VHP Camps to Dissuade Muslim Men from Applying ‘Mehndi’ To Hindu Women in UPon the Occasion of ‘Karwa Chauth’

New Age Islam News Bureau

01 November 2023

 

Mehndi- IANS

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India

·         J&K Waqf Board ‘Mutes’ Palestine Issue from Sermons, Prayers to Contain Protests in Valley

·         4 Held for Waving Palestinian Flag During Pak-Bangla Match, Let Off Later

·         Chargesheet filed in ‘love jihad’ dentist’s murder

·         Controversy surrounds UP Government’s decision to reclaim land from Mohammad Ali Jauhar Trust

·         UP: Man gives talaq to his wife over phone for shaping eyebrows

·         India Says It Is 'Leader' of Global South but UN's Gaza Vote Shows It Has No Followers

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North America

·         White House Will Develop Anti-Islamophobia Strategy But Faces Scepticism From Muslim Americans

·         Blinken says US, others exploring options for future of Gaza after Hamas

·         Saudi Arabia still open to Israeli normalization deal, White House says

·         US and Israel mull peacekeepers for the Gaza Strip after Hamas

·         Former Obama Official Confirmed as US Ambassador to Israel

·         For Muslim Americans, a spike in hate incidents feels reminiscent of post 9/11 Islamophobia

·         CAIR-NJ Calls for Firing of Princeton University Staff Member Who Allegedly Assaulted Pro-Palestine Protesters

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Europe

·         Scottish Leader Apologizes for World’s Inaction Over Jabalia Massacre

·         Palestine supporters stage London protest, call for Gaza truce as Israeli war rages

·         UK’s Sunak in call to Netanyahu stresses need to minimize Gaza civilan casualties

·         Russia tightens security in Muslim-majority south after weekend airport riot

·         Turkish mosques in northwest Germany receive hate letters

·         Is Russia recruiting Muslim migrants to fight its war in Ukraine?

·         Christchurch victims were left alone in mosque for 10 minutes amid chaos of attack, inquest hears

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Mideast

·         Gaza Strip: Israeli Airstrikes Hit Refugee Camps as Ground Troops Battle Hamas Militants

·         Around 420 children killed or injured in Gaza daily - UNICEF

·         Turkish, Saudi foreign ministers discuss latest situation in Palestine

·         First foreigners leave Gaza for Egypt through Rafah crossing

·         Arab world condemns Israeli attack on Jabalia refugee camp in Gaza

·         Israeli army says it hit 11,000 Gaza ‘terror targets’ since war’s start

·         Turkey to start charging foreign visitors to Hagia Sophia after reversion to mosque

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Africa

·         Tunisia's Islamist party leader is sentenced to 15 months in prison for supporting terrorism

·         Five Islamist convicts escape from Tunisian jail

·         Islamist separatism in Northern Nigeria

·         Niger church demands justice over murder of Pastor, FUTMinna lecturer

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Arab World

·         Ansar Allah Politician Blesses Operation of Yemeni Armed Forces That Targeted Zionist Entity

·         Muslim World League condemns Israeli strike on Gaza’s Jabalia camp

·         Saudi Arabia condemns Israeli strike on Gaza camp 'in strongest terms'

·         Qatar brokers deal between Egypt, Hamas and Israel for Gaza evacuations - source

·         Riyadh street festival to bridge generational gaps

·         Al Jazeera Engineer's 19 Family Members Dead in Gaza Camp Bombing: Report

·         Yemen's Houthi rebels claim drone attack on Israel

·         Minister receives ambassador of Ukraine in Riyadh

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Pakistan

·         Senator Mushahid Calls for Recognising HamasforIts Significant Role in Representing the Palestinian People

·         Imran’s lawyer terms cipher judge’s appointment ‘illegal’

·         PM condemns rising Israeli aggression against Palestinians

·         Senate continues debate on Israeli atrocities against innocent Palestinians

·         Plea of 23 ‘Afghans’ for Pakistani identity cards disposed of by PHC

·         Fazl accuses 'authorities' of forcing 'legal Afghans' to exit country

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South Asia

·         Afghan Refugees Should Not Be Forcibly Expelled, They Should Be Given Time: IEA

·         Special Envoys' Statement Calls for Respect for Human Rights in Afghanistan

·         Turkish FM to Muttaqi: No Armed Conflict Should Exist in Afghanistan

·         Mullah Baradar inspects Salang Pass reconstruction project

·         Amnesty again urges Pakistan to reverse decision on deporting Afghan refugees

·         IEA-Foreign Minister, Mawlawi Amir khan Muttaqi met with the Chairman of 77 INSAAT

·         Afghan Refugees Coerced to Leave Pakistan with 'Threats, Abuse': HRW

·         Hasina, Modi jointly open Akhaura-Agartala cross-border rail link

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 Southeast Asia

·         Ambassador Nazri: US State Dept Displeased WithPM Anwar's Comments On Gaza Conflict, Wanted Putrajaya To Sympathise With Israel

·         PAS Youth chief calls out Nga over criticism of Hamas-inspired costume at school

·         Over 1,300 detected with suicidal tendencies via new MySejahtera feature

·         M’sia commends 121 countries that stood up for Gaza via UN resolution

·         Israel-Hamas war has awakened anti-Muslim hate in Thailand

Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau

URL:   https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/vhp-muslim-mehndi-hindu-karwa-chauth/d/131027

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VHP Camps to Dissuade Muslim Men from Applying ‘Mehndi’ To Hindu Women in UPon the Occasion of ‘Karwa Chauth’

 

Mehndi- IANS

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November 1, 2023

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), Bajrang Dal and Rashtriya Sevika Samiti are jointly organising ‘Mehedi camps’ at 11 locations in Uttar Pradesh’s Muzaffarnagar to urge people not to allow Muslim men to apply henna on the hands of Hindu women.

The ‘camps’ are being Organised on the occasion of ‘Karwa Chauth’, a Hindu festival.

Describing it as a part of their two-year-old campaign to protect Hindu girls from getting targeted for religious conversion, VHP’s Prant Sah Gau Raksha Pramukh in Muzaffarnagar, Maheshwari, explained that shopkeepers hired Muslims as henna artistes who then used the opportunity to lure Hindu girls and women on the pretext of offering them their services at lower prices.

“Muslim boys hide their identities by wearing kalawas (sacred thread Hindus tie to their wrists) and exchange their phone numbers with Hindu girls. This was the first step of love jihad,” Maheshwari said and added that even the entry of Muslim girls into these camps was banned.

Maheshwari, however, could not provide the details of even a single instance. “Such things seldom come on record because girls don’t like to speak about it,” she added.

District Magistrate Arvind Malappa Bangari, however, refused to comment on the ‘camps’ for the moment. “I have come to know about it and can comment on it only after gathering more information,” he said.

West UP in-charge of Kranti Sena, Lalit Mohan, said the camps started on Sunday and would continue till Karwa Chauth on Tuesday.

He said that initially shopkeepers were persuaded not to hire Muslim henna artists and now camps were being organised to offer such a service to people at their doorstep.

Maulana Nazar, the state vice-president of Jamiat-e-Ulema Hind, on Wednesday, denounced the boycott of Muslims and held the VHP and other organisations for spreading hatred in the society. “They are destroying the social fabric,” he said and added that such a programme was in sheer violation of the Constitution, which does not discriminate against anyone based on their religion and caste. –IANS

Source: muslimmirror.com

Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original

https://muslimmirror.com/eng/up-vhp-camps-to-dissuade-muslim-men-from-applying-mehndi-to-hindu-women/

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Tulsi Gabbard: LGBTQIA Activists Holding the Trans Flag with The Palestinian Flag Don't Understand This Islamist Ideology

 

Tulsi Gabbard once touted working for anti-gay group

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October 31, 2023

Ian Schwartz

LAURA INGRAHAM: I call it creating the monster. They are Dr. Frankenstein and now the monster in their progressive wing is turning against them. But they are kind of trying to pretend this is a shocking development. It's not a shocking development. This has always been there. But it's also deeply anti-American, is it not?

GABBARD: It is. And it is against the very foundational principles and values of who we are as a country. These Democrats, they have called people like me an Islamophobe for many years just for speaking the truth about radical Islam. About the threat that this Islamism poses to the freedom and peace of security of the American people and people around the world.

INGRAHAM: Well, do you believe, as do some of these Republicans in the Senate, that we should be bringing in more Afghan refugees? We brought in 80, 90,000. We didn't vet any of them. I'm sure they are great people and helped us in Afghanistan. But did we have 80,000 interpreters or drivers? I don't think so.

GABBARD: There are many, unquestionably. But just like we are so concerned about Biden's open borders and the fact that we have got millions of people coming in who are not vetted in any way, shape, or form who have not been checked.

INGRAHAM: But they share our values, to Nigel Farage's point as to what you're seeing in England. This is a -- they say you can't call it a clash of civilizations, why not? It is a clash of civilizations. No women's rights. No belief in pluralism. The dignity of the individual. Free expression. None of that. That's not on the table.

GABBARD: And that is the hypocrisy of seeing these LGBTQIA activists out there holding and waving the trans flags combined with the Palestinian flag.

INGRAHAM: That's a new level of stupid.

GABBARD: They don't know and understand what this Islamist ideology is, this radical Islam ideology where they actually want to kill people. They want to kill those people specifically.

Source: realclearpolitics.com

Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original

https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2023/10/31/tulsi_gabbard_lgbtqia_activists_holding_the_trans_flag_with_the_palestinian_flag_dont_understand_this_islamist_ideology.html

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Israel's Ambassador to UK: UK Stands with Israel, There Is Jihad in The Streets of London

 

Ambassador Hotovely: UK stands with Israel

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Oct 31, 2023

Tzipi Hotovely, Israel's Ambassador to the United Kingdom, spoke to Arutz Sheva–Israel National News, on the UK’s stand on Israel, especially in regard to the current war against Hamas.

Tzipi Hotovely, Israel's Ambassador to the United Kingdom: “Hello from London. On the diplomatic level, the United Kingdom is standing with Israel. I think that the UK’s support has never been stronger. We have seen this from the first day of the war. I need to share with everyone how close the cooperation between Israel and the UK has been from the first day of the war. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak made the decision to support Israel and he came to one of the main synagogues here in the center of London, the Kinloss Synagogue, on the second day of the war, together with me and the Chief Rabbi and he delivered one of the most pro-Israeli speeches ever heard here.”

Quoting Prime Minister Sunak, she said, “‘I will stand with you today, I will stand with you tomorrow, I will stand with you always.’ I think the message was very clear. It's so easy to support Israel on the 7th of October, on the 8th of October. But the problem is, this is how public diplomacy usually works. The media starts asking hard questions about the military actions in Gaza and then you lose international support. What the British Prime Minister basically was saying is ‘I'm here to stand with Israel for a long time, for an ongoing campaign against Hamas,’ because they understand the complexity of it.”

She continued saying, “While we are fighting a terror organization, we saw Foreign Secretary James Cleverly come out with his clear declarations both in the media and in the UN. He was the one who came to Israel before the war and said, ‘Israel's security is our security.’ He made it very clear what a close ally the UK is for Israel and many people don't know this, but after the US, the UK shares with Israel on security and intelligence. Our cooperation in those fields is incredible and the UK is giving us assistance and support, by the Royal Air Force sending their intelligence abilities to help Israel in this war. And intelligence is major part of a war, as we know.”

Ambassador Hotovely believes that “this is part of the British help and support, also in the Security Council in the UN. This is where the clock is ticking. When we start a war, we always say there is a ticking clock, that is normally in the Security Council of the UN. I need the people in Israel to know that they have a friend here in London, which is the British people, the British government, and the British parliament, which means the opposition is standing with Israel as well. We just heard today the head of the opposition, Keir Starmer, saying that he's against a ceasefire because then Hamas won't be dismantled, and his capabilities will stay the same. What good would then come from this type of behavior.”

On the different approach between the leadership and the people, on the one hand, and the media, the BBC in particular, on the other, Ambassador Hotovely said: "First of all, the campaign against BBC not naming terrorists by name is an ongoing campaign. It didn't start just in this war. We started a campaign before the war. In regard to any terror attack on Israelis, we don't want them to use the term ‘gunmen’ or anything similar, because we know the difference and there is a major difference. The embassy was leading this campaign for a long while, including by holding meetings with senior people in the BBC and explaining to them why this is not the way impartial reporting should look like. How the BBC reporting on the war actually became a big issue here and many people protested against the BBC here in London; they wanted the BBC to stand behind its ethical journalism code. The peak of that was when the hospital case came out and when Israel was automatically blamed.”

She added that “what we're saying when we go to the media is that Hamas is using you. The Western media is so easy to blame Israel, so quick to say that the Palestinians are the weak side in this conflict and will support them, and this kind of bias must be stopped. This was part of Israel's fighting after the hospital issue, not just about clarifying the facts about the hospital, that it was an Islamic Jihad rocket, but also to say ‘you need to be in charge of the information that comes in a wartime, because you have responsibility here. So, I went to the media and said, ‘don't be a tool that is played into the hands of Hamas.”

On the pro Palestinian protests and the rise in anti-Semitism, Ambassador Hotovely thinks that “many people here in the UK feel that this is the same Jihadi ideology and when they're saying Jihad in the streets of London, they mean something that is very scary to most British people. Of course, the Jewish community is very concerned about it. But let me tell you my angle to that, as a diplomat, because actually it's easier to explain to people that this is not a conflict about territory, it's not about land, this is the same ideology that Al Qaeda had when it attacked the Americans in 9/11. It's the same ideology that ISIS led, and this is why the coalition led by the Americans had to fight back in Iraq and Syria, and this is the same barbarism that was attacking innocent Israeli children and women and men on the 7th of October. So, we are actually putting the West together with Israel in fighting a civilization war. Civilization is fighting against barbarism and against radical terrorism that Hamas presented, and it showed its real face. People cannot say anymore that ‘this is the conflict, you should have done more.’ Israel did so much and I think nowadays most Israelis are saying we were wrong in understanding the intentions of our enemy and understanding its ideology. It's not about having a good life in Gaza. That was never the case because Hamas used all the international support to build an underground terror city, instead of taking care of the people of Gaza. And this is what we show the world. We show the videos coming from the Gaza Strip. Just this week we're going to hold a briefing for all the top journalists here in the UK, to give them information that wasn't exposed before about what happened on the 7th of October. This is our job at the Embassy to bring the Israeli truth, but also to connect it to the values of the West. And the values are here in London; the people that care about a free society and a free country that can stay a democratic country. You need to fight radicalism.”

Ambassador Hotovely continued, “the government is very, very strict to say we are going to fight people who support hate crimes. And I think today there is a big debate here about what's the best way to do that. You also hear the debate in Europe about expressions like, ‘from the river to the sea,’ about people that are coming to protest with Palestinian flags, on one hand, but it's after the Hamas massacre, so there is a big debate of how to deal with that on a legal basis. But there is one thing there is no doubt about; when you're shouting ‘jihad,’ it's a clear hate crime and those people need to be in court.”

In conclusion, Ambassador Hotovely “believes that the UK authorities are doing their best in order to act against this situation. I know the Home Office secretary, who is dear friend of Israel, made a clear statement about it. And I hope on a legal basis that they can do whatever it takes to make sure that those type of hate crimes won't be on the streets of London.”

Source: israelnationalnews.com

Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original

https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/379481

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Israel Collapsed After Al-Aqsa Storm, Will Not To Survive Own Quagmire In Gaza: Hezbollah

 

Sayyed Hashem Safieddine, head of the Executive Council of Lebanon’s Hezbollah resistance movement

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 01 November 2023

Israel collapsed after the Palestinian resistance launched Operation Al-Aqsa Storm into the occupied territories on October 7 and will in no way survive its own quagmire in the Gaza Strip, says a high-ranking official with the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah.

Sayyed Hashem Safieddine, head of the Executive Council of Hezbollah, made the remarks in an interview with a media delegation from Iran and a group of Iranian journalists in the Lebanese capital of Beirut on Tuesday, the 25th day of Operation Al-Aqsa Storm by the Gaza-based Palestinian resistance groups.

Safieddine pointed to reports and accurate field information gained by Hezbollah since the start of the Palestinian surprise attack and said, “After the successful Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, the Zionist regime completely fell apart in terms of military and intelligence.”

Stressing that Lebanon’s Hezbollah had no prior knowledge of the Palestinian operation and had heard about it from the media, Safieddine said the operation was utterly Palestinian and Hezbollah was delighted that Hamas had gained such a high intelligence capability.

“We have definite news that the United States and some Western countries have sophisticated and extensive intelligence services in Gaza, but all these services were defeated by Hamas,” the head of the Executive Council of Hezbollah said.

”We are proud of our fighter brothers because of such high power in the complex execution of an operation.”

Reaffirming that the Israeli occupation army is in its worst situation and has collapsed after the October 7 attack, the Hezbollah official said the Zionist regime’s security and intelligence systems fell apart during the latest developments and its high-ranking military officers are in maximum disarray and disagreement.

“Their army is in a state of panic,” Safieddine said. “The Zionist forces who are in the north of Palestine record audio files and send them to Lebanon’s Hezbollah and address Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and say that we do not intend to confront you and if the war starts, we are with you and we do not intend to clash with you in any way.”

Hamas says al-Aqsa Storm performed a miracle over a span of six minutes and shattered the image of the Israeli military.

Underlining that field, intelligence and organization work in the occupied territories is at the disposal of Americans since the Hamas-led operation, Safieddine said, “The US is nowadays in the middle of the field of killing foreigners, Palestinian women and children.”

Touching on allegations about the Israeli regime’s military action against Iran, the Hezbollah official said, “First, they had better terminate the ongoing war and see how the situation unfolds after the war, and then talk about Iran. The Zionist regime will not get out of the quagmire in Gaza unscathed.”

Israel waged a genocidal war on the blockaded Gaza Strip on October 7 after Hamas-led Palestinian resistance groups carried out Operation al-Aqsa Storm against the occupying entity.

Since the start of the aggression, the regime has been committing war crimes in Gaza, killing at least 8,610 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injuring more than 23,000 others.

Israel has imposed a “complete siege” on the territory, cutting off fuel, electricity, food and water to the more than two million Palestinians living there.

Source: presstv.ir

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https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2023/11/01/713805/Lebanese-resistance-movement-Hezbollah-Israeli-regime-Sayyed-Hashem-Safieddine-quagmire-Gaza-Strip

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 Students Of the Islamic Dawah Society from Different International Nationalities Organize a Stand in Solidarity with The People of Gaza in Tripoli

2023-11-01

Tripoli, November 01, 2023 (LANA) - Yesterday, Tuesday, in Tripoli, the Islamic Daawa Society organized a stand-in solidarity with the people of Gaza, denouncing the crimes committed by the Zionist entity against Palestinian citizens.

The Vice Chairman of the Steering Committee of the Islamic Daawa Society, Ibrahim Al-Rubo, the Dean of the College of Islamic Daawa, Abu Bakr Abu Al-Suwayr, and a number of faculty members from a number of universities and students of the college participated in the solidarity stand.

The management committee of the Islamic Daawa Society, “Ibrahim Al-Rubo,” said in a speech on the occasion that what is happening now in Palestine, from the Zionist occupation of its lands, what is happening in Gaza, and what the Israeli occupation forces are committing, such as the barbaric bombing and displacement of its people, and the starvation and killing of innocent women and children, is something that reveals the organizations’ lies.

