dallas area that imams have established an “Islamic Tribunal” to handle the flood of cases. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has investigated the panel for “masquerading” as a legal court. The tribunal denies it is overriding Texas or U.S. law.
Two of its four imams acting as jurists were trained at Al-Azhar University in Cairo, which has long been connected to the radical Muslim Brotherhood.
One of them, Mohamed AlGebaly, says in a mosque bio that he was “sent by the Egyptian government to the United States.” He also works the “Fatwa Hotline” for AMJA. Another Egypt-trained judge works with the local sheriff's office.
To address U.S. courts deferring judgments to foreign Sharia courts, Tommy Tuberville, who’s giving up his Senate seat to run for Alabama governor, has co-sponsored another anti-Sharia bill with Republican Sen. John Cornyn, who lost his primary run-off in Texas on Tuesday. Their measure would bar judges from enforcing Islamic court judgments, decrees, or contracts related to marriage, divorce, custody, adoption, or inheritance if they are inconsistent with U.S. law.
The U.K. Experience
As Pakistani and other Muslim migrants have flocked to Great Britain, the clash of cultures has become a cautionary tale for what could happen in America. Sharia councils are now rampant on the other side of the pond, and as they’ve spread throughout Britain, Sharia-related “honor” crimes and other abuses have gone unprosecuted, say critics.
“Europe should be a wake-up call to America,” Rep. Roy said, “showing what the spread of Sharia law looks like.”
Newly released British government figures reveal that less than 3% of violent honor crimes were successfully prosecuted last year, as police and prosecutors turned a blind eye and let the country's more than 85 Sharia councils handle offenses in the Muslim community.
U.K. investigations have found imams facilitating forced child marriages and polygamy, and also encouraging wives to return to physically abusive relationships.
Spencer noted that Britain began recognizing Sharia “courts” several years ago, with the understanding that any criminal cases that came under the purview of British criminal code would be referred to the British courts. Instead, he said the Muslim Arbitration Tribunal urged the Crown Prosecution Service to “reconsider” bringing criminal charges against Muslim men who had been accused of domestic violence.
Spencer warned America is on the same “slippery slope” with increasing acceptance of Sharia councils. It is not known how many operate here. They are not officially tracked and figures are not available.
The conflict between Sharia law and American law “will only grow,” Spencer said, “as the Muslim population in the U.S. grows, for among that population will always be some Muslims who take these imperatives with the utmost seriousness.”
Cato Institute Senior Fellow Mustafa Akyol, a moderate Muslim, dismisses such concerns as “paranoia,” arguing Sharia poses no serious threat to America, and by saying it does, Republicans are only demonizing all Muslims.
He says the share of the Muslim population in America is “tiny” compared to Britain and doesn’t have the size or clout to make deep inroads into its government or even its culture.
“I agree that Sharia should never be the law of the land,” Akyol said. “But I worry that this new wave of alarmism about Sharia law may threaten liberty by targeting innocent communities and legitimate Muslim practices,” such as wearing headscarves, fasting, and cooking halal foods.
Source: realclearinvestigations.com
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Canada needs to stop being America’s doormat
26 May, 2026
Know what I’m getting really sick of as a Canadian? Harmful deferentiality towards the US that persists despite all the “elbows up” rhetoric.
In the latest example, an Air France fight took off from Paris, heading for Detroit. Do you see anything Canadian in that at all? Canada does!
The airline had royally messed up and let a passenger board from the Congo, the current global headquarters of Ebola. American authorities refused to let the plane land in their territory since they had recently banned all passengers from the Congo, specifically due to the viral outbreak. So, Canadian authorities let the plane land in Montreal. Then they let everyone off and put the passenger in question on the next flight back to Paris.
Why couldn’t they have done all that in Detroit? Is a plane considered to be inside a country the moment it decides it has feelings about the flight? No passenger is technically inside any country until they go through customs anyway. Why did they have to dump it all on Canada? I’ll tell you why. Because they had a choice, and Canada is far too nice.
The answer should have just been “no.” Not “no, but let us convene an interagency working group to explore the emotional implications of saying no.” Just “no.” No getting into the intricacies of Ebola infection risk or whose fault it all is, either. Or whether the guy is actually infected or not. Forget dedicating any bandwidth to any of that.
Perhaps Canada figured that it was doing its buddy, France, a favor, saving it from its own vetting screwup. Again, not Canada’s problem. Let them fight it out with the US. Tell France to threaten to just land the plane on Lake Erie and wish them luck.
It would have actually been the perfect time for Canada to propose, “Hey guys, you know that Gordie Howe International Bridge that Canada paid to build, running from Windsor to Detroit, that Trump insists on blocking? How about we get that sorted out in time to land this plane? Then maybe Canada will be compelled to lift a finger to help out. Otherwise, looks like this is a ‘you’ problem.”
Canada needs to stop doing any and all favors for America that aren’t a net benefit.
It wasn’t that long ago that American authorities told Canada to arrest and hold the daughter of Huawei’s founder, Meng Wanzhou, the CFO of the Chinese company herself at the time, on a US extradition request as she transited through Vancouver airport. Canada complied – and was rewarded with a massive diplomatic headache lasting years, having inserted itself in a tug-of-war between Washington and Beijing. The kind that comes with the satisfaction of having ‘helped’ and the administrative burden of proving that you didn’t cause the problem in the first place. The allegations that made the mess Canada’s problem related to violations of American anti-Iranian sanctions by the Chinese multinational, despite Canada not even having any of its own sanctions against her or Huawei.
Anyone in France knows that Washington routinely uses criminal charges as a weapon of economic warfare to target foreign executives of companies they want to buy or pressure for criminal charges. It’s the blueprint that enabled General Electric to get its hands on the French nuclear know-how of Alstom, for example.
And what thanks did Canada get for any of these accommodations? Tariffs. Insults about being useless – except as a 51st state. And constantly being told by Trump that it’s freeloading if it doesn’t blow its defense budget on-demand in the US.
Worse, the US has just been outed as meddling directly in Canadian politics. Why else would a Michigan-based electioneering app, 10xVotes, promoted by the US Ambassador to Canada, Pete Hoekstra, of the Michigan GOP himself, end up with the data of registered Alberta voters on its hardware? Turns out it was passed the info by a pro-separatist Canadian group that had been working directly with the American app, linked to shady pro-Trump Republican business and political interests and peddled by the likes of Steve Bannon, Alex Jones, and Tucker Carlson – all of whom also happen to be egging on the Canadian separatists that they couldn’t have cared less about until recently, and against all legal and political reality.
And if that hasn’t stunk up the country enough, the US also recently said that it planned to open more federal drug enforcement offices in Canada. “From a DEA perspective, we’re keeping our eye on Canada,” DEA chief Terrance Cole said at a recent US Senate hearing. “We’re going to open two more offices in Canada, proposed for ‘27.” Lemme guess. There’s a huge fentanyl problem in Alberta. Near an oil pipeline. Am I close? Because there sure as heck isn’t one that directly affects the US from Canadian territory. What do you think this is? A flop house?
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has proven that Canadians have passive aggression in abundance. Telling Trump off in various ways that are intellectual enough to not get picked up by the American president’s finely tuned insult-sensitive radar as they sail over his head. Arguably the most obvious example being Carney’s speech in Davos a few months ago, basically saying that the era of US-led hegemony is over and everyone knew that the notion of it being a net benefit to citizens of the countries that kowtowed to it was a lie that leaders have all long known about but insisted on sticking with anyway.
Canada is no longer a footnote in someone else’s policy agenda. It is drafting its own, at long last. What remains unfinished is the transition from having an agenda to behaving like it is allowed to use it without prior permission. The doormat has only really been pulled halfway out. Go ahead and give it a good yank once and for all, guys. It will hurt a lot less than the alternative.
Source: rt.com
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Africa
Son of Libya’s Haftar vows to make up for ‘lost years’ under Qaddafi
May 26, 2026
BENGHAZI: Belgacem Haftar, son of eastern Libya’s military chief Khalifa Haftar, touted in an interview with AFP what he called a push to make up for more than 40 “lost years” under slain ruler Muammar Qaddafi.
After Qaddafi was killed during the 2011 revolution, Libya descended into civil war, splitting the country in half as the Haftar clan took power in the east.
The field marshal exercises tight security control in the area he rules and, now Belgacem, one of his six sons, heads a reconstruction program and appears to be seeking to restore the clan’s legitimacy.
Following the floods that swept through Derna in 2023, killing nearly 4,000 people, Belgacem became the figurehead for reconstruction efforts in the area.
Bridges, apartment blocks, schools and hospitals now rise in eastern Libya, which had long been marginalized under Qaddafi.
AFP journalists escorted by the Libyan National Army (LNA) led by Haftar saw dozens of construction sites in Benghazi, Derna and Bayda.
“Qaddafi governed Libya for 42 years, and he did not accomplish what we have in two years,” Belgacem, 46, told AFP, seated in an office inside a lavish palace in Benghazi.
The oil-rich country remains divided between a UN-recognized government based in its capital, Tripoli, and the eastern administration in Benghazi backed by the Haftars.
The reconstruction fund was established in 2024 to rebuild Derna with a budget of some $2 billion at the time, before expanding into the Libya Development and Reconstruction Fund.
- Showcase -
Eastern Libya and most of the country’s south are firmly controlled by Haftar and his sons.
Saddam Haftar, widely seen as his heir apparent, serves as deputy commander of the LNA, while another son, Khaled, is chief of staff.
Libya holds Africa’s largest oil reserves at around 48.4 billion barrels, and areas controlled by the family contain most of the oil fields and export terminals.
The reconstruction fund has launched a wave of projects in areas under the control of the eastern administration, aiming to “make up for the lost years” of Qaddafi’s reign, Belgacem said.
He said that since Qaddafi’s overthrow, sectors such as education and health care as well as basic needs have been “completely neglected.”
The Haftars’ development push comes as they seek to showcase an ability to govern even beyond their areas of control, while the United States reportedly tries to promote a rapprochement between the country’s rival authorities.
Responding to accusations that the Haftars are using the fund without oversight and of financial misconduct, Belgacem said: “The number and scale of the projects underway answer the question of where the money is being spent.”
“The size of the projects and transparency are reflected in what we have achieved on the ground,” he added.
He said every contract signed by the fund is currently “audited by the appropriate authorities” while all payments are processed through the central bank in Tripoli.
- ‘Immense need’ -
Libya has long faced repression and poverty, both during and after Qaddafi’s rule.
Belgacem said the fund has “mended trust between citizens and the state by implementing projects that had been abandoned for years.”
On Friday, Belgacem attended a rehearsal for an education sector celebration at Benghazi’s newly built stadium.
After posing for selfies with parents and children, a young girl approached him carrying requests from her family on a small piece of paper.
Beyond areas already under the Haftars’ control, the reconstruction fund could expand into western Libya, “if the authorities request it,” Belgacem said.
He said the region housing the capital, Tripoli, and a large proportion of the Libyan population was in “immense need” for infrastructure.
But tensions between Belgacem and Prime Minister Abdelhamid Dbeibah, who leads the Tripoli-based government, would need to ease off.
During the interview, Belgacem accused Dbeibah of having “carried out no project on the scale of the Libyan state in the last five years.”
And Dbeibah has charged that the eastern administration has been spending off budget in the past three years.
Still, there have been signs of a potential shift.
Last month, the legislative bodies of the rival authorities signed a US-mediated agreement to unify public spending across the divided country for the first time in over a decade.
The deal included investments worth some 20 billion dinars ($3 billion) in western Libya, Belgacem told AFP.
A similar amount was also allocated to the east and south, where the fund seeks to develop further “strategic projects,” he added.
Source: arabnews.com
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Eid-el-Kabir: Kaduna gov urges Nigerians to embrace sacrifice, unity
May 27, 2026
Godwin Isenyo
The Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani and a former governor of the state, Ahmed Makarfi, have called on Nigerians to imbibe the virtues of sacrifice, compassion, peace and national unity as Muslims celebrate Eid-el-Kabir.