Al-Rubo, added, “We are gathering here this evening to convey our voices to the world that the students of the Daawa College of various nationalities are denouncing the war crimes committed by the Zionists occupying the lands of Palestine, and we raise our voices and condolences to our brothers in Gaza, so that you do not become weak or sad, and you are superior.

In a statement to the Libyan News Agency (LANA), Habibullah Suleiman, head of the Student Union of the Islamic Daawa College from Nigeria, said that, what we are seeing these days in Palestine, especially with our brothers in Gaza, is sad and reveals the lies of human rights organizations, (who are turning the world upside down for the sake of one child who was prevented from Transforming the gender that God created him to be), so where are they now from killing children and women, and where are the Muslims in this issue?.

 From here, on behalf of everyone, the students of the Islamic Daawa College from Tripoli, Libya, we denounce the war crimes committed by the Israeli Zionists occupying the land of Palestine.

Source: lana.gov.ly

Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original

https://lana.gov.ly/post.php?id=292448&lang=en

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India

 

J&K Waqf Board ‘mutes’ Palestine issue from sermons, prayers to contain protests in Valley

November 01, 2023

PEERZADA ASHIQ

Preachers in Kashmir Valley have accused the J&K Waqf Board of disallowing any mention of Palestine, which has been witnessing a fierce conflict for the past 24 days, in sermons or duas (special prayers), in an apparent bid to contain any street protests against Israel.

Several preachers, who presided over the religious rites, during the 11-day Urs at the shrine of saint Sheikh Syed Abdul Qadir Jeelani in Srinagar’s Khanyar, told The Hindu that the Palestine issue was not mentioned during sermons or prayers, unlike the instances in the past three decades when Palestine and Israel saw flare ups resulting in civilian deaths.

“There were verbal instructions from the Board to avoid mentioning the Palestine issue during the Urs. Security personnel were also monitoring the sermons being made and had also conveyed against arousing passions over the subject,” two preachers told The Hindu on the condition of anonymity.

Most of the Board-run shrines and mosques in Kashmir Valley have avoided sermons or speeches on the current situation in Palestine. The Board runs major shrines, including major shrines of the Dargah Hazratbal, the Shah Hamdan and the Sultan-ul-Arfeen in volatile Srinagar.

Valley chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was also disallowed to deliver a sermon on October 25 at the Khanyar shrine. The Mirwaiz has been disallowed to attend the Friday prayers at the historic Jamia Masjid after the bloody conflict broke out between Israel and Palestine on October 7, because of the apprehensions of street protests in favour of Palestine.

The Board is run by senior BJP leader Darakhshan Andrabi. The Hindu contacted Ms. Andrabi and awaits her comments over the allegations made against the Board by the preachers.

The Board this year centralised the recruitment of preachers in mosques and shrines. Ishtiyaq Mohi-ud-Din, the Board’s Executive Magistrate Tehsildar, earlier this year, started centralised recruitments of preachers, saying “the Board was facing a shortage of well-qualified imaams, khateebs and muezzins”.

Security agencies are on alert in Kashmir over the current situation in Palestine and growing protests in Muslim countries against Israel.

Top officials of security agencies recently held a meeting at the Army’s 15 Corps in Srinagar “to coordinate and strategise security in the UT in the backdrop of the ongoing Middle East crisis”.

Kashmir has a history of street protests over the issue of Palestine in the past. However, no protests were recorded in the Valley except for one organised by Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti. Official sources said fresh deployments in Srinagar have been made in the past one week to contain such protests.

Source: thehindu.com

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https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/jk-waqf-board-mutes-palestine-issue-from-sermons-prayers-to-contain-protests-in-valley/article67480874.ece

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4 held for waving Palestinian flag during Pak-Bangla match, let off later

1st November 2023

Marziya Sharif

Kolkata: Four people were temporarily detained at Maidan police station here for waving Palestinian flag during the Pakistan-Bangladesh World Cup cricket match at the Eden Gardens on Tuesday, police said.

“After preliminary questioning, all the four have left Maidan PS. They are residents of Bally, Ekbalpore and Karaya PS areas,” a senior police officer said.

“We had detained them for waving the Palestinian flag near Gate 6 and Block G1,” the IPS officer told PTI.

“Policemen posted at Eden Gardens initially could not understand what the protesters were up to. Then they waved the Palestine flag before being detained. They, however, did not raise any slogan,” he added.

Sources in the Kolkata Police said initial probe found out that the four, all in their mid-twenties, were protesting against the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza and chose the international match for their stir.

Source: siasat.com

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https://www.siasat.com/4-held-for-waving-palestinian-flag-during-pak-bangla-match-let-off-later-2788446/

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Chargesheet filed in ‘love jihad’ dentist’s murder

Nov 1, 2023

JAMMU: Jammu and Kashmir Police have filed a 1,249-page chargesheet in the murder of a Hindu female dentist in Jammu by a male Muslim friend during Holi this year in a case of suspected love jihad that had drawn widespread protests.

Johar Mehmood Ganai, also a dentist, had stabbed Sumedha Sharma multiple times on March 7 in his Jammu house. Ganai had attempted to end his life with the same knife but survived and remained in a Jammu hospital for a long time before being formally arrested and put in jail.

Several religious and social organisations had accused an earlier special investigation team (SIT) of delay and trying to shield Ganai, prompting the formation of a fresh five-member inquiry team. That team submitted the chargesheet in a local court Tuesday.

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/chargesheet-filed-in-love-jihad-dentists-murder/articleshow/104866644.cms

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Controversy surrounds UP Government’s decision to reclaim land from Mohammad Ali Jauhar Trust

October 31, 2023

The Uttar Pradesh cabinet, led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, approved the reclamation of land and a building leased to the Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar Trust in Rampur. The move to take back the property allocated to the trust, intended to host the Murtaza Higher Secondary School, has raised concerns about the impact on the education of Muslim children in the region.

Navaid Hamid, former president of the All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat (AIMMM), strongly criticized the decision, suggesting it is part of a broader agenda to deprive Muslim students of educational opportunities. He asserted that this decision follows a trend of “Hate Politics” that he believes is hindering the educational empowerment initiatives set in motion by Azam Khan, a prominent politician in the region.

The controversy revolves around the government’s assertion that the terms of the 30-year lease agreement between the Secondary Education Department and the Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar Trust were not met.

The Yogi Adityanath government has chosen to revoke the lease and reclaim the property, marking a significant and contentious policy shift. The trust had been granted the land at a nominal rate of Rs 100 per year during the tenure of the Samajwadi Party (SP) government in 2007.

On Tuesday, Finance Minister Suresh Khanna said that the District Magistrate of Rampur had formed a four-member inquiry committee to investigate potential violations of the lease agreement. Following an examination and a report submitted to the government, the decision was made to take back the property. Consequently, the ownership of the land, spanning 41,181 square feet, has been transferred to the State Government’s Secondary Education Department.

In 2007, during the SP regime, the Murtaza Higher Secondary School, Rampur, which housed the offices of the District School Inspector and Basic Education Officer, was leased to the Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar Trust for a period of 30 years.

Source: muslimmirror.com

Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original

https://muslimmirror.com/eng/controversy-surrounds-up-governments-decision-to-reclaim-land-from-mohammad-ali-jauhar-trust/

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UP: Man gives talaq to his wife over phone for shaping eyebrows

1st November 2023

Marziya Sharif 

Kanpur: A Muslim woman in Kanpur has lodged a police complaint against her husband who pronounced triple talaq over the phone from Saudi Arabia when he learnt that she had shaped her eyebrows.

The woman, Gulsaiba, married Salim in January 2022. He is currently employed in Saudi Arabia.

According to Gulsaiba’s statement to the police, after her husband left for Saudi Arabia on August 30, her in-laws began harassing her for dowry.

She further told the police that her husband was “old fashioned” and raised objections over her fashion choices.

Gulsaiba said that on October 4, her husband initiated a video call during which he noticed her newly shaped eyebrows.

He questioned her about it, and despite her explanations that she got her eyebrow shaped because she felt her face did not look good with unruly hair, he became angry.

According to Gulsaiba, Salim threatened her and said: “You went ahead and shaped your eyebrows despite my objections. From today, I free you from this marriage.”

He then pronounced talaq three times and disconnected the call, after which he did not answer further attempts at communication, said Gulsaiba.

Gulsaiba’s complaint has led to the registration of an FIR against her husband, along with five other individuals, including her mother-in-law.

“I had been married for only a year. My husband, who had previously disrespected me, has now given me triple talaq. I want the police to take appropriate action against him,” she added.

Source: siasat.com

Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original

https://www.siasat.com/up-man-gives-talaq-to-his-wife-over-phone-for-shaping-eyebrows-2788480/

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India Says It Is 'Leader' of Global South But UN's Gaza Vote Shows It Has No Followers

Devirupa Mitra

New Delhi: The landslide numbers with which the UN General Assembly (UNGA) passed a resolution to call for a ‘humanitarian pause’ in the violence in West Asia has certainly been an effective demonstration of international public opinion, especially from the Global South.

On October 27, 121 nations voted in favour of the resolution sponsored by Jordan and the Arab Group, while 14 voted against it and 44 abstained from voting. Iraq changed its vote from abstention to ‘Yes’ later, citing technical difficulties. Most of the Global South voted in favour of the resolution, while the West largely voted negatively or abstained.

The vote took place around three weeks after Hamas launched a terror attack inside Israel which killed around 1,400 people. In retaliation, Israel unleashed a massive campaign of airstrikes followed by ground operations in the past few days. Over an estimated 8,000 people have been killed in the Gaza Strip so far.

The UNGA vote marked a notable change in comparison to the situation after February 2022, when the Global South largely aligned with West-backed resolutions criticising Russia for its invasion of  Ukraine.

However, the growing resentment over the rising costs of fuel and fertiliser – as a result of the Ukraine war – did lead to Western countries publicly acknowledging the price being paid by the rest of the world. India, which has abstained from all UN resolutions that criticised Russia for the Ukraine war, had also sought to take the mantle of the Global South’s leadership by highlighting the disproportionate economic hardship being borne by Asia, Africa and Latin America.

The October 27 vote has brought into focus even more forcefully the stark difference between the Global South and the Global North.

Writing in the Indian Express, Pratap Bhanu Mehta observed that despite the heightened concerns about a wider conflict, “there is not one significant world leader who is acting in a way that is not morally myopic or politically ill-judged”.

In his scathing critique of leaders ranging from the US president and European leaders to Arab regimes and China, he also highlighted how India’s self-professed leadership of the Global South has not gathered any support on such a key issue:

“As for India, one anecdote will suffice. I was at an international meeting recently, where someone, not unsympathetic to India, asked this question: ‘India claims to be the leader of the Global South. But let us ask the question, ‘who is following it?’”

To better understand this gulf between India and the rest of the Global South, The Wire spoke to Sarang Shidore, director of the Global South Program at the Washington-based Quincy Institute.

Shidore noted that there was a greater consensus among the developing world about the response to the situation in Gaza, with the notable exceptions of India and Philippines. The other anomaly was the cluster of Pacific Island states, although they tend to vote with the US on many international issues.

While the Philippines, aligned with the West, abstained because it said it recognised Israel’s “right to self-defence”, what raised eyebrows across the Global South was India’s refusal to back the UNGA call for a humanitarian pause.

India claimed that it didn’t vote in favour of the UNGA resolution because the text didn’t explicitly criticise the October 7 terror attack by Hamas. Incidentally, India has not mentioned Hamas in any of its public statements, including its Explanation of Vote. As an aside, the last time that Hamas was mentioned by India was in April 2004, when the Ministry of External Affairs said that the targeted assassination of Hamas leader Abdel Aziz Rantisi was “unjustified and unacceptable and cannot be condoned under any circumstances”. Then, as now, the party in power in India was the Bharatiya Janata Party. Rantisi was killed by the Israeli Air Force.

Last week at the UN, India was the only South Asian country to not vote in favour of the resolution. Similarly, the Philippines was the only Southeast Asian country to not vote positively, with Cambodia not recording its vote.

According to Shidore, the global south strongly wants the war to end and has been critical of Israel’s actions. He estimates that in the Global South, outside West Asia, more than 70% of countries voted in favour of Jordan’s resolution, while around 23% abstained and only around 7% voted against.

Breaking it down geographically, he noted that 30 African countries, 26 Latin American countries, nine Southeast Asian countries and five South Asian countries had voted in favour of the resolution.

The following is an edited version of the interview conducted via e-mail.

Is it correct to say, especially in the aftermath of this UNGA resolution, that there is even greater divergence from the West and a more unified consensus in the Global South in the latest eruption of the Israel-Palestine dispute compared to the Ukraine war?

Yes, especially in the Middle East (West Asia) among its citizenry. Middle Eastern governments however remain more ambivalent, but they are being forced into a more critical stance toward Israel and the US due to public pressure.

What is your analysis of the voting record of the Global South to the October 27 UNGA resolution?

The analysis is in my Twitter thread. The noteworthy additional element is that several Global South states – largely in Latin America, though also key African ones such as Kenya and Nigeria – preferred to add language proposed by the US and Canada condemning Hamas and mentioning Israeli hostages, but this preference was not a barrier in their clear support for the adopted resolution calling for a “humanitarian truce”.

What factors have driven such a robust response from Global South members? Is it rooted in a perception of Western hypocrisy, considerations of domestic public opinion, or national interests and external influences?

Public opinion is a strong factor in the Middle East. The view that the US practices double standards when it comes to conflict and human rights is by now well-known across the non-Western world and understood, but the Gaza crisis will only further entrench this perception.

Is it reasonable to anticipate that the growing prominence of the ‘Global South’ in discussions will bring about a shift in policies?

If this war lasts much longer or escalates, the Middle Eastern governments may take further steps and there could be a major realignment away from the US – but we are not there yet. In the rest of the Global South, this is one of many factors that is increasing alienation from the West, though it is still incremental. The other important point here is that not all Global South states are following this trend. India and the Philippines are two major exceptions – both have been relatively sympathetic to Israeli and US positions on the matter.

Sarang Shidore Photo: X/@globalsarang

Has the current world order evolved enough to empower the Global South to play a more substantive role compared to the Non-Aligned Movement during the Cold War?

Middle Eastern states, if they took a much tougher stance toward the US and Israel, could have some impact on the war. The rest of the Global South will have less impact. However, these developments will not heal but only deepen the divergence between the West and most of the rest of the Global South. It is one factor of several.

Is a unified stance from the Global South a prerequisite for Western nations to take heed? Alternatively, is it more plausible that the rapid rise of specific nations within the Global South, bolstered by their economic clout, will prompt them to adapt their policies?

In my Foreign Affairs article, I noted that the biggest way that the Global South is asserting itself is through the actions of individual states. As I wrote, “These diverse and mostly uncoordinated actions, grounded strongly in the national interest of each country, are likely to have an impact greater than the sum of their parts.”

Many Global South states are wealthier and savvier than they were in the 20th century and have learned how to play off both sides to gain benefits for themselves. Compared to the Cold War period, their guiding principle is not “idealism, but realism, with an unhesitating embrace of national interests and increased recourse to power politics”.

Source: thewire.in

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North America

 

White House Will Develop Anti-Islamophobia Strategy But Faces Scepticism From Muslim Americans

 01 NOV 2023

President Joe Biden's administration is preparing to announce that it will develop a national strategy to combat Islamophobia, according to people briefed on the matter, as it faces scepticism from many in the Muslim American community for its staunch support of Israel's military assault on Hamas in Gaza.

The White House announcement had originally been expected to come week when Biden held a meeting with Muslim leaders, but was delayed, three people said. Two of them said the delay was due in part to concerns from the Muslim American community that the administration lacked credibility on the issue given its robust support for Israel's military, whose strikes against Hamas militants have also killed thousands of civilians in Gaza.

The people spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to publicly discuss the White House plans.

The launch of the anti-Islamophobia strategy has been anticipated for months, after the administration in May released a national strategy to combat antisemitism that also made passing reference to countering hatred against Muslims.

The formal strategy is expected to take many months to formalise, following a similar process as the plan to counter antisemitism involving various government agencies.

Incidences of anti-Jewish and anti-Muslim hate have skyrocketed in the US and abroad since the surprise October 7 attack by Hamas militants on Israel that killed over 1,400 and saw hundreds taken hostage, and Israel's response in Gaza, where it has pledged to use force to “destroy” Hamas.

One of the most prominent attacks was the killing of 6-year-old Wadea Al-Fayoume and the wounding of his mother in an attack prosecutors allege was driven by Islamophobia.

“This horrific act of hate has no place in America and stands against our fundamental values: freedom from fear for how we pray, what we believe, and who we are," Biden said in the aftermath of the attack.

There had been widespread agreement among the Muslim American community on the need for a national strategy to counter Islamophobia, according to a fourth person familiar with the matter, who added that the Israel-Hamas war has made the timing of the White House announcement more complicated.

The person, who was also not authorised to speak publicly, said the Biden administration wants to keep the two issues separate, while some prominent Muslim American groups see them as interrelated.

Biden administration officials, during a meeting with a small group of faith leaders last week, indicated that things were "in the works” for an anti-Islamophobia strategy, said Rami Nashashibi, the founder of the Inner City Muslim Action Network in Chicago and a participant in the meeting.

The officials indicated that they would be meeting with additional stakeholders from the community in coming days and weeks.

Nashashibi said he believed such an effort would be “dead on arrival” with the Muslim community until the president and administration officials forcefully condemn members of the far-right government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who have openly called for the eradication of Palestinians from Gaza and until the administration more aggressively calls out hate crimes targeting Muslims and Arab Americans.

He and other leaders also want the president to apologize, or at least publicly clarify, his recent comments in which he said he had “no confidence” in the Palestinian death count from Israel's retaliatory strikes, because the data comes from the Hamas-run Health Ministry.

The United Nations and other international institutions and experts, as well as Palestinian authorities in the West Bank — rivals of Hamas — say the Gaza ministry has long made a good-faith effort to account for the dead under the most difficult conditions. In previous wars, the ministry's counts have held up to UN scrutiny, independent investigations and even Israel's tallies.

White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said on Tuesday the Biden administration is “not taking the Ministry of Health at face value” but acknowledged that have been “many thousands of civilian deaths in Gaza” in the conflict.

Nashashibi also said that the White House strategy could land flat at a moment when many in the community feel that advocacy for Palestinian self-determination is being unfairly lumped in with those espousing antisemitism and backing of extremists.

“That conflating is in great part contributing to an atmosphere where we could see even more deadly results and more targeting,” he said. Nashashibi added, “The White House does not have the credibility to roll out an Islamophobia strategy at this moment without publicly addressing the points we explicitly raised with the president during our meeting.”

Source: outlookindia.com

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Blinken says US, others exploring options for future of Gaza after Hamas

01.11.23

The United States and other countries are looking at "a variety of possible permutations" for the future of the Gaza Strip if Hamas militants are removed from control, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Tuesday.

Blinken told a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing the status quo of Palestinian Islamist group Hamas being in charge of the densely populated enclave could not continue, but Israel did not want to run Gaza either.

Between those two positions were "a variety of possible permutations that we're looking at very closely now, as are other countries," Blinken said.

What would make most sense at some point, Blinken said, was an "effective and revitalized Palestinian Authority" to have governance over Gaza, but it was a question whether that can be achieved.

"And if you can't, then there are other temporary arrangements that may involve a number of other countries in the region. It may involve international agencies that would help provide for both security and governance," Blinken said.

In retaliation to the Oct. 7 Hamas attack that killed more than 1,400 people in Israel, the worst assault on Jews since the Holocaust, Israel has vowed to wipe out Hamas in a relentless onslaught in the Gaza Strip, however it does not appear to have an obvious endgame in sight.