In separate goodwill messages issued on Wednesday, the two leaders urged citizens to reflect on the lessons of obedience, faith and peaceful coexistence associated with the Islamic festival.
Sani described Eid-el-Kabir as a sacred season of “profound spiritual reflection, sacrifice, and gratitude to Almighty Allah,” noting that the celebration symbolised the exemplary obedience of Prophet Ibrahim to the will of Allah.
According to him, the festival remains a timeless lesson in faith, conviction and compassion.
“Beyond the symbolic act of sacrifice lies the enduring essence of this festival: the triumph of faith over fear, of conviction over comfort, and of compassion over self-interest,” the governor said.
Quoting Qur’an 22:37, Sani stressed that the true essence of Eid lies in sincerity, humility and piety rather than material sacrifice.
“It is neither their meat nor their blood that reaches Allah, but it is piety from you that reaches Him,” he stated.
The governor urged Nigerians to use the occasion to support the vulnerable and extend kindness to neighbours and those facing hardship amid prevailing economic challenges.
“At a time when many families and communities continue to confront economic and social pressures, the lessons of Eid assume even greater significance.
“This season calls upon us to deepen our humanity; to stand beside the vulnerable, extend kindness to neighbours, comfort those in distress, and ensure that no member of society is abandoned to hardship or despair,” he added.
Sani also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to justice, inclusion, peaceful coexistence and shared prosperity through sustained investments in critical sectors of the economy.
He commended residents of Kaduna State for their resilience and commitment to peace, urging them to reject division, intolerance and violence.
Meanwhile, Makarfi called on Nigerians to embrace the virtues of sacrifice, obedience and unity, saying the Eid celebration should serve as a period of sober reflection and prayers for peace, security and prosperity in the country.
The former governor said Nigerians must not lose sight of the lessons of sacrifice and obedience to Allah, which form the essence of Eid-el-Adha as demonstrated by Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience to God’s command.
“We must not lose sight of the lessons of sacrifice and obedience to the dictates of Allah, which form part of the essence of Eid-el-Adha as exemplified by Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience to the command of Allah,” he said.
Makarfi urged Nigerians to continue to live in peace and harness the country’s diversity for national development.
“The best way to express our gratitude to Him is to continue to live in peace and keep on harnessing our diversity in order to explore and exploit the numerous opportunities He has endowed our nation with,” he stated.
He also congratulated Nigerian pilgrims participating in this year’s Hajj in Saudi Arabia and urged them to pray for peace, development and prosperity in the country.
“I also wish to congratulate our pilgrims for the God-given opportunity to perform this year’s Hajj and urge them to pray for the continued peace, security, development and prosperity of our dear country,” Makarfi added.
Eid-el-Kabir, also known as the Festival of Sacrifice, is one of the most significant celebrations in Islam and commemorates Prophet Ibrahim’s obedience and willingness to sacrifice his son in submission to Allah’s command.
Source: punchng.com
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Ethiopian Muslims Celebrate Eid al-Adha with Prayer, Unity
May 27, 2026
Addis Ababa, May 27, 2026 —Muslims across Ethiopia are celebrating the 1447th Eid al-Adha, locally known as Arafa, with vibrant prayers and religious ceremonies, marking one of the holiest occasions in Islam.
From the early morning hours, hundreds of thousands of worshippers gathered at mosques and open prayer grounds in Addis Ababa and other major cities across the country to observe the sacred holiday.
The celebrations were filled with spiritual devotion, colorful cultural traditions, and messages of peace, unity, and brotherhood.
Eid al-Adha, also known as the “Feast of Sacrifice,” commemorates the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son in obedience to God’s command.
This sacred story symbolizes unwavering faith, selfless sacrifice, obedience to God, and steadfast devotion.
The holiday is not only a time of prayer and celebration, but also an occasion that emphasizes compassion and solidarity.
Families and communities share meals, extend support to those in need, and strengthen social bonds through acts of charity and kindness.
Religious leaders and community elders urged Muslims to continue preserving Ethiopia’s long-standing values of unity, coexistence, and brotherhood as the Muslim community celebrates the holiday in harmony.
On the eve of Eid al-Adha, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed called on Ethiopians to embrace the values of sacrifice, obedience, and mutual support that the holiday represents.
In a message shared on his social media platforms, the Prime Minister stated that Eid al-Adha embodies three major values: sacrifice, obedience, and solidarity.
“The Day of Arafa holds deep significance among the Muslim community because it commemorates a father offering his son as a sacrifice, a son obeying his father’s command, and Muslims demonstrating to the world the values of unity and mutual support,” the Prime Minister noted.
He further explained that Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his beloved son reflected extraordinary faith and determination despite emotional hardship, social pressure, and temptation.
Eid al-Adha also marks the climax of the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, making it one of the most spiritually significant periods for Muslims worldwide.
Moreover, millions of Muslims around the world are celebrating the holy festival this year.
Since the Islamic calendar follows the lunar cycle, the exact date of Eid al-Adha is determined by the sighting of the moon. Many Muslim communities follow announcements made by moon-sighting committees and religious authorities in countries such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
As celebrations continue across Ethiopia, Eid al-Adha stands as a powerful reminder of faith, compassion, sacrifice, and the enduring spirit of unity that binds communities together.
Source: ena.et
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Al-Sunni meets FIFA President Infantino, pushes ‘football diplomacy’ and extends invitation to Libya
26/05/2026
Libya’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Taher Al-Sunni, held talks with FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Monday, discussing a Libyan proposal to adopt “football diplomacy” as an official tool within the global football governing body.
The meeting, held at the Libyan Mission in New York, came at Libya’s invitation for Infantino to attend the World Football Day celebrations organized on May 25. The event, co-hosted by Libya with several other nations, highlighted sport’s role in community development and peace-building.
During the discussions, Al-Sunni and Infantino explored ways to strengthen cooperation between FIFA and the Libyan Football Federation. Topics included providing technical and logistical support to develop football infrastructure in Libya and elevate the sport to match the country’s ambitions.