On Tuesday, Palestinian health officials said at least 50 Palestinians were killed when Israeli air strikes hit a densely populated refugee camp in north Gaza.

U.N. and other aid officials said civilians in the besieged Palestinian enclave were engulfed by a public health catastrophe, with hospitals struggling to treat casualties as electricity supplies petered out.

Washington has been speaking with Israel, as well as other countries in the region on how to govern the Palestinian enclave if Israel triumphed on the battlefield, but a clear plan was yet to emerge.

Among the options that are being explored by the United States and Israel was the possibility of a multinational force that may involve U.S. troops, or Gaza be placed under United Nations oversight temporarily, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday.

Some of U.S. President Joe Biden's aides are concerned that while Israel may craft an effective plan to inflict lasting damage to Hamas, it has yet to formulate an exit strategy.

"We have had very preliminary talks about what the future of Gaza might look like," State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a briefing. "I expect that it will be the subject of a good bit of diplomatic engagement moving forward," he added.

Source: telegraphindia.com

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Saudi Arabia still open to Israeli normalization deal, White House says

NOVEMBER 1, 2023

 TOVAH LAZAROFF

Saudi Arabia is still open to a normalization deal with Israel despite the Gaza War, US National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told reporters in Washington on Tuesday.

“We are still committed to it. It’s clear to us that the Saudis are still committed to it, but obviously we are all focused on what is going on there in Gaza,” Kirby said.

Saudi defense minister, US national security advisor discuss Israeli-Palestinian peace

He spoke after US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on Monday met with Saudi Arabian Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman Al Saud.

“We came away from those discussions confident that there will be a path to get back towards to normalization,” Kirby said.

“There is still interest in the Saudi side in pursuing that,” he added.

“What is going on between Israel and Hamas makes it harder to make practice progress on it right now,” Kirby said.

Before the Gaza War, which began on October 7, the Biden administration had pursued a complex regional deal that involved a security pact between Washington and Riyad, which would also include a normalization deal with Israel and a possible interim agreement with the Palestinians.

A key component of that deal for Riyadh was the protection the US would provide to Saudi Arabia against any attack by Iran.

During Sullivan’s meeting with the Saudi Defense Minister on Monday, the two men affirmed the importance of deterring any state or non-state actor from seeking to expand the conflict, according to the White House.

The two men also “emphasized the importance of working towards a sustainable peace between Israelis and Palestinians, building on the work that was already underway between Saudi Arabia and the United States over recent months,” the White House stated.

Source: jpost.com

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US and Israel mull peacekeepers for the Gaza Strip after Hamas

Nov 1, 2023

The US and Israel are exploring options for the future of the Gaza Strip, including the possibility of a multinational force that may involve American troops if Israeli forces succeed in ousting Hamas, people familiar with the matter said.

The people said the conversations have been impelled by a sense of urgency to come up with a plan for the future of Gaza now that a ground invasion has begun. A second option would establish a peacekeeping force modeled on one that oversees a 1979 Egypt-Israel peace treaty, while a third would see Gaza put under temporary United Nations oversight.

The people, who asked not to be identified discussing the sensitive matter, underscored that the conversations are still at an early stage and much could change. Some US officials consider the options premature or unlikely. But Secretary of State Antony Blinken alluded to the challenge on Tuesday when he told a Senate panel that the US was examining a range options for the future of Gaza.

“We can’t have a reversion to the status quo with Hamas running Gaza,” Blinken, who will travel to Israel on Friday, told the Senate Appropriations Committee. “We also can’t have — and the Israelis start with this proposition themselves — Israel running or controlling Gaza.”

“Between those shoals are a variety of possible permutations that we’re looking at very closely now, as are other countries,” he said.

National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson told Bloomberg on Tuesday night that “sending US troops to Gaza as part of a peacekeeping force is not something that’s being considered or is under discussion,”

The State Department declined to comment on the plans.

Israeli officials have said repeatedly that they don’t intend to occupy Gaza, but they’ve also said that continued rule by Hamas is unacceptable after the October 7 attack in which the group killed 1,400 Israelis and took more than 200 people hostage. There’s also little evidence that the Palestinian Authority, which governs the West Bank, would be willing or able to take over Gaza. Hamas has been designated a terrorist group by the US and the European Union.

All three options hold political peril for President Joe Biden and for other nations, including Gulf States, not to mention Israel. Biden believes that putting even a small contingent of American troops in harm’s way could prove politically risky, according to a person familiar with his thinking, who added that the US isn’t close to making such a decision. It’s also not yet clear whether Arab states might be interested in participating, another person said.

Ultimately, Biden and other US officials say that an endpoint that involves a sovereign Palestinian state is necessary, but exactly how to reach that outcome has barely featured in discussions, either public or private. And Israel says its military operation could last months, and will result in a buffer zone around Gaza.

According to the people familiar with the matter, one option would grant temporary oversight to Gaza to countries from the region, backed by troops from the US, UK, Germany and France. Ideally, it would also include representation from Arab nations such as Saudi Arabia or the United Arab Emirates, the people said.

A second option is a peacekeeping force modeled on the Multinational Force and Observers group that operates on and around the Sinai peninsula, enforcing the terms of the peace treaty between Egypt and Israel. Israel believes that this idea is worthy of consideration, according to a person familiar with the matter.

A third option would be temporary governance of the strip under a United Nations umbrella. This would have the advantage of the legitimacy bestowed by the UN, but Israel views it as impractical, according to a person familiar with Israel’s thinking, who added that Israel believes that little good has come from the world body.

Earlier this month, Israeli Minister Benny Gantz labeled UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres a “terror apologist” after Guterres argued that the October 7 attacks “did not happen in a vacuum.”

Several former officials and outside groups have already begun discussions with the US and Israel, and floated possible plans. One came from the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, which called for a Palestinian-run interim administration, with the UN Relief and Works Agency continuing to provide food, heath and education.

“Public safety and law enforcement could be directed by a consortium of the five Arab states who have reached peace agreements with Israel—Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco,” Washington Institute scholars wrote in an Oct. 17 note. “Only those Arab states would have Israel’s confidence, which is essential for this effort to succeed.”

US officials have suggested that the Palestinian Authority should be one part of a longer-term solution. “At some point, what would make the most sense would be for an effective and revitalized Palestinian Authority to have governance and ultimately security responsibility for Gaza,” Blinken said, adding that “whether you can get there in one step is a big question.”

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

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Former Obama Official Confirmed as US Ambassador to Israel

October 31, 2023

WASHINGTON —

The Senate has confirmed Jacob Lew as ambassador to Israel, filling the key diplomatic post as the country fights a war with Hamas.

Lew, a Treasury secretary under President Barack Obama, was confirmed 53-43.

Lew has promised to stand side by side with Israel's leaders as they respond to the militant group's October 7 attack, telling senators in his confirmation hearing in mid-October that "at this moment, there is no greater mission than to be asked to strengthen the ties between the United States and the state of Israel."

President Joe Biden nominated Lew, who goes by Jack, last month to fill the post left vacant when Tom Nides left as ambassador in July. Democrats say Lew's wealth of government experience — he also was chief of staff to Obama and White House budget director under Obama and President Bill Clinton — makes him the right person to fill the post at a a critical moment in the two countries' relationship.

U.S. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said after Lew's confirmation that the administration is eager for him "to get on the ground and start leading our efforts to support Israel and their fight against Hamas, but also to help us integrate and continue to lead the effort to get humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza."

Republicans criticized Lew for his role in the Obama White House when it negotiated the Iran nuclear agreement in 2015, among other foreign policy moves. The deal with Iran — the chief sponsor of Hamas — was later scuttled by former President Donald Trump.

"This is the wrong person at the wrong time in the wrong place," Senator Jim Risch, the top Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said just before the vote. "The last thing we need is somebody who is very contrary to our view about how Iran should be handled."

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Ben Cardin said Lew has won praise from Israeli leaders and has the gravitas to "stand shoulder to shoulder with Israel" as the United States partners with the country.

"There's to me no question about his qualifications, no question about his presence being welcomed by our Israeli friends, no question about his knowledge and commitment to these issues," Cardin said. "We could not have a more qualified individual to represent America as our ambassador to Israel."

At the hearing, Lew defended his work in the Obama White House and called Iran an "evil, malign government."

"I want to be clear — Iran is a threat to regional stability and to Israel's existence," Lew said.

He also expressed sympathy for the civilians on both sides who have been injured or killed in the fighting. It must end, Lew said, "but it has to end with Israel's security being guaranteed."

Lew, who is Jewish, said at the hearing that he cannot remember a time in his life "when Israel's struggle for security was not at the forefront of my mind."

Source: voanews.com

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For Muslim Americans, a spike in hate incidents feels reminiscent of post 9/11 Islamophobia

Nov. 1, 2023

Sakshi Venkatraman and Mirna Alsharif

As a Palestinian American, Laila El-Haddad, 45, feels like she’s fighting a battle on two fronts. She’s filled with fear for her family in Gaza, now facing an uncertain future without a way to contact her. But as a Muslim living in the U.S., she’s also dealing with some of the most rampant Islamophobia of her lifetime, she said.

“I personally have been through this — I was 21 or 22 in Boston when 9/11 happened,” she said. “This feels like that, but almost a more dystopian version of that.”

El-Haddad, a vocal advocate for Palestinian rights, said she has faced harassment, online threats and even a letter sent to her home address calling for all Gazans to be killed.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations said that it received 774 requests for help and reports of bias incidents from Muslims across the U.S. from Oct. 7 to Oct. 24, a 182% jump from any given 16-day stretch last year. For comparison, during a 16-day period in 2022, it received an average of 274 complaints.

“We’re working seven days a week, around the clock, fielding incoming complaints,” said Corey Saylor, CAIR’s research and advocacy director. “I’ve only ever seen that twice in my career: right after 9/11 and in December 2015 after that announcement by Trump of his plan to ban Muslims from the country.”

Palestinian officials have said that more than 8,500 people have been killed in Gaza and that over 21,000 have been injured in the violence following the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attack on Israel, which killed civilians in kibbutzim and at a music festival. In Israel, officials there say, 1,400 people have been killed, over 5,400 have been wounded and an estimated 240 have been taken hostage.

Bias incidents range from verbal harassment to physical violence, the CAIR report said. Saylor said that the incidents are sometimes to law enforcement but that in many cases complainants don’t trust the police enough to move forward.

The spike in reports of Islamophobic incidents, in addition to violence against Muslim Americans, has put the community on edge.

On Oct. 15, Wadea Al-Fayoume, 6, was fatally stabbed at his Illinois home in what police said was an anti-Muslim hate crime.

The boy’s landlord, Joseph Czuba, has been charged in the murder and with critically wounding Wadea’s mother in the attack. Police say Czuba screamed “you Muslims have to die” when he barged into their ground-floor apartment, family friend Yousef Hannon said.

Also in Illinois, a man was charged with a hate crime after he demanded that two Muslim men get out of the country and threatened to shoot them on Oct. 17, NBC Chicago reported.

Ali Awad, an Atlanta-based attorney, is no stranger to Islamophobia. He was in the fifth grade during the 9/11 attacks in 2001.

“All the teachers in the school, everyone, turned the TVs on, and all the kids were watching,” said Awad, 32. “And this one kid named Josh just yelled at me, ‘Hey, why is your family killing us?’ in front of the whole class.”

Awad, who is Palestinian American and grew up in a conservative Christian community in Georgia, said that was one of many instances that left him feeling isolated because of his faith. These past few weeks, he has been called a terrorist online for speaking in solidarity with his Palestinian heritage and physically threatened by a fellow attorney who said, “I’m going to hunt you down.” Awad reported him to the State Bar of Georgia.

But actual Muslims aren’t the only ones at risk from Islamophobia, Awad said. Anyone perceived to be Muslim, including Arabs who belong to other faith groups, and Sikhs, may also be targeted by Islamophobes.

On Oct. 15, a 19-year-old Sikh teen was attacked on a New York City bus by an assailant who tried to remove his turban in a suspected hate crime.

In a statement, the Sikh Coalition, a national organization based in New York, urged “vigilance for all given the current climate,” citing the fatal stabbing of Wadea Al-Fayoume in Illinois.

“For Palestinians and, more generally, Arabs and anyone who looks to be from that part of the world, this isn’t a new thing,” El-Haddad said. “We’ve always been demonized.”

Now, as a U.S. citizen of six years and a mom, she’s having to teach her children how to keep themselves safe in the face of a new wave of Islamophobia, too, she said.

“I just tell my daughter not to engage or respond,” she said, noting that her 15-year-old also wears a hijab. “There’s this heightened fear, obviously.”

Hijabi women and girls are easily identifiable as Muslim, making them particularly vulnerable to Islamophobia.

On Thursday afternoon, a Maryland woman who wears the hijab was in her car with her child at a stop light when a woman called her a Muslim slur and flashed the middle finger, NBC Washington reported. The situation escalated when the victim began recording the incident and the woman began banging on the hood of the car and the passenger-side window.

In New York, a man called a teenage girl a terrorist and pulled on her hijab while she was on the subway to school, NBC New York reported.

The Muslim Student Association of New York University hosted a self-defense class for women and girls Monday. While it was scheduled months ago, the class was timely in light of the recent increase in Islamophobic incidents, said Sheikh Faiyaz Jaffer of the Islamic Center at NYU. 

Other moms in El-Haddad’s circle are keeping pepper spray on them and taking more precautions moving through the world, she said. She worries that misinformation and language that conflates Muslims with terrorists will have dire impacts on brown people in the U.S. and beyond.

“Using dehumanizing language has deadly consequences, often not only for Palestinians there in Gaza, but for any person of color here, a Muslim or not,” she said.

Harassment on college campuses

For Dua, 19, a Pakistani American sophomore at Johns Hopkins University, the period after Oct. 7 has been filled with the most Islamophobia she has experienced in her life, she said.

She said her and her friend, who both wear hijabs, have been photographed without their consent, surrounded and accosted by other students and targeted for being perceived as pro-Palestinian, even during daily activities. Dua asked to use only her first name for fear of further targeting.

Dua recalls a male student taking a photo of her and her friend, then cornering them and aggressively accusing them of having painted a Palestinian flag on a school statue when they hadn’t.

“We’re just trying to get him to stop, and then a few other people show up,” she said. “Me and my friend, we’re up against a chain, and these people are around us, so we can’t leave.”

Eventually, a girl in the group that surrounded them de-escalated the situation, but “all of them profiled us,” Dua said.

When she reported it to the university, she said, it didn’t do much, simply directing her to campus safety and school mental health resources.

“They were basically like, ‘Well, since you don’t know who it was, we can’t do anything about it,’” she said.

A Johns Hopkins representative said that all concerns are taken seriously and that university leaders have been working to ensure safety and inclusion but that officials can’t comment on ongoing investigations.

“Harassment is not only a violation of policy at Hopkins, but also antithetical to the values of our university,” the representative told NBC News. “Student safety is a top priority for our campus. We have 24-hour security at multiple locations at the request of organizations, and we have been very careful to make the same offers of security across the board to all organizations.”

Cornell University saw high-profile threats against Jewish students this week, as well. After threats of violence circulated online, a threat alert was issued to students, and police referred the case to the FBI. The Anti-Defamation League, a Jewish advocacy organization, said it received reports of 312 antisemitic incidents from Oct. 7 to 23, a 388% rise from the same period last year.

In another incident, this one off-campus, Dua and the same friend were walking back from seeing a movie when a car stopped directly in front of them and the occupants pointed at them and flipped them off.

“We were just wearing our hijabs,” she said. “We weren’t even wearing anything that was specifically pro-Palestine. Stuff like that has been happening a lot more.”

Ultimately, she said, Muslim students feel a lack of safety even leaving their dorms, and they feel their concerns aren’t being met with appropriate measures.

A targeted period of backlash for Muslim Americans

Saylor said this period of backlash for the Muslim American community is concerning because, he feels, it’s more targeted than in the past.

“What’s unique about this one is it’s very personal,” he said. “Meaning usually we see activists get targeted, but this time, we’re seeing students getting doxxed because they spoke in support of Palestinians. We’re seeing the same thing in corporations, waves of people calling saying they’re being called into HR, some actually being terminated or having job offers rescinded because they decided to speak up for Palestinian humanity.”

“I’ve never seen anything like this, and I’ve been doing this for 30 years,” Saylor said.

Zainab Chaudry, the director of CAIR’s office in Maryland, said she believes the reports the organization has received are an undercount.

“There’s a very real sense of fear within our communities about the implications of these kinds of incidents and the consequences of reporting and coming forward to demand justice,” she said. “There’s a fear of consequences, of backlash, of intimidation, harassment, further perpetuation of the aggressions against the victim.”

Chaudry emphasized the importance of law enforcement agencies’ investigating such incidents thoroughly and elected officials’ calling out Islamophobia in their communities the same way they would call out other forms of hate.

CAIR itself, which has expressed support for a cease-fire in Gaza, was forced to cancel its annual banquet, scheduled for Oct. 21, because staffers and the hotel venue received violent threats, including one to plant a bomb in the hotel’s parking lot, the organization said. CAIR later secured another venue for its annual banquet for the same day.

“We take these threats very seriously, and we condemn them and the broader surge in Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian sentiment and racism,” Executive Director Nihad Awad said in a video statement.

The Arlington County, Virginia, Police Department documented the banquet incident, which it said included the hotel’s “receiving anonymous phone calls, some referencing threats to bomb.” The investigation continues, police said in a statement.

Awad said the recent wave of Islamophobia has left him feeling dehumanized as a Muslim and a Palestinian.

“I feel backstabbed and betrayed,” he said. “But the racism? I grew up with that. I’m used to it.”

One positive in the current climate compared to the past, Awad said, is social media.

“What we have now is our social media and our voice, which we didn’t have in 2001,” he said. “So now we can actually broadcast what’s happening.”

Source: nbcnews.com

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CAIR-NJ Calls for Firing of Princeton University Staff Member Who Allegedly Assaulted Pro-Palestine Protesters

Ismail Allison

October 31, 2023

(NEWARK, NJ, 10/31/2023) – The New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called on Princeton University to terminate the employment of a staffer who allegedly for assaulted pro-Palestine protesters on Saturday, October 28.  

In a video, the staffer is reportedly seen shouting at protesters, making obscene gestures, and filming them.  

SEE: Princeton University staff member runs off with Jewish student’s phone at pro-Palestine protest  

In another video, the employee is shown speaking with a protester at first. She is then shown grabbing another protester’s phone and running off with it. In the process of grabbing the protester’s phone, she also apparently pulls the protester’s hair.  

SEE: Princeton Protest  

SEE: Princeton staff member assaults student at pro-Palestine protest in town

In a statement, CAIR-NJ Executive Director SelaedinMaksut said:  

“We’ve seen a sharp uptick in anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian bigotry over the past month, but this case is especially alarming. Had the protesters not controlled the environment, there is no saying what could have happened and who could have been harmed by this violence and aggression.   

“According to those at the scene, the assailant allegedly both heckled protesters and violated an individual’s personal space and attempted theft when she grabbed a protester’s phone and ran off with it. The facts of this incident are so outrageous that, had there not been video evidence of the incident, it would’ve been entirely unfathomable.   

CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.

Source: cair.com

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Europe

 

Scottish leader apologizes for world’s inaction over Jabalia massacre

Aysu Bicer

01.11.2023

Scottish leader Humza Yousaf called for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza on Tuesday, expressing deep regret for the innocent lives lost due to the ongoing conflict in the region.