Al-Sunni formally invited Infantino to visit Libya in the near future to witness ongoing sports sector efforts firsthand and evaluate requirements for modernizing facilities and programs. The two sides examined practical mechanisms to use football as a driver for development, stability, and closer ties between nations and cultures.
For his part, Al-Sunni thanked Infantino for accepting the invitation to the World Football Day events and emphasized the value of a strategic partnership with FIFA in promoting peace and coexistence through sport.
The initiative for World Football Day originated from a Libyan proposal, presented jointly with Tajikistan and Bahrain. In 2024, the United Nations General Assembly officially adopted May 25 as World Football Day, backed by unprecedented support from more than 170 countries.
Source: libyaobserver.ly
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Senegal’s Sonko slams Prime Minister appointment in first speech as speaker
May 27, 2026
Senegal’s newly elected speaker of the National Assembly, Ousmane Sonko, has spoken publicly for the first time since taking up the post, sharply criticizing the appointment of the country’s new prime minister.
Sonko, leader of the PASTEF party, said his movement was sidelined in the consultations that led President Bassirou Diomaye Faye to name a new head of government, a role Sonko himself previously held.
“Our political party was not involved in the consultations that led to the appointment of a prime minister. It is not, to this day, involved in the consultations for the formation of a government,” Sonko told lawmakers. “Consequently, I would like to say that you cannot have Pastef without Pastef.”
Faye dismissed Sonko as prime minister and dissolved the cabinet four days ago, following months of mounting tensions and disagreements within the governing camp, including over Senegal’s struggling economy.
Sonko described PASTEF as a unique force in Senegalese politics, claiming it simultaneously wields influence in both the opposition and the governing majority.
“Pastef, which is the political party, and this is unprecedented in the political annals of this country and perhaps of the world, which is at once the majority force in the opposition and in power, remains open to a responsible discussion that sets egos aside in order to find ways and means for calm, peaceful governance,” he said.
The opposition, which argues that Sonko’s return to parliament is illegal, boycotted the session by walking out of the chamber ahead of his address.
Source: africanews.com
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https://www.africanews.com/2026/05/26/senegals-sonko-slams-prime-minister-appointment-in-first-speech-as-speaker/
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Taraba Governor Sends Message To Residents, Warns Against Religious Division
May 27, 2026
The Governor of Taraba State, Agbu Kefas, has urged residents of the state to avoid actions that could cause division along religious lines.
Naija News reports that Kefas made the call on Tuesday in a goodwill message to the Muslim Ummah ahead of this year’s Eid-el-Kabir celebration.
In a message conveyed by his special adviser on Media and Digital Communications, Emmanuel Bello, he advised residents of the state to contribute their quota towards the development and progress of Taraba.
The governor stated, “Let us therefore contribute in any little way we can towards building a Taraba of our choice.”
He noted that Taraba remains the collective heritage of all residents, stressing the need for citizens to work together to promote unity, security, peace, and development across the state.
According to the governor, the Sallah celebration comes at a time when many families are facing economic difficulties and have limited opportunities to spend quality time together. He described the festival as an opportunity for families, friends, and communities to reunite and share love.
Kefas also urged Muslim faithful to continue promoting values that foster peaceful coexistence and national unity.
The governor further cautioned politicians and supporters against violence as political activities intensify ahead of the campaign season.
“Let me also use this opportunity to remind us that this is a campaign year and we must approach partisan politics with a godly spirit, detest violence, and have an open mind and campaign on topical issues rather than slandering others,” he said.
Source: naijanews.com
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https://www.naijanews.com/2026/05/27/taraba-governor-message-residents-religious-division/
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NAF Destroys Terrorist Hideouts In Borno Airstrikes
May 27, 2026
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has said its counter-terrorism operations in Borno State destroyed terrorist hideouts and logistics structures at Biramiri in the Gezuwa general area of the state.
Naija News reports that the Director of Public Relations and Information, Headquarters Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday.
Ejodame said the operation was carried out after credible Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance reports identified terrorist locations in the area.
According to the NAF spokesman, coordinated precision strikes were launched against the targets, leading to the destruction of key terrorist facilities.
“The coordinated attacks destroyed key terrorist facilities and neutralised several fighters, further crippling the operational capacity of the insurgents,” he stated.
Ejodame said sustained air offensives had continued to create fear and confusion among terrorist elements across the Sambisa axis.
He added that intelligence assessments showed growing apprehension and disorientation among the insurgents as continuous bombardments denied them freedom of movement and safe havens.
The Air Force said it would continue working with troops of Operation Hadin Kai and other security agencies to keep pressure on terrorist networks in the North-East.
“The NAF, in concert with troops of Operation Hadin Kai and other security agencies, remains resolute in maintaining relentless pressure on terrorist networks while reinforcing its commitment to protecting innocent lives and restoring lasting peace and security across the North-East,” the statement added.
Source: naijanews.com
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https://www.naijanews.com/2026/05/27/naf-destroys-terrorist-hideouts-2/
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Southeast Asia
Muslims nationwide mark Aidiladha with prayers, royal attendance across states
May 27, 2026
KUALA LUMPUR, May 27 — Muslims across the country today celebrated Aidiladha with gratitude and devotion, as thousands of worshippers, including national leaders, filled mosques nationwide to recite the takbir and perform the Aidiladha prayers together.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail joined more than 10,000 congregants in performing the Aidiladha prayers at Masjid Putra in PUTRAJAYA, where they also listened to a sermon titled ‘Pengorbanan Menuntut Keikhlasan’ delivered by the Grand Imam Dr Muhammad Zakuwa Rodzali.
In Selangor, the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, joined more than 15,000 worshippers in performing the Aidiladha prayers at Masjid Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah in Shah Alam.
Also present were the Tengku Permaisuri of Selangor Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin and the Raja Muda of Selangor Tengku Amir Shah. Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari and state secretary Datuk Ahmad Fadzli Ahmad Tajuddin were also in attendance.