“I am sorry to those innocent men, women and children in Jabalia Refugee Camp that the world could not protect you. This blatant disregard for human life must be condemned unequivocally. Do not let any more children die. We need an immediate cease-fire, nothing less," he said on X.

A series of Israeli airstrikes on the refugee camp killed hundreds of residents, according to the Interior Ministry in the besieged enclave.

Most of the victims were women and children, it said, adding Israeli warplanes destroyed the entire residential square known as Block 6.

The Israeli army has expanded its air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip, which has been under relentless airstrikes since the Palestinian group Hamas launched a surprise cross-border offensive against Israel on Oct. 7.

The death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip has climbed to 8,525, the Health Ministry in the blockaded enclave said Tuesday.

“The victims include 3,542 children and 2,187 women, while 21,543 other people were injured,” ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra told a press conference in Gaza City.

More than 1,538 Israelis have been killed in the conflict.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected growing calls for a cease-fire, saying it would be a "surrender" to Hamas.

Source: aa.com.tr

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Palestine supporters stage London protest, call for Gaza truce as Israeli war rages

01 November 2023

Pro-Palestine activists have gathered at a railway station in the British capital London, calling for an immediate end to Israel’s ongoing atrocities in the besieged Gaza Strip.

More than 500 demonstrators staged a sit-in protest at London Liverpool Street station during rush hour on Tuesday, waving Palestinian flags and chanting slogans such as "Palestine will be free" and "cease-fire now" as commuters tried to make their way through the crowds.

Videos posted online by the feminist group Sisters Uncut, which organized the sit-in, according to their social media posts on X, formally known as Twitter, showed a large group of demonstrators filled the station.

Sisters Uncut said "hundreds of commuters joined" the mass action, saying they have “shut down” the station.

Thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters in London urge an end to Israel

Members of other activist groups such as the Palestinian Youth Movement and the International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network also joined the pro-Palestine protest, calling for an end to international support for Israel's actions in Palestine and an immediate ceasefire in Gaza as the Israeli genocidal war rages on.

British Transport Police (BTP) said in a statement that they attended Liverpool Street station following reports of a protest on the station concourse.

"Officers worked to safely disperse the crowd and ensure passengers could access the station," the statement said.

Sisters Uncut held a similar pro-Palestinian demonstration at Waterloo station on Saturday.

Over the past three weeks, pro-Palestine demonstrators have packed the streets of central London several times to condemn the UK government's unequivocal support for Israel, demanding the end of Western funding of Israel and cessation of Israeli aggression in Gaza.

Despite government attempts to delegitimize it, support for Palestinians is on the rise, with hundreds of thousands of people taking to the streets of central London to raise awareness of what's happening in Gaza and to express solidarity with the Palestinians.

The latest development comes as people in Western countries, including those whose governments have expressed staunch support for the Israeli regime, are holding similar solidarity rallies against Israel’s brutal war on Gaza, denouncing the Western support for Tel Aviv.

Canadians stage a protest in Toronto to demand an end to the Israeli genocide of Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip, denouncing the Western support for Tel Aviv.

Israel launched the war on Gaza on October 7 after the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas waged the surprise Operation Al-Aqsa Storm against the occupying entity in response to the Israeli regime’s decades-long campaign of bloodletting and devastation against Palestinians.

Tel Aviv has also blocked water, food, and electricity to Gaza, plunging the coastal strip into a humanitarian crisis.

The aggression has so far killed 8,610 Palestinians and left more than 23,000 wounded.

Source: presstv.ir

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UK’s Sunak in call to Netanyahu stresses need to minimize Gaza civilan casualties

October 31, 2023

LONDON: Prime Minister Rishi Sunak stressed the importance of taking all possible measures to minimize casualties and protect civilians in a call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday.

“The Prime Minister reiterated the UK’s resolute backing for Israel’s right to defend itself against terrorism, while emphasizing the importance of taking all possible measures to minimize civilian casualties,” the Downing Street statement said.

The readout from Sunak’s office said he also discussed the situation in the West Bank and “the long-term goal of a two-state solution” with Netanyahu.

“The Prime Minister noted the importance of all sides avoiding actions that would inflame tensions and keeping hope alive for a more secure and prosperous future for both Israelis and Palestinians,” the statement said.

The British prime minister’s office said Sunak has also spoken with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and discussed the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza.

“He said the UK would continue to support diplomatic action to protect Palestinian civilians, prevent wider escalation and secure a peaceful and lasting resolution to the crisis,” a separate Downing Street statement said.

Source: arabnews.com

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Russia tightens security in Muslim-majority south after weekend airport riot

October 31, 2023

MOSCOW: Russia tightened security in its Muslim-majority North Caucasus region on Tuesday after a weekend anti-Semitic riot there, and the Kremlin-backed leader of Chechnya ordered that rioters be shot dead if they fail to heed warnings.

President Vladimir Putin held an emergency meeting with top security officials on Monday evening after rioters in the southern region of Dagestan stormed an airport on Sunday to “catch” Jewish passengers arriving on a flight from Tel Aviv.

The unrest followed several other anti-Semitic incidents in recent days in North Caucasus in response to Israel’s war against Palestinian Hamas militants in Gaza. Israel has urged Moscow to protect Israelis and Jews in Russian jurisdictions.

The airport riot, which some Jewish leaders likened to Tsarist-era pogroms, left at least 20 people injured and resulted in over 80 detentions. It also seemed to catch authorities off-guard — it was hours before security forces regained control of the airport in Makachkala.

The Kremlin said Putin, who has accused the West and Ukraine of stirring up the trouble via social media — an allegation the US and Kyiv have rejected — used Monday’s meeting to discuss strengthening measures to counter external interference.

It did not disclose what those measures were, but Ramzan Kadyrov, the Kremlin-backed head of Chechnya, was reported to have issued an order to shoot and kill anyone trying to riot in his Muslim-majority republic, which borders Dagestan.

“If we have even one person who goes out for unauthorized riots, detain and imprison him. Or fire three warning shots in the air and after that if the person does not obey the law make the fourth shot in the forehead. No more will come out (after that). This is my order,” Russia’s state RIA news agency cited Kadyrov as telling security officials.

Rabbi Alexander Boroda, the president of Russia’s Federation of Jewish Communities, called on the Kremlin on Monday to ensure that police found and punished all those who took part in the Dagestan riot “in the strictest possible manner.”

Putin did not condemn the rioters or their actions in his public statement on Monday evening, dedicating much of it to criticizing the West instead.

’INVESTIGATIVE ACTION’

But Dmitry Peskov, his spokesman, said on Tuesday that it was obvious that the authorities were responding appropriately and investigating what had happened.

“Of course, the relevant authorities will, firstly, take investigative action. This has already been announced,” Peskov told reporters.

“And after that, of course, the situation will be analyzed to see what is necessary in order to minimize the risk or completely rule out such illegal incidents in future.”

Sergei Melikov, the governor of Dagestan, has vowed no leniency for the rioters. Dagestan is one of Russia’s poorest regions and has long suffered from high unemployment levels with a large number of young men out of work.

Like some other majority-Muslim regions, Moscow has long given it more autonomy than other Russian regions. In September 2022 when Moscow sought to mobilize men to fight in Ukraine, clashes between protesters and police broke out.

On Monday, the Telegram messaging app banned a local channel which had on Sunday urged people to go to the airport in Makachkala, Dagestan’s capital, to catch Jews. Peskov said Putin and top security officials had discussed how malicious information designed to stir up trouble could be countered.

“The focus will be on strengthening measures to counter external interference, including external information manipulation capable of inflaming the situation in our country by exploiting the theme of the same events in the Middle East,” he said.

In another anti-Semitic incident in the past few days, a Jewish center under construction in Nalchik, capital of the nearby Russian republic of Kabardino-Balkaria, was set on fire, emergency officials said.

The unrest in Dagestan, where Russian security forces once fought and defeated an Islamist insurgency, is a headache for Putin, who is waging a war in Ukraine and is keen to maintain stability at home ahead of an expected presidential election next year.

Russia, which wants an immediate cease-fire in Gaza and backs a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, has tried to maintain contact with all sides but has angered Israeli authorities by inviting a Hamas delegation to Moscow. Israel’s foreign ministry summoned the Russian ambassador on Sunday.

Source: arabnews.com

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Turkish mosques in northwest Germany receive hate letters

October 31, 2023

Three Turkish-operated mosques in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia have received letters with Islamophobic messages from unknown sources, the GazeteDuvar news website reported on Tuesday.

According to a statement released by the Turkish-Islamic Union for Religious Affairs (DİTİB), mosques in Bochum, Castrop-Rauxel and Recklinghausen received packages containing burned Koran pages, pork and pig excrement along with pieces of paper with hateful messages written on them.

The Gelsenkirchen police released a statement announcing an investigation into the incident for incitement to hatred, calling for witnesses.

A sizeable Islamic organization with ties to Turkey’s government, DİTİB has in the last decade become a source of controversy in Germany over allegations of espionage on behalf of the Turkish government.

The organization has been accused of spying on German citizens as well as Turkish dissidents living in the country.

Source: stockholmcf.org

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Is Russia recruiting Muslim migrants to fight its war in Ukraine?

1 Nov 2023

 Mansur Mirovalev

Kyiv, Ukraine – In mid-October, Mamut Useinov performed on Sing Better Than a Star, a popular Russian television show for aspiring singers on the state-controlled Channel One network.

“I’ve been anticipating this and can’t hide my excitement,” the 25-year-old from annexed Crimea wrote on Telegram on October 15, as he thanked “the Almighty” for the chance.

But Useinov’s way to stardom was cut short.

Five days after the broadcast, Useinov went to a “prayer house”, a type of informal mosque that offers a place to worship in the absence of officially sanctioned places for prayer.

Heavily armed riot police officers detained him along with several dozen men who gathered for the Muslim Friday prayer in Kotelniki, an overpopulated southeastern suburb of Moscow where labour migrants settle because rent is cheap.

All the men were forced into a police bus for an ID check and taken to a military conscription office in the nearby town of Lybertsy, according to Useinov and media reports.

There, they underwent a medical evaluation that deemed Useinov “fit for military service”, despite flat feet and a recent surgery, he said.

They were reportedly shipped to a military base east of Moscow and given a choice – go to jail or enlist.

“We were all told that we have to sign one-year contracts, otherwise – jail,” he said in a Telegram-posted video on October 21, without specifying the charges they may face.

He fears that once they sign the contract, the men will be sent to the front lines in Ukraine, the nation where Useinov was born and whose national he was, before accepting Russian citizenship in 2014, he wrote.

“During a morning lineup, I heard we would all be send to the special military operation,” he wrote using the Kremlin’s preferred euphemism for the war in Ukraine.

In a video he posted, he is seen in a small room filled with men next to bunkbeds listening to an elderly ethnic Russian man in camouflage.

One more video shows the courtyard of a large building whose sand-coloured brick walls are adorned with a Russian flag and a banner reading, “Devotion to the motherland.”

He went incommunicado on October 22.

At the time of publishing, Useinov had not responded to Al Jazeera’s requests for comment.

He has been taken to yet another military base for basic training, his representative told the Astra telegram channel on October 23.

Laws ignored

What Useinov described blatantly violated Russian rights legislation.

The men were detained and denied access to lawyers. They were told about being conscripted without receiving a written notification issued by the conscription office where each man is registered – and then signed by the recipient.

The men had no chance to overrule the forced conscription in court – or voice their objection to military service. Conscientious objectors have a right to an alternative service in Russia.

“This procedure violated all of my rights,” Useinov wrote.

Dire demographic problems and oil wealth turned Russia into a magnet for millions of labour migrants from ex-Soviet Central Asia.

Some Crimean Tatars, a Muslim community of about 200,000 in the annexed peninsula, became part of this influx as they share ties with Turkic-speaking nations of Central Asia, a region their forefathers had been deported to en masse in 1944.

Meanwhile, Russia’s mostly Muslim, impoverished and corruption-choked North Caucasus is one of the few regions with high birth rates, and hundreds of thousands also move to Moscow and other big cities.

But attending a mosque almost anywhere in Russia can be complicated and sometimes dangerous.

Moscow only has five official mosques, and tens of thousands of believers throng areas around them during Muslim holidays, putting their prayer mats on the asphalt or even tram tracks.

Most labour migrants choose to attend informal “prayer houses”, which some locals and police see as hotbeds of “extremism”.

These houses have mushroomed because authorities routinely do not sanction new mosques, even though Muslims are Russia’s fastest-growing population stratum.

While the Kremlin tries to revive its Soviet-era clout in the Middle East, courting Muslim leaders and calling Islam one of Russia’s “traditional religions”, Russian police snub religious rules and rights during their raids on prayer houses.

They do not take their boots off, interrupt prayers, shower believers with slurs, and spray them with tear gas, according to dozens of reports, photos and videos.

Far-right role

Russian far-right nationalists help organise raids on “prayer houses”, in an apparent effort to kill two birds with one stone.

They see the forcible conscription of Muslims as a way to rid Russia of unwanted “aliens” and help the faltering war effort, according to analysts.

Zov (Call), a group whose closed Telegram channel has 141,000 subscribers, routinely informs police about Muslim gatherings – and proudly announces raids, detentions and deportations.

“Just now, police visited two illegal mosques organised in apartment buildings. More than 70 people were rounded up. Awaiting deportation,” one of Zov’s posts said.

The group is led by Andrey Tkachuk, head of a small media group in Moscow, and Andrey Afanasyev, a former staffer of the Tsargrad television channel whose oligarch owner Konstantin Malofeyev has been sanctioned in the West as a sponsor of separatists in Ukraine’s Donbas region.

Muslim labour migrants have faced hate attacks, arbitrary detentions and arrests, police brutality, extortion and threats for decades.

But after the Kremlin realised that its blitzkrieg in Ukraine failed amid disastrous losses of manpower, it threw a new curveball their way.

As part of a nationwide series of raids dubbed “Illegal 2023”, police have been combing construction sites, markets, farms, restaurants, apartment buildings, hostels and “prayer houses” – or simply rounding up anyone who does not look Slavic, according to rights groups and media reports.

During ID checks, they find “problems” – both imaginary and real, such as a lack of registration, a blurred stamp, or an expired work permit.

The migrants are locked up and forced to enlist in military service, facing several kinds of threats to ensure their cooperation, an expert said.

Shukhrat Ganiyev, a human rights advocate based in the central Uzbek city of Bukhara, told Al Jazeera that the pressure put on migrants included “threat of deportation of [their] families from Russia, the planting of drugs, an intolerable atmosphere for business”.

He said some Uzbeks had signed contracts for construction jobs in the Russia-occupied southern Ukrainian city of Mariupol, but then ended up on the front line – “and were not heard of since”.

Police in St Petersburg, Russia’s second-largest city and President Vladimir Putin’s hometown, said they handed conscription papers to 56 migrants with Russian passports after just one raid on a market on September 6.

A month earlier, about 100 migrants were served with conscription papers, it said.

The Illegal 2023 investigations are “tied to organisation of illegal migration, trade in drugs and psychotropic substances, arms trade and border crossings”, Ministry of Internal Affairs spokeswoman Irina Vovk said.

Another way of forcing Muslim migrants into the trenches has been to deny Central Asians citizenship – a red Russian passport eliminates many of the problems with police and bureaucratic hurdles that migrants face.

In one case, migration officials turned down an application from a Tajik man whose mother is a Russian national, according to rights advocate Tatyana Kotlyar.

The man was told to enlist first, even though as a father of five he cannot be drafted, she said.

In another case, an Uzbek man whose wife and child are Russian nationals, was told that “without a [military] contract and participation in the special military operation, they won’t even accept his citizenship application,” Kotlyar, who is based in the city of Obninsk 120km (75 miles) southwest of Moscow, told Al Jazeera.

Both men did not reply to Al Jazeera’s request for comment.

And in Kaluga, a region of more than one million people, some 200km (124 miles) south of Moscow, foreign workers have been barred from submitting citizenship applications in recent months unless they enlist, Kotlyar said.

Officials at the Kaluga migration office refused to comment on her claim.

And even if a migrant already has a Russian passport, recently adopted laws allow authorities to take it away with ease.

“If you are a Russian national but are not ready to fulfil your military duty, a decision should be made to strip such a man of his citizenship,” Russia’s top investigator Aleksander Bastrykin told a military conference in mid-October.

Bastrykin said earlier that migrants have a “constitutional duty to defend the nation that accepted them” and that enlisting them should be a “priority”.

There have even been calls to abolish age limits for migrants so that they can be forced to serve in the military. The conscription age in Russia is between 18 and 30.

“You became a Russian national at age 50 – go serve at 50,” nationalist lawmaker Aleksey Zhuravlyev said on October 24.

Muslim migrants are among the most vulnerable people in Russia, said Sergey Abashin, a migration expert and anthropologist based in St Petersburg.

They are often subject to the whims of police officers and officials because they “always” have problems with their documents, he said.

“The [Russian] legislation’s very design makes it impossible to have absolutely ‘clean’ documents,” he said.

The migrants are also dependent on the goodwill of their employers, as many work without the permits to do so.

Meanwhile, public opinion is dominated by rampant nationalism, xenophobia and often portrays Muslim newcomers as hostile and alien, he said.

“The sum of these dependencies makes migrants easily victimised,” he said.

Very few make their cases public, fearing persecution of their families, rights advocates have said, adding the immigrants are accustomed to authoritarian rule and police brutality in their countries of origin, often know little about their civil rights in Russia, do not have access to lawyers, and may not speak much Russian.

Shortage of front-line manpower

Where there is a stick, there follows a carrot – promises of hefty pay and a Russian passport.

“Since at least May 2023, Russia has approached Central Asian migrants to fight in Ukraine with promises of fast-track citizenship and salaries of up to $4,160,” the British Defence Ministry said in September.

In September 2022, Putin signed a decree that gives Russian nationality to anyone who has served on the front line for six months.

The first Uzbek national taken prisoner in Ukraine said he was driven by financial interest, according to a Ukrainian media report.

Lying on his back in a camouflaged coat, Mukhriddin Akhmedov, a 22-year-old student from the central Uzbek city of Samarkand, said he joined the Redoubt military company because he “needed money”.

He said that “one more Uzbek” had joined the company.

Looking ahead, the Russian military faces a shortage of manpower on the front lines after heavy casualties in the so-called “meat storms” on Ukrainian positions, experts have said.

The shortage is exacerbated by Russia’s catastrophically low birthrates and a population loss of hundreds of thousands of people a year in the rapidly aging nation of 143 million.

“By waging the war in Ukraine via the tactics of ‘meat storms’ and thus suffering heavy losses of manpower, the Russian military began experiencing a lack of cannon fodder,” Alisher Ilkhamov, head of the London-based Central Asia Due Diligence group, told Al Jazeera.

Although their forcible conscription has undermined earlier official steps to limit Central Asia natives’ access to firearms – for years, Central Asian migrants were denied permits to buy hunting rifles – the political risk to Russian leaders is minimal.

So far, there has only been a single public incident associated with the forced conscription of migrants.

Last October, two Tajik nationals were forcibly sent to a training camp before departure to Ukraine.

After the men, EkhsonAminzoda and MekhrobRakhmonov, heard their commanding officers “insult their religion”, they got hold of a machine gun and killed 11 people and injured 15 others.

The two were shot dead and pronounced “terrorists” by authorities.

Meanwhile, the Kremlin is afraid to declare a second round of mobilisation in advance of the March 2024 presidential election, he said.

The September 2022 “partial” mobilisation triggered an exodus of hundreds of thousands of Russian men, making migrants more attractive targets.

“In such conditions, the emphasis is on recruiting migrants, as their loss on the front line will not affect Russia politically or economically,” Ilkhamov said.

Source: aljazeera.com

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Christchurch victims were left alone in mosque for 10 minutes amid chaos of attack, inquest hears

1 November 2023

Wounded and dying victims of a white supremacist terrorist attack on a mosque in Christchurch were left alone in the building for ten minutes in the chaotic aftermath of the 2019 mass shooting, as confusion and incorrect reports of more gunmen prompted police officers to leave the scene and rush to other locations, a coronial inquest has heard.

Amid uncertainty about whether more attacks were imminent, paramedics did not enter Masjid an-Nur, the first of two New Zealand mosques attacked by the Australian gunman, until 30 minutes after the attack ended.

A verified timeline of the emergency response to the 15 March 2019 massacre emerged publicly for the first time since the mass shooting when CCTV footage was played on Wednesday during the coronial inquest into the deaths of 51 Muslim worshipers. Dozens more were injured in the attack.

Related: Christchurch mosque attack inquest opens with scrutiny of police response

Brenton Tarrant, 28, an Australian man who was radicalised online and moved to New Zealand in 2017 where he bought guns and planned the hate-fuelled attack, was sentenced to life in prison without parole in 2020 for murder, attempted murder, and terrorism. A commission of inquiry in 2020 concluded that New Zealand government agencies could not have stopped the massacre beforehand “except by chance.”

But no other inquiry before the coronial investigation had scrutinised how New Zealand’s authorities responded after the gunman opened fire. While the actions of police officers in catching him 19 minutes after the attack began have been widely praised, many of those responding have said the attack in a relatively peaceful country where serious gun crime is rare confronted them with scenes they had never expected.

A lingering question for some bereaved relatives in the years since the attack “revolves around why our loved ones were left at the mosque without any immediate action for some time and the police did not allow us or anyone else to get them out,” Rashid Omar, a spokesperson for the 15 March Whānau Trust – representing many of the bereaved families – said in a written statement before the inquest began. His son, Tariq Omar, 24, was killed at Masjid an-Nur.

CCTV footage from the mosque, played in court on Wednesday, showed four police officers from the armed offenders squad – the first to enter the building after the attack – running for their vehicle and departing as they learned Tarrant had opened fire at a second mosque in the city, Linwood Islamic Centre.

Before they were ordered to leave Masjid an-Nur, where 43 people were killed, the officers had started to triage the wounded. But they swiftly ran out of bandages and called on their radios, with increasing urgency, for paramedics. Two told the inquest at the Christchurch high court this week that they did not understand why none arrived.

One was asked what he believed would happen to the surviving victims when he left the mosque.

“I wasn’t sure,” he said. But as a tactical operator his job was to apprehend the gunman, he added.

After the first officers’ departure, almost ten minutes passed before anyone else entered the mosque. At 2:15pm – a quarter of an hour after Tarrant had been rammed in his car and arrested while trying to reach a third mosque – two paramedics were escorted inside by armed police.

By then, the terrorist had told the officers arresting him that he was one of 10 gunmen planning attacks that day. It wasn’t true, but the claim had prompted more alarm at Masjid an-Nur. The officer guarding the mosque’s gate – whose name and rank, like many of those giving evidence, are suppressed – told the court that with few other officers remaining at the scene, he did not want to leave the building defenceless by going inside to help people.

Another incorrect report on the police communications channel – about shots fired at Christchurch hospital – diverted other officers there. The arrival of medical help was further vexed when a senior officer at the district command centre gave a panicked warning on the police radio that Tarrant – who had already been arrested – was returning to the scene.

Det Supt Darryl Sweeney did not know that he was watching a delayed version of Tarrant’s video of the attack, which the gunman had broadcast live on the internet. He continued to narrate the terrorist’s return to the mosque for three minutes as officers standing outside the building, who knew the report was untrue, listened in bewilderment. One told the court he was unable to break into the communication channel to quell the alarm.

Many officers, including Sweeney, said they would not have done anything differently with the information they had at the time.

Coroner Brigitte Windley will decide, after the seven week hearing at the high court in Christchurch, whether any of those killed could have been saved. She is expected to publish findings in 2024 about 10 of the 13 questions before her inquiry.

But the inquest, which began 24 October, has already answered some long-held questions. An evidential report published by the police in February 2021 said the first ambulance was “granted access” to the mosque at 2:08p.m. – but the CCTV footage played in court on Wednesday showed them entering the building seven minutes later.

The same report said that all of those killed suffered “inevitably fatal injuries which meant they would not have survived had they been evacuated […] sooner.”

The inquest has yet to hear medical evidence from pathologists, doctors, or ambulance officers. Christchurch’s ambulance service, St John, is a charity and some paramedics are volunteers.

Source: uk.news.yahoo.com

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Mideast

 

Gaza Strip: Israeli airstrikes hit refugee camps as ground troops battle Hamas militants

01.11.23

A flurry of Israeli airstrikes on Tuesday on a refugee camp near Gaza City levelled apartment buildings, leaving craters where they once stood, as ground troops battled Hamas militants across northern Gaza and attacked underground compounds.

Buoyed by the first successful rescue of a captive held by Hamas, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected calls for a ceasefire and again vowed to crush Hamas's ability to govern Gaza or threaten Israel following its bloody October 7 rampage, which ignited the war.

Several hundred thousand Palestinians remain in the northern part of Gaza, where Israeli troops and tanks reportedly have advanced on several sides of Gaza City, the sprawling urban centre.

In the Jabaliya refugee camp on Gaza City's outskirts, at least six airstrikes destroyed a number of apartment blocks in a residential area, the Hamas-run interior ministry said. It reported a large number of casualties but did not immediately provide details.

Footage of the scene from Al-Jazeera TV showed at least four large craters where buildings once stood, amid a large swath of rubble surrounded by partially collapsed structures. Dozens of rescue workers and bystanders dug through the wreckage, searching for survivors beneath the pancaked buildings. A group of young men pulled two children from the upper floors of a damaged apartment block, cradling them as they climbed down.

Source: telegraphindia.com

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https://www.telegraphindia.com/world/gaza-strip-flurry-of-israeli-airstrikes-pound-refugee-camps-as-ground-troops-battle-hamas-militants/cid/1976736

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Around 420 children killed or injured in Gaza daily - UNICEF

01 Nov 2023

RABAT, Nov 1, 2023 (BSS /TASS) - On average, around 420 children are killed or injured every day in Israel's attacks on the Gaza Strip, the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has told Al Jazeera.

"An average of 420 Palestinian children have been killed or injured every day in the Gaza Strip since October 7," the channel reported.

The channel quoted a UNICEF spokesperson as saying that "the numbers are appalling."

"Reportedly more than 3,450 children killed; staggeringly this rises significantly every day," he said. "Gaza has become a graveyard for thousands of children."

Philippe Lazzarini, the commissioner general of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), said on Tuesday that women and children constitute about 70% of those killed in the Gaza Strip since the escalation and this cannot be considered "collateral damage."

Source: bssnews.net

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https://www.bssnews.net/news/155944

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Turkish, Saudi foreign ministers discuss latest situation in Palestine

31.10.2023

Esra Tekin

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan held a phone call with his Saudi counterpart Faisal bin Farhan on Tuesday to discuss the latest situation in Palestine amid relentless Israeli attacks, according to Turkish diplomatic sources.

No further detail provided about the phone call, but it came at a time when the Israeli army has expanded its air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip, which has been under bombardment since the surprise offensive by the Palestinian group Hamas on Oct. 7.

More than 10,000 people have been killed in the conflict, including 8,525 Palestinians and more than 1,538 Israelis, according to the latest figures.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected growing calls for a cease-fire, saying it would be a "surrender" to Hamas.

An Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip has also cut fuel, electricity and water supplies to Gaza, and reduced aid deliveries are unable to satisfy the needs of more than 2 million residents.

Source: aa.com.tr

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https://www.aa.com.tr/en/turkiye/turkish-saudi-foreign-ministers-discuss-latest-situation-in-palestine/3039492

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First foreigners leave Gaza for Egypt through Rafah crossing

November 01, 2023

RAFAH, Palestinian Territories: Scores of foreign passport holders trapped in Gaza started leaving the war-torn territory on Wednesday as the Rafah crossing to Egypt opened for the first time since the October 7 Hamas attacks, AFP correspondents reported.

Convoys of desperately needed aid have passed between Egypt and Gaza but no people have been allowed to cross. Some 400 foreigners and dual nationals along with some 90 sick and wounded were expected to leave on Wednesday.

Qatar earlier mediated an agreement between Egypt, Israel and Hamas, in coordination with the US, to allow for the movement of foreign passport holders and some critically injured people out of besieged Gaza, a source briefed on deal told Reuters on Wednesday.

The agreement would allow the movement of foreign passport holders and some critically injured people through the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza, though there is no timeline for how long the Rafah crossing will remain open for evacuation, the source added.

The agreement is not linked to other issues under negotiation such as the hostages held by Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist group that governs Gaza, or pauses designed to ease a humanitarian crisis in the enclave which is suffering from food, water, fuel and medical shortages, said the source.

Israel sent its forces into Gaza following weeks of air bombardments in retaliation for a major attack by Iran-backed Hamas on Oct 7.

Hamas has told mediators it will soon release some of the 200 or so foreign captives it had taken during the attack on Israel, Abu Ubaida, the spokesperson of the group’s armed wing, Al-Qassam Brigades, said in a video on the Telegram app on Tuesday. He gave no further details on the number of captives or their nationalities.

Source: arabnews.com

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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2401141/middle-east

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Arab world condemns Israeli attack on Jabalia refugee camp in Gaza

November 1, 2023

ISTANBUL: The Arab world moved swiftly to condemn Israeli airstrikes Tuesday on the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza which left hundreds dead and injured, Anadolu Agency (AA) reported.

Saudi Arabia condemned in "the strongest terms the inhumane targeting by the Israeli occupation forces of the Jabalia camp," according to a statement by its Foreign Ministry.

It pointed out that "preventing bloodshed, protecting civilians and stopping military operations are urgent priorities that cannot be accepted for any procrastination or obstruction. Failure to immediately adhere to them will inevitably lead to a humanitarian catastrophe for which the Israeli occupation and the international community bear responsibility."

In a Foreign Ministry statement, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) condemned "the severity of the bombing carried out by Israel on the Jabalia camp in the Gaza Strip, stressing that "the continuation of the senseless bombing will lead the region to repercussions that are difficult to remedy."

It stressed "the necessity of an immediate ceasefire to prevent bloodshed."

Qatar strongly condemned "the Israeli occupation's bombing of the Jabalia camp in Gaza," according to a statement by its Foreign Ministry.

It described the attack as "a new massacre against the defenceless Palestinian people and called on the international community to act quickly to stop the killing and destruction."

It stressed that the bombing "constitutes a dangerous escalation in the course of confrontations and would undermine mediation and de-escalation efforts and portend more tension, violence and instability."

Egypt's Foreign Ministry also said in a statement that it "strongly condemns Israel's inhumane targeting of an entire residential square in Jabalia camp in northern Gaza that left hundreds killed and injured."

The ministry considered the bombing of a residential area "a blatant violation of international law" which will exacerbate the situation.

It urged countries and relevant international bodies to condemn the attack and the international community to shoulder responsibility for providing protection to Palestinian civilians.

Jordan in a Foreign Ministry statement condemned in the strongest terms the Israeli "aggression" that targeted the Jabalia camp.

In a statement, it held Israel, "the occupying power, responsible for this dangerous development."

It called on "the international community to assume its responsibility, deter Israel from committing more crimes against civilians and stop its senseless war on the Gaza Strip."

In Yemen, the Foreign Ministry condemned in a statement "the targeting of the Jabalia camp by the Israeli occupation forces in a new violation added to the list of violations against the Palestinian people."

The ministry called on "the international community to take an immediate stance to stop these crimes."

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), meanwhile, condemned in a statement "in the strongest terms the continuation of Israeli massacres and war crimes, the most recent of which was the Jabalia camp massacre," calling on "the international community to intervene urgently to stop this aggression."

The Secretary-General of the Arab League, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, also condemned in "the strongest terms Israel's bombing of the Jabalia camp," reiterating its call for an immediate cessation of military operations in Gaza. — Bernama

Source: nst.com.my

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https://www.nst.com.my/world/world/2023/11/973748/arab-world-condemns-israeli-attack-jabalia-refugee-camp-gaza

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Israeli army says it hit 11,000 Gaza ‘terror targets’ since war’s start

01 Nov 2023

JERUSALEM, Nov 1 — The Israeli army said today that its forces had carried out attacks on more than 11,000 militant targets in the Gaza Strip since the beginning of its ongoing war with Hamas.

“Since the beginning of the war, the IDF (Israel Defence Forces) has struck over 11,000 targets belonging to terrorist organisations in the Gaza Strip,” a statement from the military said.

Gaza has in recent days seen fierce battles between Israeli ground troops and militants as Israel has pressed its mission to “crush” Hamas after it went on a rampage on October 7 killing 1,400 people, mostly civilians, including women, children and the elderly.

Since then, Israel has hit back with an unstinting aerial bombardment, which the health ministry in Hamas-controlled Gaza says has now killed more than 8,500 Palestinians, two-thirds of them women and children.

Israelis also face a daily barrage of aerial attacks from Hamas and other Iran-backed groups around the Middle East.

Yemen’s Huthi rebels said they had “launched a large batch of ballistic missiles... and a large number of armed aircraft” towards Israel yesterday.

Israel’s military said a “hostile aircraft intrusion” had set off warning sirens in Eilat, and a surface-to-surface missile was “successfully intercepted”.

In the north, Israel has traded near-daily fire with Lebanon’s Iran-backed Hezbollah movement. — AFP

Source: malaymail.com

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https://www.malaymail.com/news/world/2023/11/01/israeli-army-says-it-hit-11000-gaza-terror-targets-since-wars-start/99609

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Turkey to start charging foreign visitors to Hagia Sophia after reversion to mosque

October 31, 2023

Turkish Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy announced on Tuesday that foreign visitors to Hagia Sophia, an İstanbul landmark with a history dating back more than 1,500 years, will be charged an entrance fee, in a major policy change after the building was converted from a museum to a mosque by the Turkish government.

The minister said foreign visitors would start to pay a fee to enter the mosque starting Jan. 15, 2024.

The minister stated that the new visitor management practices aim to improve the quality and security of visits to the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Turkish citizens visiting the landmark for religious purposes will not be affected by the changes.

Ersoy elaborated on the new measures, saying they are designed to minimize visitor congestion and enhance the quality of both visits and religious practices at Hagia Sophia. The entry point for foreign visitors will be changed, and they will be guided through a gallery before exiting.

Additionally, a mobile application will provide information in 16 languages to assist visitors during their tour of the historic site.

The decision to charge foreign visitors admission comes amid an ongoing debate over the preservation and management of Hagia Sophia, which was converted from a museum to a mosque in July 2020. The conversion has drawn international criticism and raised concerns about preserving the architectural and artistic treasures inside the structure.

The minister stressed that revenue from entrance fees will be used for the maintenance and preservation of Hagia Sophia.

It is not clear how this policy will affect non-Turkish Muslims who want to visit the mosque to pray.

Source: turkishminute.com

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https://www.turkishminute.com/2023/10/31/turkey-to-start-charging-foreign-visitors-to-hagia-sophia-after-reversion-to-mosque/

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Africa

 

Tunisia's Islamist party leader is sentenced to 15 months in prison for supporting terrorism

BOUAZZA BEN BOUAZZA

Tue, 31 October 2023

TUNIS, Tunisia (AP) — The leader of Tunisia’s moderate Islamist party was sentenced to 15 months in prison for supporting terrorism and inciting hatred in the North African country, once seen as a model for democracy in the Arab world but increasingly authoritarian in recent years.

The Court of Appeal in the capital, Tunis, pronounced the sentence late Monday against the Ennahdha leader Rached Ghannouchi, a former speaker of parliament and a vocal opponent of President Kais Saied. Saied has cracked down on critics and political rivals while consolidating power and ruling largely by decree in the past two years.

Ghannouchi, 82, is the founder and long-time leader of the Islamist party. He served as speaker of the Ennahdha-led parliament until Saied took all powers into his own hands in July 2021, suspending parliament.

Ghannouchi, who has maintained that Saied’s actions amounted to a coup, was arrested in April amid growing social tensions and deepening economic troubles in Tunisia. He was previously sentenced in the Court of First Instance to a year in prison for allegedly referring to police officers as tyrants in what his party said was a sham trial.

In addition to prolonging the sentence by three months, the Court of Appeal ordered Ghannouchi to pay a fine of 1,000 Tunisian dinars ($300) and placed the elderly leader under judicial supervision for three years. it

Ghannouchi was not in court for the sentencing late Monday in line with his party's boycott of courts and legal proceedings against its members on charges their lawyers have repeatedly denounced as unfounded and politically motivated.

Many former and current officials have been detained as part of Saied’s anti-corruption campaign or on suspicion of plotting against the security of the state. Saied's critics say the president's relentless campaign of arrests aims to eliminate opposition voices in Tunisia, the birthplace of the Arab Spring pro-democracy opposition more than a decade ago.

Source: uk.news.yahoo.com

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https://uk.news.yahoo.com/tunisias-islamist-party-leader-sentenced-151741763.html

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Five Islamist convicts escape from Tunisian jail

OCTOBER 31, 2023

Five Islamist prisoners convicted of killing two secular politicians and policemen escaped from a Tunisian jail on Tuesday, in a rare such security breach for the North African country.

Security sources said the men were "very dangerous terrorists". The interior ministry published the names and photos of the escaped convicts and urged citizens to contact the police if they see them.

The five men included Ahmed Malki, known as "the Somali", who had been serving a 24-year sentence for the assassination of secular politicians Chokri Belaid and Mohamed Brahmi in 2013.

Another of the five, Rayd Touati, was arrested in 2019 and was sentenced to death by a Tunisian court earlier this year.

Security sources say Touati had taken part in the most violent attacks that have shaken Tunisia in the past decade. He had also killed a policeman in 2014 in the Chaambi Mountains near the Algerian border.

Jihadist terror in Tunisia

Tunisia has suffered attacks by jihadist groups since the advent of democracy in 2011 that have killed dozens of policemen, foreign tourists and others. It has had some success in recent years in arresting or killing prominent Islamist militants.

Remnants of Islamic State and al-Qaeda remain active in the mountains near the border with Algeria, security sources say.

Source: jpost.com

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https://www.jpost.com/international/article-771026

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Islamist separatism in Northern Nigeria

1st November 2023

Years after the Boko Haram insurgency started in 2010, the Nigerian state has not been able to contain this deadly terror group but, instead, its security forces have been drawn into a prolonged war that has clearly become intractable. It is conservatively estimated that the Boko Haram insurgency has claimed over 47,000 lives and displaced over two million others in the North East alone in the last few years. More than a decade after the start of the Boko Haram insurgency, a lot of questions about the motive, aims, strategic objectives, recruitment, mode of operation and funding remains unanswered.

That the epicentre of the multifaceted security challenges confronting Nigeria, the biggest of which is the Boko Haram insurgency, is undoubtedly in its northern half and, specifically, the Muslim North, provides a credible lead towards resolving the questions about one of the world’s most deadly terror groups. Boko Haram is a violent manifestation of the radical ideology of Islamist separatism upon which the mainstream theological framework of northern Nigerian Muslim religion is firmly built. Straddling the southern parts of the ancient region of western Sudan, which was characterized by the 19th century militant Islamist reformist movements, the Muslim North of Nigeria is an area encompassing the legacy theocratic city states of the ancient Kanem-Borno Empire and the Fulani Sokoto Caliphate.