Meanwhile, 28 cattle, including one contributed by the Sultan of Selangor, were sacrificed during ‘ibadah korban’ (animal sacrificial rites) held at the mosque compound.
In Kelantan, Crown Prince Tengku Muhammad Fakhry Petra joined thousands of worshippers in performing the Aidiladha prayers at Masjid Jamek Al-Ismaili in Bandar Baru Pasir Pekan, Tumpat, alongside Menteri Besar Datuk Mohd Nassuruddin Daud and the state leadership.
In Kedah, the Sultan of Kedah Al-Aminul Karim Sultan Sallehuddin Sultan Badlishah performed the Aidiladha prayers at Masjid Zahir in Alor Setar together with more than 2,000 congregants, including Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor and state secretary Datuk Seri Norizan Khazali.
Meanwhile, in Perlis, the Raja Muda of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra Jamalullail, joined more than 1,200 congregants in performing the Aidiladha prayers at the Dataran Istiadat Istana Arau, in Arau, led by state Grand Imam Amnan Muthqa Azanol.
The Aidiladha sermon titled ‘Pengorbanan Memajukan Umat Islam’ was delivered by the chief executive officer of the Perlis Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council (MAIPs) Mohd Nazim Mohd Noor.
Also in attendance were the Raja Puan Muda Perlis Tuanku Dr Hajah Lailatul Shahreen Akashah Khalil and their daughters Hajah Sharifah Khatreena Nuraniah Jamalullail and Hajah Sharifah Farah Adriana Jamalullail.
In Negeri Sembilan , the Yang Dipertuan Besar Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir and Tunku Ampuan Besar Tuanku Aishah Rohani Tengku Besar Mahmud arrived at the Dewan Awam Tuanku Najihah in Kuala Pilah at 8.30 am, accompanied by Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun, to perform the Aidiladha prayers with about 1,500 congregants.
In Pahang, the Sultan Pahang, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, and Tengku Ampuan of Pahang, Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah. joined more than 1,000 worshippers in performing the Aidiladha prayers at Masjid Tengku Ampuan Afzan in Indera Mahkota.
The royal couple were accompanied by their children, including the Regent of Pahang Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah.
In Perak, the Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Shah performed the Aidiladha prayers at Masjid Sultan Idris Shah II in Ipoh this morning together with more than 1,000 congregants.
Also in attendance were the Raja Muda of Perak Raja Jaafar Raja Muda Musa and Raja Di-Hilir Perak Raja Iskandar Dzulkarnain Sultan Idris A’fifullah Shah. Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad was also present.
In Johor, the Regent of Johor, Tunku Mahkota Ismail, attended the Aidiladha prayers at Masjid Negeri Sultan Abu Bakar in Johor Bahru alongside more than 1,000 congregants.
His two sons, the Raja Muda of Johor Tunku Iskandar Tunku Ismail and Tunku Abu Bakar Ibrahim Tunku Ismail as well as the Tunku Panglima of Johor Tunku Abdul Rahman Sultan Ibrahim and the Tunku Putera of Johor Tunku Abu Bakar Sultan Ibrahim were also in attendance. Also present was Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi.
In Terengganu, the Regent of Terengganu, Tengku Muhammad Ismail Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin, performed Aidiladha prayers at Masjid Al-Muktafi Billah Shah in Kuala Terengganu. He was accompanied by Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar and several other state leaders.
In Penang, Governor Tun Ramli Ngah Talib and his wife Toh Puan Raja Noora Ashikin Raja Abdullah performed the Aidiladha prayer with more than 5,000 Muslims at Masjid Abdullah Fahim in Bertam, Kepala Batas.
In Melaka, state senior executive councillor for Housing, Local Government, Climate Change and Disaster Management Datuk Rais Yasin and 3rd Division commander Major General Sani S Omar joined more than 2,000 congregants comprising military personnel and civilians in performing the Aidiladha prayers at Masjid As-Syuhada Kem Terendak in Sungai Udang.
Meanwhile, in Sarawak, Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, together with Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan and State Legislative Assembly Speaker Tan Sri Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar, joined more than 5,000 worshippers in performing the Aidiladha prayers at Masjid Jamek Negeri Sarawak in Petra Jaya.
In Sabah, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor performed the Aidiladha prayers with more than 1,000 congregants at Masjid Haji Noor in Kampung Serusup, Tuaran, before carrying out the ‘ibadah korban’, with the meat distributed to personnel of the Tuaran district police headquarters and asnaf groups in the district. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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Ministers urge Muslims to reflect on sacrifice, unity in Aidiladha messages
27 May 2026
KUALA LUMPUR, May 27 — Cabinet Ministers today extended Aidiladha greetings and urged all Muslims to reflect on the true meaning of sacrifice.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail hoped that Muslims would appreciate and apply the sacrifices of Prophet Ibrahim AS and his son, Prophet Ismail AS, in their daily lives.
Saifuddin Nasution, who is currently performing the Haj, also conveyed Aidiladha greetings to security personnel for their sacrifices in safeguarding the nation’s borders, and prayed that their contributions would be rewarded by Allah SWT.
“I also call on those returning to their hometowns to always be careful on the road, so that our arrival will be joyfully welcomed by our loved ones,” he said in a video clip uploaded on Facebook.
Meanwhile, Minister of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali said Aidiladha reminds Muslims of the great story of sacrifice by Prophet Ibrahim AS and Prophet Ismail AS, which reflects complete obedience to the commands of Allah SWT.
“On this blessed day, let us together appreciate the true meaning of Aidiladha, which demands values of sacrifice, sincerity, gratitude and compassion for one another,” he said.
Armizan said that the Aidiladha celebration should also serve as a platform to strengthen humility, as well as to remain grateful for all blessings and to continue sharing sustenance and doing good for those in need.
Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri R. Ramanan, meanwhile, said that Aidiladha is not merely celebrated through ritual sacrifice, but is also a day to appreciate the values of compassion, unity and responsibility within society.
He said Malaysia would continue to grow stronger when its people choose unity over division and nurture mutual respect and love in community life.