Following the British colonial experiment of amalgamation in 1914, which brought the region and the rest of non-Muslim Nigeria under one administrative control to be government by a secular, constitutional and democratic system of government, and fearing the loss of their Muslim hegemony and power, the leadership of the Muslim North made haste slowly in accepting the new reality, especially the concept modern education. Considering it a Judeo-Christian heritage that was being used as a tool to neutralise their traditional Muslim ways of life by Western colonial powers, the Muslim North was slow in embracing ‘’western’’ education and any other way of life it considered western.

Over half a century after the British colonial interregnum, which sired Nigeria, a multi-religious and multi-ethnic country they created on the path of a modern, secular and constitutional democracy, which guarantees every Nigerian the right of religious freedom came to an end in 1960, the Muslim North slowly began to recoil and started a return backwards to its pre-colonial Muslim theocratic state of traditional administration. And when Salafism filtered into the region from Saudi Arabia through Sudan in the early 1970s, the robust Muslim heritage of its militant Islamist reformism of the 19th century made the Muslim North of Nigeria a fertile ground for the seeds of radical Islamist revivalism that was sweeping across the wider Muslim world.

The rapid spread in the Muslim North of Salafi version of the Islamic religion, whose cardinal doctrine is a return of Muslims to its own interpretation of what its self-appointed theological potentates considers being in conformity with puritanical prophetic tradition within a the legal framework of a Sharia-ruled global Muslim state, resulted in the mainstreaming of the radical ideology of Islamist separatism in the region. Salafi clerics continuously watered the seeds of radicalization for several decades by passionately preaching the virtues of a Sharia-ruled Muslim state and virulently denouncing the vices of a secular, multi-religious, constitutionally governed democratic society and in the process creating a cognitive conflict between the Islamic faith of millions of northern Nigerian Muslims and the citizenship of Nigeria their country. These influential clerics go the extra mile to exhort Muslims to consider the struggle [Jihad] for the realization of the ideal Sharia-ruled Islamic state a religious duty that attracts great reward in the hereafter. In this process, hate and intolerance against people of other sects or religions are virulently preached and they are variously denounced by these clerics as apostates and unbelieving infidels.

Islamic separatism in the Muslim North has found expression in the mass hysteric agitation for the full implementation of the Muslim Sharia law in a region that is an incorporated part of a secular, multi-religious and constitutional democratic Nigerian country. Notwithstanding the fact the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria guarantees every Nigerian freedom of religion, which allows Muslims unhindered observance of Sharia faith [upholding virtue and abstaining from vice by personal conviction], the Muslim North considers Nigeria’s governing legal framework incompatible with their Islamic faith until it is repealed and replaced with Sharia law [upholding of virtue and abstaining from vice by compulsion].

Unfortunately, the political leadership of the Muslim North has devised an ingenious means of weaponising religion as a potent arsenal of political mobilization for their selfish end by preying on the religious emotions of their people. Pretending to be in solidarity with the people in their aspiration for a Sharia-ruled Islamic state, political leaders in the Muslim North pledged to impose Sharia rule in the states of the region, if supported to power. However, governors like Ahmed Yerima of Zamfara, Muazu Babangida Aliyu of Niger State and Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano State failed to realise the ideal Islamic state through the instrumentality of political Islam, which they promised their people, because they didn’t imbibe Sharia faith by personal conviction and fear of God in the discharge of their responsibilities and, instead, merely imposed a symbolic Sharia law in their states out of the fear of the powerful class of self-appointed theological potentates that wield enormous influence over the deeply religious masses of the Muslim North. Whereas Islam is a divinely guided empire of faith, which cannot be superintended over by ordinary mortals, the powerful Salafi clerics of the Muslim North have arrogated to themselves the duty of guarding the religious life of the people.

Boko Haram insurgency may have started in 2010, but the seeds of radical Islamist separatist ideology, which is its driving force, were sown several decades before and are still being watered to blossom by Salafi clerics that are the dominant authoritative voices in the mainstream northern Nigerian Muslim community. Whereas the Boko Haram insurgency is centred in the northeastern region of Nigeria, the Boko Haram ideology permeates the entire Muslim North, with millions of latently radicalized Muslims being ‘Boko Haram’ at heart. It is the prevalence of the radical ideology of Islamist separatism in the mainstream northern Muslim theology that is providing the oxygen in the form of funding, logistics and recruitments that enrich the rank and file of ‘holy warriors’ willing to fight for the realization of their ideal Sharia-ruled Islamic state. Boko Haram insurgents are just putting to practice the Boko Haram ideology that has been preached for several decades, which political Islam has failed to achieve in the region.

The most sustainable solution to the Boko Haram insurgency is to begin a systemic reversal of the radical Islamist separatist ideology and the removal of its embellishments on the mainstream northern Nigerian Muslim framework with the ultimate aim of reconciling the faith of latently radicalised Muslims with their Nigerian citizenship and restoring secularity to the Muslim North where religion and the state are clearly separated. The continuous existence of Hisbah, the Sharia law enforcement police in some northern states like Kano, which has descended from arresting individuals on charges of blasphemy and destroying bottles of alcoholic beverages of taxpaying Nigerian businesses to banning the use of the term “black Friday” on radio stations, is cannon fodder for the continuous violent struggle of Boko Haram insurgents in a bid to achieve their ideal Islamic state. The emergence in recent times of Kano, the most populous state in the Muslim North, as the bastion of political Islam in Nigeria continuously reinforces the belief in the psyche of many a Muslim that one cannot be “Nigerian” and “Muslim,” hence approximating the motive behind the activities of Hisbah in the state to those of Abu Shekau and his Boko Haram insurgents.

Source: sunnewsonline.com

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https://sunnewsonline.com/islamist-separatism-in-northern-nigeria-3/

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Niger church demands justice over murder of Pastor, FUTMinna lecturer

Adelowo Oladipo 

November 1, 2023

A Pentecostal Church based in Minna, Niger State, known as ‘The Voice of Mercy Ministry,’ is demanding swift justice from security agencies in collaboration with the state government following the brutal murder of a female Associate Professor at the Federal University of Technology Minna.

The church expressed deep sorrow and shock at the tragic and senseless murder of their beloved pastor, Dr. Mrs. FumilolaAdefolalu.

The church’s statement, signed by Pastor Bolaji Olanipekun, Head of the Media and Communication Department, was made available to newsmen on Tuesday in Minna.

The church expressed the deep impact of this heinous act on their congregation, uniting their resolve to seek justice for their dear pastor.

According to Pastor Olanipekun, “We commend the efforts of the law enforcement agencies involved in the investigation thus far, and we express our gratitude for their diligent work in apprehending one of the principal suspects.

We hope that this arrest will lead to the arrest of other perpetrators who are involved in the wicked act and lead to further progress in uncovering the truth and bringing all those responsible to justice”.

The statement reads in parts, “We call upon the security operatives and every law enforcement agency involved in this case to leave no stone unturned in their pursuit of justice.

We urge them to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation, ensuring that all evidence is diligently examined and all leads are followed.

“As a church, we stand on the path for truth and justice and declare that everyone involved in the murder of our pastor faces the full wrath of the law. We are seeking justice for her untimely and unjust demise. We trust that the law will ensure that those responsible for this horrific crime are held accountable to the fullest extent of the law”.

Olanipekun said, “The loss of Pastor Dr Mrs FumilolaAdefolalu has left an indelible void within our church. Her unwavering faith, compassion, and dedication to serving others will always be remembered”.

The statement stressed that “we extend our deepest gratitude to all those who have offered their support, prayers, and condolences during this challenging time”, emphasising that “we kindly request that the privacy of Pastor Dr Funmilola Adefolalu’s family and our church community be respected as we grieve and navigate through this painful journey”.

Olanipekun thereby prayed, “May Pastor Dr Mrs Funmilola Adefolalu’s memory be a guiding light as we strive to heal, find solace, and forge ahead together.

Source: tribuneonlineng.com

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https://tribuneonlineng.com/niger-church-demands-justice-over-murder-of-pastor-futminna-lecturer/

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Arab World

 

Ansar Allah politician blesses operation of Yemeni armed forces that targeted Zionist entity

[31/October/2023]

SANA'A October 31.2023 (Saba) - The Political Bureau of Ansar Allah blessed the jihadist operation of the Yemeni armed forces that targeted the criminal Zionist entity with a large group of ballistic missiles and drones.

In a statement, a copy of which was received by Saba, the Ansar Allah political office considered the operation a victory for the Palestinian Muslim people, support for the jihad and resistance movements, and a victory for the blood of children and women in Gaza, against whom the Israeli enemy is committing the most heinous crimes and abominations.

He stressed that what the Palestinian people are being exposed to are genocidal crimes committed by the Israeli enemy with American and Western support.

He praised the courage, principle, and stances of Commander Abdul-Malik Badr al-Din al-Houthi, who stood sincerely with the Palestinian people, the Palestinian cause, and Islamic sanctities from day one, and proved in word and deed that he is the one who stands sincerely by the nation, its issues, and its injustices against American and Israeli hegemony and arrogance.

He called on the peoples of the Arab and Islamic nation to assume their religious and moral responsibilities towards the Palestinian people and the genocidal war they are subjected to... stressing the right of the Palestinian people, the jihad and resistance movements, and all Islamic peoples to defend Palestine and the Islamic holy sites until the occupation is defeated and removed from all of the Palestinian territories.

The Ansar Allah Political Bureau praised the role of the heroes of jihad and resistance in Palestine, Lebanon, Iraq and elsewhere, stressing that the Yemeni people stand by their side against the Zionist entity and the Americans and the infidel West behind it.

Source: saba.ye

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https://www.saba.ye/en/news3276824.htm

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Muslim World League condemns Israeli strike on Gaza’s Jabalia camp

November 01, 2023

RIYADH: The Muslim World League condemned on Tuesday the Israeli army’s attack on the Jabalia camp in the besieged Gaza Strip, which killed several people.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, secretary-general of the MWL, said in a statement that the organization “denounced this grave escalation that led to the death of several innocent civilians.”

He also “calls on the international community to uphold its duty to protect civilians from such egregious collective punishment, which stands as a flagrant violation of international laws and norms.”

Al-Issa said there should be “an immediate halt of these acts of mass destruction, which shake every unwavering conscience.”

On Tuesday, a deadly Israeli bombing of Gaza’s largest refugee camp killed dozens of people, including women and children.

Israel’s army reportedly said it had targeted a Hamas tunnel complex under the densely populated Jabalia camp, and claimed it also killed a senior Hamas commander, who it believes was involved in the militant group’s Oct. 7 attacks.

Source: arabnews.com

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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2401221/saudi-arabia

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Saudi Arabia condemns Israeli strike on Gaza camp 'in strongest terms'

 Nov 1, 2023

Saudi Arabia on Wednesday roundly condemned a deadly Israeli bombing of Gaza's largest refugee camp that killed dozens of people -- including, Israel says, a Hamas commander.

Israel said it had targeted a Hamas tunnel complex under the densely populated Jabalia camp on Tuesday, killing local battalion commander Ibrahim Biari, who it believes was involved in the militant group's October 7 attacks.

AFP witnessed at least 47 bodies being recovered from the scene.

Saudi Arabia denounced the strike "in the strongest terms possible", decrying the "inhumane targeting" of the refugee camp "by the Israeli occupation forces".

The attack, Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry said, had "caused the death and injury of a large number of innocent civilians".

The statement is the latest sign the Israel-Hamas war has fractured efforts to normalise relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel.

Before the Hamas attacks, the United States had been close to brokering a deal that would have seen Saudi Arabia -- home to Islam's holiest sites -- recognise Israel for the first time.

Supporters of the deal believe it could have transformed the Middle East, after decades in which Israel had very limited diplomatic, commercial and security ties with its neighbours.

In October, a source familiar with that process told AFP that Riyadh had decided to "pause discussion on possible normalisation".

Saudi Arabia had previously warned Israel against any further ground operations in the Gaza Strip.

On October 7 Hamas launched a wave of cross-border raids into Israel killing an estimated 1,400 people, including many Israeli civilians.

Israel's retaliatory strikes have killed more than 8,500 people, according to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry, stoking anger across the Arab world, including in Saudi Arabia.

Source: thedailystar.net

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https://www.thedailystar.net/news/world/israel-hamas-war/news/saudi-arabia-condemns-israeli-strike-gaza-camp-strongest-terms-3458701

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Qatar brokers deal between Egypt, Hamas and Israel for Gaza evacuations - source

NOVEMBER 1, 2023

Qatar has mediated an agreement between Egypt, Israel, and Hamas, in coordination with the US, to allow for the movement of foreign passport holders and some critically injured people out of besieged Gaza, a source briefed on the deal told Reuters on Wednesday.

The agreement would allow the movement of foreign passport holders and some critically injured people through the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza, though there is no timeline for how long the Rafah crossing will remain open for evacuation, the source added.

The agreement is not linked to other issues under negotiation such as the hostages held by Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist terror group that governs Gaza, or pauses designed to ease a humanitarian crisis in the enclave which is suffering from food, water, fuel, and medical shortages, said the source.

Israel sent its forces into Gaza following weeks of air bombardments in retaliation for a major attack by Iran-backed Hamas on Oct 7.

Hamas claims it will release some hostages

Hamas has told mediators it will soon release some of the 200 or so foreign captives it had taken during the attack on Israel, Abu Obaida, the spokesperson of the group's armed wing, al-Qassam Brigades, said in a video on the Telegram app on Tuesday. He gave no further details on the number of captives or their nationalities.

Egypt has prepared a field hospital in Sheikh Zuwayed in the Sinai, according to medical sources. Ten ambulances were sent to Rafah on Tuesday in anticipation.

Israel besieged Gaza after the Hamas attack, and the U.N. and other aid officials have said civilians in the enclave are living in a public health catastrophe, with hospitals struggling to treat casualties as electricity supplies peter out.

On Wednesday, communications and internet services were completely cut off in the enclave again, Gaza's largest telecommunications provider Paltel said.

Israel has vowed to annihilate Hamas after several inconclusive wars dating back to the militant group's 2007 takeover of Gaza. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dismissed international calls for a "humanitarian pause" in fighting to enable emergency aid deliveries to civilians.

Source: jpost.com

Please click the following URL to read the full text of the original

https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-771125

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Riyadh street festival to bridge generational gaps

October 31, 2023

Jeddah: The second Al-Sweilem Cultural Street Festival in Riyadh, organized by the Ministry of Culture, aims to entertain visitors of all ages.

The November event will highlight the cultural significance of historic Al-Sweilem Street and its traditional role as a playground for generations of children.

Bridging generational gaps, the festival will celebrate the evolution of gaming, while taking visitors on a journey through time.

Incorporating a colorful film strip-inspired entrance, a 1950s section will connect children with their parents through games, cinematic cartoons, music, and stores selling products from the decade.

The 1960s section will feature iconic games from the era and street signs inspired by popular cartoon characters of the time. The 1970s entrance has been designed to look like a Chatter Telephone toy, while the 1980s section will feature iconic games, such as the portable Atari.

Technology and gaming will be the focus of the millennials zone, with an entrance featuring cartoon characters.

Another festival activity will be a Generational Challenge area for parents and children with gaming devices and virtual reality technology.

Source: arabnews.com

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Al Jazeera Engineer's 19 Family Members Dead In Gaza Camp Bombing: Report

 November 01, 2023

A broadcast engineer working for Al Jazeera lost 19 family members in the bombing of the largest refugee camp in Gaza by Israel during their ground battle targeting Hamas operatives.

Mohamed Abu Al-Qumsan, who works at the Gaza bureau, lost his father, brother, two sisters, and eight nephews and nieces among other relatives in the Israeli air raids on Jabalia camp, Al Jazeera reported, condemning what it said was a "massacre" by the Israeli forces.

Days earlier, another Al Jazeera correspondent had lost his wife, son, daughter and grandson in Israeli air raid, the report said.

Israel, which has vowed to crush Hamas, said the strike on Jabalia camp killed 47 people, including a top Hamas commander who was involved in the October 7 attack that prompted Israel to declare a war against Hamas.

Palestinian authorities claimed over 50 have died in the refugee camp bombing.

The explosion hit the densely packed Jabalia camp just before nightfall with Israel saying its warplanes had struck a tunnel complex that killed several Hamas operatives, including commander Ibrahim Biari. Hamas has denied the presence any of its leaders at the camp.

An Israeli military spokesman said Biari played a pivotal role in the planning and execution of October 7 Hamas raids into Israel in which 1,400 people, mostly civilians, were killed.

Israel has expanded its ground operatives in Gaza and ruled out any ceasefire in its war against Hamas. The war began after Hamas launched a fierce rocket on Israel on October 7 and its operatives went on a rampage in border towns, killing and kidnapping civilians.

Listen to the latest songs, only on JioSaavn.com

At least 230 hostages, who were dragged across the Gaza border from Israel, are still being held captive by Hamas.

Source: ndtv.com

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Yemen's Houthi rebels claim drone attack on Israel

November 01, 2023

Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels fired drones towards Israel on Tuesday in retaliation for its war against Hamas, a senior official from the group told AFP.

"These drones belong to the state of Yemen," Abdelaziz bin Habtour, Prime Minister of the Houthi government, said when asked about the launch towards Eilat in southern Israel.

The Houthis, who seized Yemen's capital Sanaa in 2014 and control large swathes of the country, are "part of the axis of resistance" against Israel and are fighting with "words and drones", he added.

Israel's military earlier reported a "hostile aircraft intrusion" that set off warning sirens in the area of Eilat, a resort town on the Red Sea.

"There is no threat in this region and no danger," Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari told a separate televised briefing.

Israel blamed the Houthis for a similar drone attack on Friday in which its aircraft intercepted "hostile targets" headed for southern Israel.

Six persons were lightly injured in neighbouring Egypt when debris hit a building in the Sinai resort of Taba, just across the border from Eilat, the Egyptian Army said at the time.

On October 19, the U.S. Navy said it shot down three land-attack cruise missiles and "several" drones that had been fired by the Houthis, possibly at Israel.

The Houthis will release a statement later on Tuesday with more details of their involvement in the "resistance" against Israel, Bin Habtour said.

Israel has been pounding the Gaza Strip since gunmen from the Palestinian militant group Hamas stormed across the border on October 7 and, according to Israeli officials, killed more than 1,400 people, most of them civilians.

Since then, more than 8,300 people have been killed, many of them children, according to the Health Ministry in Hamas-run Gaza, an impoverished slice of land which is home to 2.4 million people.

Concerns are high over a regional conflagration especially as Iran, which financially and militarily backs Hamas -- but insists it had no involvement in the October 7 attack -- has loyalists and proxy fighters in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Yemen.

Since the Gaza conflict began, there have been a string of attacks on US forces in Iraq and Syria as well as almost daily exchanges of fire across the Israel-Lebanon border between Hezbollah and the Israeli army.

On Sunday, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi warned on X, formerly Twitter, that Israel had "crossed the red lines, and this may force everyone to take action", without elaborating.

Source: thehindu.com

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Minister receives ambassador of Ukraine in Riyadh

October 31, 2023

RIYADH: Saudi Deputy Minister for International Multilateral Affairs Abdulrahman Al-Rassi received the Ambassador of Ukraine to the Kingdom Anatolii Petrenko in Riyadh on Tuesday.

During the meeting, they reviewed bilateral relations and the most prominent regional and international developments of common interest.