“In terms of the country’s diversity of race, religion and culture, Aidiladha carries an important message of compassion, togetherness and mutual respect.
“The story of the sacrifices of Prophet Ibrahim NS and Prophet Ismail AS teaches us that the strength of a nation is born when its people are willing to share, help and stand together regardless of differences,” he posted on Facebook.
Ramanan, who is the Sungai Buloh Member of Parliament, also stressed that the true strength of the Malaysia MADANI vision lies in the people’s willingness to work together and care for one another regardless of background.
Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo also conveyed Aidiladha wishes through social media on behalf of his ministry.
“May this Aidiladha celebration instill a stronger sense of gratitude and togetherness among all of us,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Transport (MOT) expressed hope that the Aidiladha 1447H celebration would bring peace, repentance and well-being to all Muslims in the country.
“Guided by the principles of MADANI, let us continue to cultivate the values of sacrifice, compassion and togetherness to strengthen national unity.
“May the appreciation of Aidiladha strengthen brotherhood and foster shared prosperity towards a more harmonious, progressive and prosperous Malaysia,” it posted on Facebook. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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Anwar, Dr Wan Azizah perform Aidiladha prayers at Masjid Putra with 10,000 congregants
27 May 2026
PUTRAJAYA, May 27 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim performed the Aidiladha sunat prayer at Masjid Putra here today.
He arrived with his wife, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, at 7.56 am and was received by the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) director-general, Datuk Dr Sirajuddin Suhaimee, before entering the main hall to perform the prayers.
Anwar then recited the takbir Raya alongside more than 10,000 congregants before performing the sunat prayer, which was led by the mosque’s grand Imam, Dr Muhammad Zakuwa Rodzali.
He also listened to a sermon titled “Sacrifice Demands Sincerity”, delivered by Muhammad Zakuwa.
Anwar later mingled with the congregation after the prayers. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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Sultan Ibrahim hosts royal family gathering for Hari Raya Aidiladha at Johor palace
27 May 2026
JOHOR BAHRU, May 27 — His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, and Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah, Queen of Malaysia, shared a meal with family members and grandchildren in conjunction with the Hari Raya Aidiladha celebration at Istana Bukit Serene here today.
According to a post on the Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar Facebook page, the Regent of Johor, Tunku Mahkota Ismail, and Che’ Puan Mahkota Khaleeda Johor, together with their children, were also in attendance.
Also present were Tunku Panglima Johor Tunku Abdul Rahman Sultan Ibrahim, Tunku Putera Johor Tunku Abu Bakar Sultan Ibrahim, as well as Tunku Tun Aminah Sultan Ibrahim and her husband Datuk Dennis Muhammad Abdullah, accompanied by their children. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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Malaysian Armed Forces expresses gratitude to TMJ for ‘unwavering support’ amid military training row
27 May 2026
KUALA LUMPUR, May 27 — The Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) has expressed its “highest gratitude” to the Regent of Johor (TMJ), Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, for his public backing of military exercises and his commitment to the welfare of veterans.
In a statement today, MAF said the regent’s support reflects a “strong strategic synergy” between the royal institution, the Johor state government, and the military.
The force described Johor’s willingness to provide space and cooperation for military drills as the “lifeblood” of its continued operational readiness.
Yesterday, Tunku Ismail had chided critics for attempting to use military institutions for “personal interests” or to generate “social media attention.”
Addressing the necessity of these exercises, MAF today affirmed that it operates strictly within the bounds of the law and that national defence mandates transcend geographical boundaries.
“Consistent and realistic field training is an absolute prerequisite for enhancing the tactical competency of MAF personnel, while ensuring that the nation’s defence readiness is maintained at the highest level,” it said.
The National Security Council (NSC) had previously assured the public that all military maneuvers follow strict safety and coordination protocols to minimise disruption to local communities.
The military also highlighted the Regent’s assurance that Johor’s doors remain open to MAF veterans. The force noted that such recognition for those who have completed their service serves as a significant morale booster for currently serving personnel.
“Recognition of the contributions of Warriors who have completed their service proves that their sacrifices remain truly valued,” MAF added.
Reiterating its core mission, MAF said it remains professional and will continue to prioritise the safety of the Rakyat and national sovereignty.
The force also said that its primary objectives remain under the auspices of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the Supreme Head of Malaysia.
“The MAF will continue to focus its resources and expertise on core national defence objectives... placing the safety of the people and the sovereignty of the nation as its absolute priority,” the statement concluded.
Source: malaymail.com
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Anwar reaffirms Malaysia’s stand against West Asia aggression in call with Iran president
27 May 2026
KUALA LUMPUR, May 27 — Malaysia has maintained its firm stance in condemning any acts of aggression and incursions in West Asia, including drone strikes as well as Israeli-United States military operations that have claimed innocent lives.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said he conveyed this position to Iranian President Dr Masoud Pezeshkian during a telephone conversation yesterday
“Alhamdulillah, I had the opportunity to hold a phone conversation with the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Dr Masoud Pezeshkian, to extend Eid Mubarak greetings as well as fraternal salutations and prayers from all Malaysians for the people of Iran,” he said in a Facebook post.
Anwar said that during the conversation, he also expressed hope that Iran would soon return to peace and that all tensions and bloodshed could be brought to an end through peaceful means and responsible diplomacy.
He also expressed appreciation for Iran’s support and cooperation in assisting the release and safe passage of Malaysian vessels in the Strait of Hormuz recently.
“Mutual respect and the spirit of friendship such as this must continue to be strengthened in relations between countries,” he said.
Meanwhile, Anwar said Pezeshkian also expressed appreciation for Malaysia’s consistent stance in upholding peace, justice and humanitarian principles at the international level.
He said the Iranian President also invited him to visit Tehran to further strengthen bilateral ties and strategic cooperation between the two countries.
“InsyaAllah, I will arrange my schedule to visit Iran at an appropriate time.