In a post on X, the ambassador thanked Al-Rassi for the “productive meeting to consider important issues of partnership between Ukraine and the Kingdom.”

Source: arabnews.com

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Pakistan

 

SenatorMushahidCalls For Recognising Hamas For Its Significant Role In Representing The Palestinian People

November 01, 2023

ISLAMABAD:Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed on Tuesday highlighted Pakistan’s historical commitment to the Palestinian cause, emphasising the importance of recognising the legitimate political organisation, Hamas, and its significant role in representing the Palestinian people.

Addressing the Senate session convened to address the ongoing crisis in Gaza, Senator Mushahid quoted the legacy of Pakistan’s founder, Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, underscoring the strong solidarity between Pakistan and Palestine and drew attention to the deep-rooted historical connections between the two nations.

Referring to Israel’s recent bombardment of hospitals in Gaza, Senator Mushahid condemned these actions as “war crimes”, calling for an immediate cessation of such heinous acts.

He recounted the historic Lahore gathering of March 23, 1940, which saw the passing of two seminal resolutions – the first emphasising the self-determination of Muslims in the subcontinent and the second advocating for the rights of the Palestinian people.

Mushahid highlighted Pakistan’s strong solidarity with Palestine, referencing the formal invitation extended to the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) at the 1974 OIC in Pakistan, where Yasir Arafat was in attendance.

Emphasising the democratic process in Gaza, Mushahid underscored the legitimacy of the elected party, Hamas, and its subsequent rise to power following what were deemed as fair elections in the Middle East.

In 2006, he noted, the foreign minister of the Hamas-led Palestinian government visited Pakistan, and the country extended crucial financial aid to its brotherly nation.

Pointing to Pakistan’s historical role in the Arab-Israeli conflicts, he highlighted the nation’s unwavering support for Arab countries in the face of Israeli aggression.

Mushahid also criticised the role of certain Western countries, urging an end to their double standards and hypocritical policies and highlighted the need for a unified global stance against Israeli aggression.

Further, he called upon Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani to appeal to parliaments of Western nations through a letter, urging them to take a decisive stand against Israel’s atrocities.

The Senate chairman agreed to forward such along with resolution to be passed by the Senate in this session.

Senator Dilawar Khan emphasised the need for increased support and aid to the Palestinian people, and Senator Mohsin Aziz proposed a one-month salary donation by senators to assist the distressed people of Gaza.

Senator Quratulain Marri underscored the significance of the recent UN resolution for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, calling for heightened pressure on Israel to adhere to the resolution’s provisions.

Speaking on the motion, Sherry Rehman termed Israeli aggression “state-sponsored terrorism”.

She said that even Save the Children – an international organisation - reported that thousands of children in Gaza had lost their lives.

Israel had launched a second ground attack on Gaza and innocent civilians, including children, women and old people, were being targeted intentionally, she said.

The senator said even hospitals and aid conveys were not spared which was a blatant violation of the Geneva Convention.

“Such things might have happened in darks ages earlier,” she added.

She said it was a “state-sponsored terrorism” and all international laws were violated in this occupation war. Unfortunately, she said, many western powers were also sponsoring this war.

She said innocent people were trapped in volcanized Palestine and they were being massacred. They (people of Palestine) were not being given the right to live and it was the worst type of genocide, she said.

Source: tribune.com.pk

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Imran’s lawyer terms cipher judge’s appointment ‘illegal’

November 1, 2023

Malik Asad

ISLAMABAD: The lawyer of PTI chief Imran Khan has challenged the appointment of an anti-terrorism court judge as presiding officer of the special court for cipher case trial in jail under the Official Secrets Act, before a division bench of the Islamabad High Court.

Barrister Salman Akram Raja argued before the IHC bench comprising Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb and Justice Arbab Mohammad Tahir that the appointment of Judge Abual Hasnat Zulqarnain was ‘unconstitutional’, because the law ministry notified it without prior consultation with the IHC chief justice.

This ‘anomaly’ was pointed out when the division bench began hearing an intra-court appeal of the PTI chairman against the decision of the IHC chief justice that had validated both the appointment as well as Mr Khan’s jail trial.

Party’s core committee alleges chairman is being ‘slow poisoned’ in prison

Barrister Salman Akram said the law ministry was not authorised to select a judge, as their nomination was only a prerogative of the chief justice of a high court.

When Justice Aurangzeb noted that this point was not raised earlier before a single bench, Barrister Sal­man argued that an application aga­inst the appointment had been filed before a single bench but it was dismissed.

To corroborate his argument regarding the appointment, the PTI chairman’s lawyer pointed out that even the tenure of an accountability judge, Mohammad Bashir, was extended with the consent of the high court.

After hearing the initial argument of the defence lawyer, the court issued a notice to the law ministry with a direction to depute the officer not less than the grade of a joint secretary for assistance in the matter.

Further hearing has been adjourned till Thursday.

Witness testimony deferred

Also on Tuesday, the special court deferred recording of statement of prosecution witnesses who had handled the ‘cipher’ in the foreign ministry and PM Office.

The cipher controversy hit headlines for the first time when former prime minister Imran Khan in a public address alleged that a diplomatic cipher was a proof of the alleged conspiracy behind the toppling of the PTI government.

Ten witnesses including Imran Sajjad, Aqeel Haider, Shamoon Qaiser, M. Afzal, Nadir Khan, Iqra Ashraf, Farrukh Abbas, Haseeb bin Aziz, Shabbir and Khushnood appeared before the court during the jail trial.

Meanwhile, the same court allowed the defence lawyer to read the ‘confidential’ evidence and meet detained PTI leaders Imran Khan and Shah Mehmood Qureshi for discussion before the start of formal proceedings. The court adjourned the hearing till Nov 7.

‘Slow poison’

On the other hand, PTI’s media wing issued a statement reiterating the claim that Imran Khan was being ‘slow poisoned’ in jail.

The party said it called an emergency meeting of the core committee to discuss the issue of Mr Khan being subjected to slow poisoning and announced that the committee would discuss the information shared by Mr Khan with his legal team and a detailed handout would be issued soon.

PTI spokesperson Raoof Hasan confirmed to Dawn that a core committee meeting was held on Tuesday.

According to the party, the meeting was held over Zoom, but it was decided not to share any information with the media for the time being.

Later, the party shared details on social media and posted a statement on X (formerly Twitter).

Mr Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, and his lawyers have expressed concerns in the past that he could be slow poisoned through food in jail, urging the court to allow him the facility to have homemade food.

Similar apprehensions about the poisoning of PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif in prison had surfaced under the PTI regime.

Source: dawn.com

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PM condemns rising Israeli aggression against Palestinians

November 01, 2023

Prime Minister Anwaar ul Haq Kakar has strongly condemned the rising Israeli hostilities and aggression against civilians in Gaza.

In a tweet today, he said yesterday’s air raid on Jabalia camp, where hundreds of lives were lost, including women and children, was a stark reminder of ongoing Israeli brutalities and war crimes in Gaza. He said such reprehensible acts can never be condoned or forgotten.

The Prime Minister urged the world community to act now to end this carnage.

Source: radio.gov.pk

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Senate continues debate on Israeli atrocities against innocent Palestinians

November 01, 2023

The Senate is continuing discussion on a motion regarding Israeli atrocities and aggressive actions against the innocent Palestinians.

Participating in the debate, Irfan-ul-Haque Siddiqui regretted that the Muslim countries have failed to forcefully raise their voice for the protection of lives and properties of the Palestinian people.

Saadia Abbasi paid tributes to the sacrifices of Palestinian people. She said Israelis have no right over the Palestinian territory.

Nisar Ahmed Khuhro said the world organizations including the United Nations should play their role for the resolution of Palestine and Kashmir disputes. He said our sympathies will always remain with the Palestinian people.

Bahramand Khan Tangi said the people of Pakistan stand by their Palestinian people in this difficult hour.  He said we should also send financial and humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people.

Prince Ahmed Umer Ahmedzai strongly denounced the killing of innocent civilians and children in Gaza, stressing the Muslim countries should come forward for their protection.

Saleem Mandviwalla was appreciative of the Turkish President's strong statement in support of Palestinian people.

Muhammad Qasim said Israel is committing genocide of Palestinians. He said the atrocities taking place against Palestinians have never been seen before.

Source: radio.gov.pk

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Plea of 23 ‘Afghans’ for Pakistani identity cards disposed of by PHC

November 1, 2023

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court on Tuesday disposed of a petition of 23 people, who sought Pakistan’s computerised national identity cards (CNICs) claiming to be the citizens of the country.

A bench consisting of Justice Ijaz Anwar and Justice Syed M Attique Shah observed that as the petitioners were not permanent residents of the province, they should approach the relevant high courts on the matter.

The petition was jointly filed by Zahir Khan, his brother and two sisters along with their children insisting that they were children of Pakistani national Nabi Khan Pathan.

However, the federal government rejected their claim declaring them Afghan refugees with Afghan Citizens Cards (ACCs).

PHC declares since petitioners aren’t residents of province, they should move relevant high courts

The lawyer for petitioners contended that the predecessors of his clients were Pakistanis, who had been living in the country since time immemorial and had Pakistani national identity card and other documents dating back to 1975.

He added that the interior minister issued a notification on April 19, 2017, declaring that only anyone with required documents would be considered a citizen of Pakistan.

“Those documents include registered land record from the year before 1978, pedigree (shajara-i-nasab) issued and verified by the revenue department, government employment certificate issued before 1990, verified educational certificate issued before 1978, passport issued to applicant before 1978, or any other document issued by the government prior to 1978 and verified by the issuing authority including arms license, driving licence or manual NIC prior to 1978,” he said.

The counsel argued that the petitioners held “manual” national identity cards issued in 1975 but authorities were reluctant to renew them by the virtue of the 2017 notification.

Additional attorney general Sanaullah Khan appeared for the federal government, whereas the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) was represented by lawyers Mubarak Jan and Imran Gigyani.

The AAG argued that the petitioners had ACCs proving that they were Afghan nationals and not Pakistanis.

He said that the federal government had carried out registration of Afghan refugees living in the country thrice, first 1979 and later in 1997 and 2001, due to the security situation in Afghanistan.

Mr Sanaullah said that when the Nadra began issuing CNICs, then a period of two years was granted to all “manual” NIC holders to replace their cards with CNICs.

He wondered if the petitioners were Pakistani nationals, then why they didn’t apply for CNICs at that time and had approached the court for the same after a delay of many years.

The AAG contended that the 2017 notification was applicable to those, who didn’t have ACCs.

He pointed out that the petitioners had also requested the court to cancel ACCs issued in their name.

Mr Sanaullah added that the high court didn’t have the authority to cancel ACCs.

He added that the petitioners had changed several of their residential addresses and had given addresses of Quetta, Islamabad, Multan and other cities.

The AAG said that if the petitioners were issued Pakistani CNICs in the current circumstances, the move would open a new Pandora’s Box prompting hundreds of Afghan refugees to approach the court to get orders for the same.

Source: dawn.com

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Fazl accuses 'authorities' of forcing 'legal Afghans' to exit country

October 31, 2023

As the deadline for illegal immigrants to leave Pakistan draws to a close, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the chief of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), issued a statement on Tuesday expressing concerns about the treatment of Afghan refugees with legal documents.

He accused authorities of pressuring these refugees to depart and reported cases of property usurpation, Express News reported.

Fazl opined that the deportation of Afghan refugees was a bilateral issue that necessitates Islamabad's engagement with the Afghan government. He urged the establishment of a coordinated mechanism to ensure the safe repatriation of Afghan refugees to their home country.

Additionally, the JUI-F chief voiced his apprehensions that, under the pretext of addressing illegal immigration, even legally residing Afghans are facing blackmail. He alleged that local authorities and influential figures are involved in the harassment of Afghan refugees who have been living in compliance with the law.

The JUI-F chief emphasised the potential adverse consequences of such actions on Pakistan's relations with Afghanistan and stressed the importance of bilateral discussions to resolve this matter in a mutually beneficial manner, emphasising the need for cooperation between Pakistan and its neighbouring country.

Pakistan's decision to remove all illegal Afghan immigrants is part of a broader strategy, considering both security and economic factors. The country's interior minister disclosed that, this year, 28 suicide attacks occurred in Pakistan, with half of them perpetrated by Afghans who had entered the country illegally.

This campaign against illegal Afghan immigrants also takes place in the context of the strained relationship between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban government, which has shown reluctance in neutralising the threat posed by the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

Official sources have indicated that certain Western countries have urged Pakistan to reconsider its decision, but Pakistani authorities have affirmed that there will be no change in the established deadline and plan.

Source: tribune.com.pk

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https://tribune.com.pk/story/2443985/fazl-accuses-authorities-of-forcing-legal-afghans-to-exit-country

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South Asia

 

Afghan refugees should not be forcibly expelled, they should be given time: IEA

November 1, 2023

As Pakistan’s deadline for illegal immigrants to leave the country expired, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) in a statement on Tuesday called on Islamabad not to forcibly expel Afghans without them being prepared, but to give them time.

IEA emphasized that Afghan immigrants have not created problems for the security of the host countries, nor are they are involved in instability.

“Firstly, we thank all the countries that allowed Afghans in their countries for more than forty years, now we ask them once again not to force Afghans to be deported without preparation, but to give them time, and the relevant countries be tolerant out of good neighborliness, Islamic brotherhood and human affection,” the statement said.

The Islamic Emirate also asked the neighboring countries to treat the Afghan refugees well, keeping in mind the principle of Islamic brotherhood.

“From the countries where Afghans are forcibly returned to their homeland, their property, money and possessions are their personal property and their right, no one has the right to take the said property from them, or impose unfair conditions in this regard,” it said.

The Islamic Emirate asked wealthy individuals and businessmen to cooperate with the IEA’s commission for returnees, in the areas of transfer, accommodation, shelter, treatment.

The Islamic Emirate also assured that those who left the country on political grounds will live peacefully after return.

Source: ariananews.af

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Special Envoys' Statement Calls for Respect for Human Rights in Afghanistan

01.11.23

Sayed Zabiullah Aqeel

Special representatives for Afghanistan from around ten countries stressed the importance of not normalizing relations with the Islamic Emirate until there is full respect for the rights of every citizen of Afghanistan, particularly the rights of women and girls, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy said in a statement.

According to the statement, special Representatives from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Norway, Britain, the United States, and the European Union met in Rome where they expressed grave concern for the human rights situation in Afghanistan.

The participants reiterated that the Islamic Emirate's has policies that exclude women and girls from the social, economic, political and

cultural life in Afghanistan, adding that the current restrictions deeply undermine the economy and affect the prospect of the country’s development and long-term stability.

The special representatives called on the Afghan interim government to reverse the restrictive educational policies immediately.

Meanwhile, the participants affirmed that the Afghan interim government has not taken serious steps to initiate an inclusive political process with fellow Afghans regarding the future order of the country and emphasized that a new constitution for the country should only be adopted following a transparent, inclusive, and meaningful national

consultative dialogue. The statement urged the Islamic Emirate and other Afghans to seek advice from the UN and OIC in this regard.

The representatives expressed concerns over the dire humanitarian and economic situation in Afghanistan, stressing that more than 29 million Afghans need urgent assistance right now.

At the same time, the participants welcomed the implementation of the Islamic Emirate’s ban on opium cultivation and actions to tackle terrorist threats from ISIS-K in

Afghanistan. However they are worried that some terrorist groups still reside safely inside Afghanistan and are able to plan and carry out "cross-border terrorist strikes."

The Islamic Emirate has not commented on the statement yet, but has consistently stressed that the current government is firmly committed to fight against any groups that threaten the security of Afghanistan and beyond.

Source: tolonews.com

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https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-185824

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Turkish FM to Muttaqi: No Armed Conflict Should Exist in Afghanistan

October 31, 2023

Fatema Adeeb

Amir Khan Muttaqi, the acting foreign minister of the Islamic Emirate, on a visit to Türkiye, has met with Hakan Fidan, the foreign minister of Türkiye.

The two discussed strengthening diplomatic and economic relations and the creation of new trade corridors between Afghanistan and Türkiye.

Hafi Zia Ahmad Takal, the deputy spokesperson for the ministry of foreign affairs of the Islamic Emirate said that in the meeting the Turkish foreign minister emphasized that no armed conflict should exist in Afghanistan.

“The Turkish foreign minister emphasized that no armed conflict should exist in Afghanistan, and also added that Türkiye will cooperate with Afghanistan in the capacity building of different sectors,” said Hafi Zia Ahmad Takal, deputy spokesperson for the ministry of foreign affairs.

“(Türkiye) does not want another armed conflict in Afghanistan ... World countries including the US believe that armed conflict should not exist in the country and that political ways need to be sought,” said Najibullah Jame, a political analyst.

According to Takal, during the meeting with the Turkish foreign minister, Muttaqi insisted on the  official acceptance of Afghan diplomats, adding that the move will be beneficial for bilateral relations.

Takal also said that the acting minister has met with Suleiman Jalif, 77 Insaat Director and head of the Afghan-Turk business council.

In the meetings, Amir Khan Muttaqi said that Islamic Emirate is striving to expand business with regional countries, in particular Türkiye, and that new land corridors will be activated and be strengthened to develop business, said Hafiz Zia Takal.

“Afghanistan and Türkiye have had friendly relations, the relations should be kept so that political and economic trust is built between the two countries,” said Moeen Gul Samkanai, political activist.

The acting foreign minister has also met with Afghan diplomats in Afghanistan’s embassy in Ankara, officials of humanitarian organizations, religious scholars, businessmen, influential figures and Afghan students and refugees in Türkiye.

Amir Khan Muttaqi asked Türkiye-based Afghan refugees to return to the country as security has been ensured.

Source: tolonews.com

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https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-185816

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Mullah Baradar inspects Salang Pass reconstruction project

October 31, 2023

Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, on Monday conducted an inspection of the Salang Pass reconstruction project.

Baradar was accompanied by Acting Public Works Minister Mohammad Issa Sani during the visit.

According to a statement released by Baradar’s office, he met the officials of companies working on the project, expressed his appreciation for their efforts and provided necessary instructions to ensure quality and timely completion of the project.

The Salang highway holds immense significance as a vital trade and transit route in Afghanistan.

Currently, two different construction and road development companies are engaged in the fundamental repair and reconstruction of this 80-kilometer road.

So far, 80 percent of the work has been accomplished in the tunnel and galleries, and it is expected to be completed and inaugurated soon.

The reconstruction of the Salang highway is expected to significantly enhance trade and transit between Central Asia and South Asia through Afghanistan.

Source: ariananews.af

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Amnesty again urges Pakistan to reverse decision on deporting Afghan refugees

 November 1, 2023

Ahead of the Pakistan Government’s deadline on 1 November 2023 for forced deportations of unregistered Afghan refugees, Amnesty International on Tuesday called on Pakistan to reverse its decision immediately.

“Amnesty International strongly reiterates its call to the Government of Pakistan to immediately reverse its decision to forcibly deport unregistered Afghan refugees ahead of the deadline set for tomorrow. Pakistan must meet its international legal obligations including the principle of non-refoulement and stop the crackdown against, and harassment of, Afghan refugees across the country,” said Deprose Muchena, Amnesty International’s Senior Director.

“Afghan refugees’ lives and rights are at stake due to the collective failure of the Pakistan Government and the international community to share the responsibility for their protection. This is simply unacceptable,” added Muchena.

Amnesty International also called on the international community to financially support Pakistan for hosting Afghan refugees, and to share the responsibility to provide protection to those fleeing persecution in Afghanistan.