“Iran has always been close to my heart, especially as I have many friends and acquaintances there who continue to uphold knowledge, fraternity and the universal struggle for humanity,” the Prime Minister said. — Bernama
Source: malaymail.com
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Malaysia strengthens UN peacekeeping role and training
26 May 2026
Defence Minister says Malaysia commits to capacity building, WPS agenda and MALBATT safety in UN peacekeeping missions.
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia continues to strengthen its commitment to United Nations (UN) peacekeeping missions, including through capacity building, specialised training and the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda.
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the commitment was expressed during his meeting with the UN Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix, who is currently in Malaysia as part of a regional visit to Asia.
“In this meeting, the UN expressed appreciation for Malaysia’s active role in peacekeeping missions, with the involvement of more than 40,000 personnel in over 38 missions worldwide since 1960,” he posted on Facebook today.
Mohamed Khaled said discussions also focused on the role and contributions Malaysia could make towards the future direction of UN peacekeeping operations, in line with the country’s pledge in organising training and capacity development, particularly in the areas of Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Mobile Training Teams.
He said Malaysia is also committed to ensuring that the Malaysian Peacekeeping Centre continues to serve as a UN-accredited training centre for various programmes and capacity development activities, while further strengthening the country’s commitment to the WPS agenda.
“I also stressed the importance of ensuring that the safety and welfare of the MALBATT 850-13 personnel in southern Lebanon continue to receive serious attention from the UN, in addition to ensuring that the withdrawal process of the final MALBATT 850-13 battalion under the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) mission is carried out properly and systematically,” he said.
Also present at the meeting were Chief of Defence Force Gen Datuk Seri Malek Razak Sulaiman and Joint Forces Commander Lt Gen Datuk Tengku Muhammad Fauzi Tengku Ibrahim.
Source: thesun.my
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South Asia
President extends Eid al-Adha greetings to leaders of Muslim countries and Islamic international organisations
27 May 2026
His Excellency President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has extended warm felicitations and good wishes to the Heads of State and Government of Muslim countries, as well as to the heads of Islamic international organisations, on the occasion of Eid al-Adha 1447H.
In his official messages, President Dr Muizzu expressed immense pleasure in conveying greetings and felicitations on the joyous occasion of Eid al-Adha. He noted that the Government and the people of the Maldives join him in extending heartfelt good wishes to the respective leaders, their governments, and their brotherly peoples.
Highlighting the profound spiritual significance of the occasion, the President conveyed his hope that the sacred occasion would foster greater understanding, kindness, and unity among Muslims worldwide, while praying for the acceptance of the prayers and devotion of pilgrims performing Hajj, and for them to be blessed with peace and lasting reward.
Concluding his messages, President Dr Muizzu extended his personal best wishes for the good health, blessings, and happiness of the respective leaders on this auspicious occasion.
Source: presidency.gov.mv
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PM extends Eid-ul-Azha greetings to Muslims at home and abroad
27 May 2026
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has extended Eid greetings to Muslims at home and abroad.
In a message posted on his Facebook page last night, he said Eid-ul-Azha has once again arrived at the doorstep of the Muslim world, reminding all of the highest spirit of sacrifice, the noble guidance of taqwa, and the unique message of self-purification.
“On this auspicious occasion of Eid-ul-Azha, I extend Eid Mubarak to the people of the country as well as to all Muslims around the world. I convey my greetings to people across the globe. May this Eid-ul-Azha be illuminated by the glory of sacrifice. May Allah accept our Qurbani and worship. May our lives be filled with peace and prosperity through His infinite mercy and blessings,” he said.
The prime minister said, “On Eid-ul-Azha, I pray to Allah to accept our sacrifices. May He grant peace, security and stability to our motherland, the entire Muslim world and all humanity.
“At the same time, I also pray to Allah for peace, harmony and security across the world.”
Source: thedailystar.net
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Govt turns to foreign loans to plug deficit
27 MAY 2026
The government is set to move away from its reliance on domestic borrowing to fund the budget deficit next fiscal year and go for foreign borrowing in a bid to free up resources for the private sector and contain inflationary pressures, according to the draft budget plan.
The overall deficit has been projected at Tk 2,35,000 crore, which is 3.4 percent of GDP and 17.5 percent higher than the revised target for this fiscal year.
The outgoing fiscal year’s deficit target stands at Tk 2,00,000 crore. The government borrowed Tk 1,37,000 crore from domestic sources and Tk 58,000 crore from abroad. About Tk 5,000 crore were grants.
The draft plan for next fiscal year says that net domestic borrowing is expected to fall by 13 percent to Tk 1,19,000 crore, with bank borrowing cut by more than 15 percent to Tk 1,00,000 crore. Net foreign borrowing is projected to surge by over 91 percent to Tk 1,11,000 crore. The remaining Tk 5,000 crore would come from grants.
This marks a departure from the medium-term macroeconomic policy statement prepared during the interim government, which had stressed a mixed financing strategy with greater reliance on treasury bonds.
That statement also warned of rising foreign interest rates and currency risks, suggesting domestic borrowing would remain the safer option.
The move aims to revive private investment, which has slumped in recent years, said finance ministry officials involved in the proceedings.
In March, private sector credit growth, which is a barometer of the private investment scenario, hit an all-time low of 4.72 percent, according to data from the Bangladesh Bank.
Earlier this week, BB rolled out a Tk 60,000 crore stimulus package, with about Tk 40,000 crore coming from the banks’ excess liquidity. Reducing government borrowing from banks is seen as essential to supporting this move.
To boost foreign borrowing, ministries have been instructed to expedite disbursement of funds already in the pipeline and repurpose funds for slow-moving projects. Officials also expect significant budget support next year, with the possibility of securing over $1 billion annually from the International Monetary Fund if a new programme can be negotiated.
Zahid Hussain, former lead economist of the World Bank’s Dhaka, cautioned against relying too much on foreign borrowing for funding the budget deficit.
“The issue is how much you can actually get -- the projection of more than Tk 1,00,000 crore is challenging,” he said, adding that at best Bangladesh might secure Tk 80,000–90,000 crore, provided pipeline funds are released.
He also warned that the domestic borrowing target would be difficult to maintain.
With a Tk 9,30,000 crore budget, even if borrowing is reduced by Tk 1,00,000 crore, the deficit could still reach Tk 250,000 crore.
Revenue collection is unlikely to exceed Tk 5,50,000 crore, meaning the government will inevitably need to borrow more from domestic sources, despite liquidity problems in banks.
Resorting to money printing would risk further inflation.
Besides, the BNP’s election manifesto pledged to reduce debt dependency, but this hinges on boosting revenue collection, Zahid said.
While some measures are planned, the extent of improvement remains uncertain.
“Aligning expectations with reality will be quite difficult,” he said.
Budget implementation data shows that in recent years, borrowing has been required not only for the development budget but also for the operating budget. As a result, interest payments have steadily increased year after year.
Bangladesh’s total public debt burden has crossed Tk 22,00,000 crore by December 2025 with a growing reliance on domestic sources as the government looked to “insulate the economy from foreign currency risks”.
Of the total debt, Tk 3,00,000 crore was borrowed during the interim government rule, according to the finance ministry’s latest quarterly bulletin.
The bulletin states the public debt stood at Tk 18,90,000 crore at the end of June 2024, a little over a month before the interim administration assumed power. The figure was Tk 13,44,000 crore at the end of June 2022.
During the interim government’s rule, domestic debt rose by Tk 1,70,000 crore, reaching Tk 12,50,000 crore by December. Foreign loans increased by Tk 1,47,000 crore to Tk 9,59,000 crore in the same period.
Domestic borrowing dominates the government’s overall debt portfolio.
At the end of 2025, the domestic and external liabilities constituted 57 percent and 43 percent of the total government debt stock.
“By focusing on the local market, the government is deepening domestic liquidity while reducing its exposure to exchange rate fluctuations,” the bulletin said.
Source: thedailystar.net
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BGB boosts vigilance on parts of India border
27 MAY 2026
Bangladesh’s border guards have intensified patrols and launched public awareness campaigns along parts of the frontier with India because of concerns India has illegally forced people into Bangladesh, officials said.
India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, which governs the border states of Tripura, West Bengal and Assam, has said it would tackle undocumented migration as a priority.
Earlier this month, India’s foreign ministry told reporters that India has asked Bangladesh to verify the nationality of more than 2,860 people suspected of being Bangladeshis and of living illegally in the country. India’s foreign ministry did not respond to a request for comment yesterday.
The 60th Battalion of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) began campaigns on Sunday in border areas of the Brahmanbaria district, using loud speakers to warn residents and urging them to remain alert to attempts to push people across the border.
“We have started miking in border villages to raise awareness among residents and ask them to stay vigilant against any illegal crossings or push-in attempts,” Lieutenant Colonel S M Shariful Islam, commander of the battalion, told Reuters.
“Our patrols and surveillance have been strengthened across the border areas. Intelligence operations are also continuing to prevent illegal push-ins, human trafficking, and the smuggling of drugs and other goods,” he said.
Bangladesh and India share a border that stretches over more than 4,000 kilometres (2,485 miles), one of the longest land frontiers in the world.
Three sub-districts in Brahmanbaria district in eastern Bangladesh account for around 73 kilometres of the border with the Indian state of Tripura.
India’s northeastern state of Assam which shares its border with Bangladesh has, since May 2025, pushed back hundreds of people into Bangladesh out of the 30,000 people tribunals have declared to be foreigners. Several human rights groups have said the authorities have arbitrarily thrown people out of the country.
Dhaka has repeatedly said any repatriation must follow formal bilateral procedures and has warned against unilateral push-ins across the border.
Source: thedailystar.net
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Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid visits Russia for security talks
By Fidel Rahmati
May 26, 2026
Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid traveled to Russia to attend a regional conference focused on security cooperation and threats.
Taliban Defense Minister Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid has traveled to Russia to attend a regional security conference focused on shared security challenges and defense cooperation.
The Taliban defense ministry said Tuesday that the conference brings together senior security and defense officials from several regional and international countries.
According to the ministry, discussions at the gathering will focus on regional security, common security threats and strengthening mutual cooperation among participating states.
Russia remains the only country to formally recognize the Taliban administration, although Moscow has repeatedly voiced concern over militant activity and terrorism threats originating from Afghanistan.
Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu previously said that between 18,000 and 23,000 fighters linked to more than 20 armed groups were operating inside Afghanistan. He warned that terrorism and drug trafficking remain major regional security concerns.
Afghanistan continues to face severe security and economic challenges, with groups such as ISIS-K remaining active in parts of the country. Regional governments have repeatedly warned that instability in Afghanistan could threaten broader security across Central Asia and neighboring states.
Source: khaama.com
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China and Pakistan pledge closer coordination on Afghanistan after Sharif’s Beijing visit
By Fidel Rahmati
May 26, 2026
China and Pakistan said they will maintain close coordination on Afghanistan and voiced concern over armed groups operating in the region, according to a joint statement issued after Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif visited Beijing.
The two countries welcomed an informal trilateral meeting held in April in Urumqi involving China, Pakistan and the Taliban and said they would continue close communication regarding Afghanistan-related issues.
Pakistan also praised China’s role in facilitating dialogue between Islamabad and the Taliban at a time when relations between the two sides have faced tensions linked to security concerns.
In the statement, Beijing and Islamabad stressed that armed groups should not be allowed to use the territory of regional countries to threaten neighboring states or undermine regional stability.
The statement specifically mentioned Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan and East Turkestan Islamic Movement, saying no organization or individual should be permitted to conduct militant activities from regional territory.
China has repeatedly raised concerns about ETIM, while Pakistan has accused the Taliban administration of failing to curb TTP fighters allegedly operating from Afghanistan soil. The Taliban deny the accusations and say Afghanistan territory will not be used against other countries.
Security tensions between Pakistan and the Taliban administration have increased in recent months following border clashes, militant attacks and Pakistani military operations near frontier areas.
China has expanded its diplomatic engagement in Afghanistan since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, seeking regional stability to protect its economic and security interests, including projects linked to the Belt and Road Initiative.
Source: khaama.com
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