According to the group, more than 1.4 million refugees are at risk of being uprooted from the place they’ve taken refuge and called home.

“There is still time for Pakistan to act swiftly today to avoid creating a crisis where families are rendered homeless, denied access to livelihood and basic services and separated in the lead up to the harsh winter months,” Amnesty International said in a statement.

Amnesty International has previously documented the harassment meted out to Afghan refugees in Pakistan.

In the last 12 months, Amnesty has also sent correspondence to the Pakistani government to raise concerns regarding the delays in registration, harassment and discrimination faced by Afghan refugees in the country.

Last week, Amnesty International wrote an open letter to the Prime Minister of Pakistan urging him to reverse its decision to forcibly return Afghan refugees to Afghanistan.

Source: ariananews.af

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https://www.ariananews.af/amnesty-again-urges-pakistan-to-reverse-decision-on-deporting-afghan-refugees/

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IEA-Foreign Minister, Mawlawi Amir khan Muttaqi met with the Chairman of 77 INSAAT company and the head of the Afghan-Turkish Trade Council, Suleiman Jalif.

November 1, 2023

Expressing gratitude for the security and safe economic atmosphere in Afghanistan, Mr. Jalif said that his company managed to successfully complete the first phase of electricity generation work of Kajaki dam, which supplies 24-hour electricity to Kandahar city,

Mentioning the problems water shortage in Kajaki dam, he said that he has recently started the initial survey and experimental works of wind power for Herat, and is trying to entice more investment for other infrastructural projects.

Expressing thanks, FM Muttaqi acknowledged their efforts for their good performance and emphasised that we are trying along with bringing about appropriate economic environment to provide more facilities to investors and businessmen, aiming at increasing Afghanistan’s trade with the region, in particular with Türkiye and operate and strengthen new trade corridors via land

Source: mfa.gov.af

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https://mfa.gov.af/en/iea-foreign-minister-mawlawi-amir-khan-muttaqi-met-with-the-chairman-of-77-insaat-company-and-the-head-of-the-afghan-turkish-trade-council-suleiman-jalif/

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Afghan Refugees Coerced to Leave Pakistan With 'Threats, Abuse': HRW

October 31, 2023

Human Rights Watch said in a report that the Pakistani government is “using threats, abuse, and detention to coerce Afghan asylum seekers without legal status to return to Afghanistan or face deportation by November 1 this year.

Many Afghans at risk of being deported, the HRW said, “are awaiting resettlement to the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, and Canada.

It also called on the governments of the US, UK, Germany, and Canada to expedite resettlement for Afghans from Pakistan who are particularly at risk, including women and girls, human rights activists, and journalists.

“Broad calls by Pakistani officials for mass deportation have instigated increased police abuse against Afghans, including harassment, assault, and arbitrary detention,” the HRW said. “While not explicitly stated, Afghans slated for deportation are unlikely to be given the opportunity to challenge the action.”

Pakistan's decision to expel Afghan refugees has also faced strong reactions from Afghan politicians.

But the caretaker Prime Minister of Pakistan, Anwarul Haq Kakar, stressed that the Afghan refugees are being deported based on law.

“We are encouraging them to go on their own will. We deport them based on law. It is the law that gives us this right that we expel them,” he said.

Nasser Ahmad Faiq, Chargé d'Affaires of Afghanistan's Permanent Mission to the United Nations, wrote on X: “Urgent action needed: Despite calls from UN officials, Pakistan is expelling Afghan refugees, violating international human rights conventions."

Faiq urged the European Commission; Tomas Niklasson, Special Envoy of the European Union for Afghanistan; Felipe González Morales, UN Specia Rapporteur on Human Rights of Migrants/Relator Especial ONU DDHH Migrants; Reem Alsalem, UN Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women and Girls; and UN Special Rapporteur Richard Bennett “to address this crisis, protect vulnerable lives, and prevent forced expulsion.”

Hannah Neumann, a German member of the EU parliament, called for the attention of the European Union to the situation of the Afghan refugees in Pakistan, saying that “it was EU among others who said Afghans fleeing from Taliban should go there.”

“There are about 1.2 million. Where should they go?,” she questioned.

The Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE) said that it will provide educational opportunities for the students who are returning from Pakistan.

Source: tolonews.com

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https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-185813

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Hasina, Modi jointly open Akhaura-Agartala cross-border rail link

Nov 1, 2023

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi today jointly inaugurated the 12.24 km Akhaura-Agartala cross-border rail link, hoping to foster possibilities in trade, business, tourism and people to people contact.

The two leaders jointly opened the rail link unveiling the inaugural plaque by pressing button through video conferencing, from Dhaka and New Delhi.

At the same programme, they also jointly inaugurated India-assisted two more development projects, Khulna-Mongla Port Rail Line; and Unit - II of the Maitree Super Thermal Power Plant.

Chief Minister of India's Tripura Dr Manik Saha also virtually joined the event.

The rail Link project with a 6.78 km Dual Gauge rail line in Bangladesh and 5.46 km in Tripura has been implemented under India grant assistance of INR 392.52 crore.

On Monday, the trial run took place on this route by a cargo train that travelled from Bangladesh's Gangasagar to Nischintapur railway station in Agartala while the trial run of passenger train will be conducted soon.

The Khulna-Mongla Port Rail Line project has been implemented with India's concessional Line of Credit as its total project cost is $388.92 million (69.18 percent funding came from Indian LoC).

The construction work of the approximately 64.7km rail line was completed at a cost of Tk 4,260 crore which to usher in new opportunities in trade and commerce in the country's southwestern region, including the Mongla Port.

With opening of the rail link, Mongla, the second largest port of Bangladesh, has got connected to the broad-gauge railway network.

The Maitree Super Thermal Power Project under Indian Concessional Financing Scheme loan of $1.6 billion, features 1320MW (2x660) Super Thermal Power Plant (MSTPP) located in Rampal in Khulna Division.

The plant help meet the growing demand of power in Bangladesh.

The project has been implemented by the Bangladesh-India Friendship Power Company (Private) Limited (BIFPCL), which is a 50:50 Joint Venture company between India's NTPC Ltd and Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB).

Unit I of the Maitree Super Thermal Power Plant was unveiled jointly by the two prime ministers in September 2022 as Unit 2 was inaugurated today.

The operationalization of Maitree Super Thermal Power Plant will enhance energy security in Bangladesh.

Source: thedailystar.net

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https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/hasina-modi-jointly-open-akhaura-agartala-cross-border-rail-link-3458751

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Southeast Asia

 

Ambassador Nazri: US State Dept displeased with PM Anwar's comments on Gaza conflict, wanted Putrajaya to sympathise with Israel

By Ben Tan

01 Nov 2023

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 1 — Malaysia's ambassador to the United States Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz has reportedly revealed that the country's State Department had expressed its displeasure with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s statements that criticised Israel and labelled the Zionist regime as "terrorist".

News portal Astro Awani quoted Nazri saying that the State Department had even requested for Malaysia to issue a statement to sympathise with Israel, to which he replied it was impossible.

“I told the US State Department representative that Malaysia will not bow to any pressure simply because it supports the Palestinian cause," he was quoted saying.

The former minister also chided Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia’s Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal for his lack of knowledge regarding the démarche notice from the US Embassy to Malaysia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the Palestine-Israel conflict.

He said Wan Ahmad Fayhsal was unaware of the content expressed in the diplomatic notice, and that it would not be deemed as a threat if the content of the démarche is expressed in a broad general manner.

“However, I understand the content of the démarche better as it was I who communicated with the United States (US) State Department. I want to inform Wan Ahmad Fayhsal that what the prime minister said in Dewan Rakyat was true.

“So, if he doesn't know [on the content of the démarche], it's better for him to not comment,” Nazri was quoted as saying.

Yesterday, Wan Ahmad Fayhsal had questioned why Anwar had regarded a démarche delivered by the US embassy here as a threat towards its administration as it was just a diplomatic notice.

Meanwhile, Nazri also refuted Wan Ahmad Fayhsal’s claim that former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad took a sterner stance on the Palestinian cause compared to Anwar.

The former Padang Rengas MP said that he joined the Cabinet during Dr Mahathir’s time and all prime ministers after him have always condemned Israel's actions against Palestine.

“Throughout that time, I can’t recall that Malaysia was issued a démarche by the United States,” he said, implying that this was the first time that the US issued such a notice to Malaysia.

Nazri was also reported cautioning Wan Ahmad Fayhsal that Malaysia being issued the démarche was a serious matter.

“To me, it is not something that can be taken lightly, and definitely not something to chat about in a coffee shop in Machang.

“He should remember that there was a case of Mossad agents infiltrating our country and killing Hamas representatives here,” he said, adding that the issue should not be manipulated for political support.

Nazri was referring to the assassination of Palestinian engineering lecturer Fadi al-Batsh, who is also a Hamas member, in Kuala Lumpur in April 2018. In the incident, two men believed to be Mossad operatives, were on a motorcycle and fired at least 14 shots at Fadi killing him on the spot.

Yesterday, Anwar during the Prime Minister’s Question Time, alleged that the US had exerted pressure on Malaysia, with its State Department calling up the country's ambassador in Washington over the matter.

His office also confirmed with the press that Putrajaya had received a démarche notice from the United States on the Palestine-Israel conflict on October 13, while the US Deputy Chief of Mission to Malaysia, Chargé d'Affaires Manu Bhalla, had called on a deputy secretary-general of Malaysia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday.

The US State Department defined a démarche as a “formal diplomatic representation of its official position, views, or wishes on a given subject” which seeks to “persuade, inform, or gather information from a foreign government”, or to “protest or object to actions by a foreign government”.

Source: malaymail.com/

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https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2023/11/01/ambassador-nazri-us-state-dept-didnt-like-pm-anwars-criticism-of-israel-wanted-putrajaya-to-sympathise-with-israel/99602

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PAS Youth chief calls out Nga over criticism of Hamas-inspired costume at school

01 Nov 2023

KUALA LUMPUR: PAS Youth chief Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden questions why Chinese vernacular schoolchildren are allowed to wear costumes with replicas of weapons while Hamas-inspired costumes worn during Palestine Solidarity Week are considered extreme.

The Alor Setar MP also called out Cabinet member Nga Kor Ming, over a post on the latter's X account with a picture of two pupils wearing a face-covering mafla (scarf) while holding replicas of firearms saying: “Schools are not the place for conflict, extremism and terrorism.”

“Was he (Nga) referring to the costumes (worn by the children)? If yes, how about school programmes held in several SJKC (Chinese vernacular schools), where students freely wear costumes with weapons such as Japanese samurai?

“We never questioned this and said it was extreme but why when it comes to pupils wearing clothes like Hamas fighters, they are considered extreme?

"Was he (Nga) trying to say that Hamas is a terrorist organisation?” he told reporters at the media room in the Parliament building here on Wednesday (Nov 1).

Afnan Hamimi demanded the Local Government Development Minister explain himself as he claimed that Nga’s statement was against Malaysia’s stance of not recognising Hamas as terrorists, unlike several other countries.

“If Nga is saying Hamas is a terrorist organisation, that would contradict the Prime Minister’s statement who said Malaysia will not consider Hamas as a terrorist group.

“The public knows that this conflict goes beyond religion, it is a humanitarian crisis. I hope such a misunderstanding can be fixed, especially for a minister.

"I also hope the minister can provide an explanation,” he added.

Checks on social media found that several individuals, including Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh, had posed the same questions to Nga.

“How about this? Is this not extremism and terrorism?” Dr Akmal said, adding a screenshot of a now deleted post by a Chinese school’s account showing its pupils wearing costumes while holding samurai swords.

Source: thestar.com.my

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https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2023/11/01/pas-youth-chief-calls-out-nga-over-criticism-of-hamas-inspired-costume-at-school

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Over 1,300 detected with suicidal tendencies via new MySejahtera feature

 01 Nov 2023

BANGI – The Health Ministry today revealed some troubling figures related to suicide from 6,955 mental health screenings done through MyMinda.

Its minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa revealed there were a total of 1,315 individuals with suicidal tendencies recorded on MyMinda, the new feature on the MySejahtera application.

Speaking after launching the Minda Sihat Sejahtera Programme here, she said since the launch of the new feature, there have been a total of 6,955 responses.

“From these responses, 2,820 individuals were at risk of depression, 1,271 had symptoms of depression and others were going through anxiety.

“MyMinda consists of mental health screenings, psychosocial education resources and access to support services,” she said.

She said the ministry had only launched the new feature on October 22 and, within the short period, a large number had come forward to assess their mental health status.

“From the figures we diagnosed, we can say that it is very worrying.

“The ministry is now scrutinising the figures based on the age categories and our personnel will reach out to those concerned,” she said, adding that all the individuals were above the age of 18.

She added that the government will take several proactive measures to assist these individuals with their mental health issues and also keep track of their daily progress. – The Vibes, November 1, 2023

Source: thevibes.com

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https://www.thevibes.com/articles/news/99752/over-1300-detected-with-suicidal-tendencies-via-new-mysejahtera-feature

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M’sia commends 121 countries that stood up for Gaza via UN resolution

01 Nov 2023

KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia commends the 121 countries that had the courage to stand up for humanity and supported the resolution on Gaza proposed by Jordan, co-sponsored by 46 countries including Malaysia, calling for an immediate, durable and sustained humanitarian truce between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

Malaysia’s permanent representative to the United Nations (UN) in New York Datuk Ahmad Faisal Muhamad said the resolution adopted during the 10th Emergency Special Session (ESS) of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) also marked an important first step taken at the UN, bringing back a glimmer of hope, faith, and trust in the multilateral process.

“The adoption of the resolution is a sign that ‘we in the United Nations, hear the resounding cry of people around the world, demanding an immediate end to the massacre of innocent lives in Gaza’,” he said in delivering Malaysia’s statement at the emergency session that resumed yesterday.

The resolution entitled “Protection of Civilians and Upholding Legal and Humanitarian Obligations” was adopted with 120 affirmative votes, 14 against and 45 abstentions during the 10th ESS of the UNGA in New York on Friday.

Faisal said Malaysia joins others in demanding for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, adding that this is absolutely vital to stop further loss of life, and for necessary humanitarian work to be carried out.

“We call for the establishment of humanitarian corridors, as well as unhindered and unfettered humanitarian access, so that aid can reach those in need throughout Gaza, without any impediment. The supply of electricity, water and fuel must be restored. These are all life-saving essentials,” he said.

Malaysia also categorically rejected actions of forced displacement of the population of Gaza, where 1.4 million, or 62% of the population has been internally displaced.

Faisal also called on the UN Security Council (UNSC) to respond to the General Assembly resolution by taking prompt, unified and decisive actions.

Inaction would amount to complicity in the crimes against humanity committed in Gaza, he said, noting the UNGA’s proactive role compared to the Security Council’s inaction.

He expressed Malaysia’s disappointment with the UNSC’s paralysis due to the narrow self-interests of some member states.

Faisal also acknowledged and paid tribute to the humanitarian heroes serving in Gaza, stressing the need for their safety and protection.

In light of the dire humanitarian conditions in Gaza, Malaysia announced an additional emergency contribution to UNWRA, as it has been a regular contributor.

“In the last 24 hours, three more UNWRA staff have been killed, bringing the total to 67, since the war began. We join others in mourning the 67 UNWRA staff,” he added.

Malaysia remains resolute in its support for the self-determination of the Palestinian people through the establishment of a free and independent state of Palestine, in accordance with the two-state solution, based on pre-1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. – Bernama, November 1, 2023

Source: thevibes.com

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https://www.thevibes.com/articles/news/99746/msia-commends-121-countries-that-stood-up-for-gaza-via-un-resolution

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Israel-Hamas war has awakened anti-Muslim hate in Thailand

DaungyewaUtarasint

November 1, 2023

DaungyewaUtarasint is a visiting assistant professor at the Abu Dhabi campus of New York University. Her research focuses on political violence.

Amid the escalating conflict between Hamas and Israel, Malaysia and Indonesia have been among the countries most vocal in condemning Israel's counteroffensive in Gaza and the toll it is taking on Palestinian civilians.

By contrast, in neighboring Thailand, Israel's actions enjoy considerable support.

It may seem surprising that a predominantly Buddhist nation that sees itself as a peaceful and harmonious country would back even Israeli military actions that appear to violate international humanitarian law. A key reason is that Thai migrant workers featured prominently among the victims of Hamas' Oct. 7 surprise attack on Israeli towns and farms near Gaza. According to the Thai government, 33 workers were killed, 18 injured and 22 were taken captive into Gaza.

The tragedy thus has significantly heightened awareness in Thailand about the large number of workers from the country present in Israel -- and turned many Thais hostile to the Palestinian cause.

Experts and scholars, including myself, who have shared comments with Thai media about the Israel-Palestine conflict that do not conform with the now-prevailing view have faced a fierce backlash. Thousands have commented on YouTube, Facebook and TikTok, saying that I should not be considered Thai since I have sympathized with Palestinian civilians and am a Muslim scholar.

"Of course, you are Muslim, so you support them," is a typical comment. "You sound like a spokesperson for Hamas." Often, the commenters use the term khaek, a Thai slur for Muslims and South Asians.

Many of the social media comments say that Thai Muslim scholars and experts are betraying Thailand. The commenters reason that since Hamas killed Thais, those who express sympathy for the Palestinians should no longer be considered Thai.

"They killed our people. They deserve annihilation," said one such critic. Comments like, "Don't forget that they killed our people. Are you not Thai?" similarly show the depth of hatred stirred by Hamas' assault.

Nearly 30,000 Thais were working in Israel before the Hamas attack. Of those, only 8,400 registered with the Thai Embassy in Tel Aviv for repatriation. About 4,800 have so far been brought back.

Thailand's repatriation mission has encountered numerous challenges, but embassy staff in Tel Aviv and Abu Dhabi have been working tirelessly to help workers seeking to go home.

Some have changed their minds about leaving Israel at the last moment, while most continue to resist even signing up to leave. Of these, some are awaiting payment of salary for work already done, while others are clinging to the hope the conflict will not last long.

Thus, even as the fighting in Gaza intensifies and rocket fire from Lebanon into Israel increases, many Thais are more willing to face the dangers of war than to return to Thailand because they can earn 10 times as much as migrants. Indeed, the Thai Public Broadcasting Service reported last week that among a group of 995 Thais who had returned home, 424 wanted to go back to Israel and 76 others were still considering the idea.

Thai workers have been a growing presence in Israel since the aftermath of the first Intifada in 1987. At that time, Israel began replacing Palestinians who commuted from Gaza and the West Bank with migrants from Asia and Africa, especially in agriculture.

Israel signed a formal labor welfare agreement with Thailand in 2011, but subsequent reporting by Human Rights Watch and the BBC found that Thai agricultural workers continued to often encounter abuses while being housed in squalid conditions.

More than 170 workers were said to have died in Israel between 2012 and 2018. One who died in his sleep in 2013 was reported to have been working 17 hours a day, seven days a week, with no days off. Israeli health officials attributed many of the deaths to a genetic heart disorder prevalent among some tribes in northeast Thailand that can lead to sudden death among young men.

The aftermath of the Hamas attack should prompt the Thai government to consider how it can improve its ability to respond to similar situations. Until now, the Ministry of Labor has often failed to adequately inform outbound migrants of the risks associated with working near conflict zones and to consistently monitor and ensure the welfare of overseas workers.

Generalizing about religions, races and nations when addressing conflicts and violence is not helpful and indeed is often harmful. Thais need to understand that having sympathy for Palestinians does not imply disloyalty to Thailand. Equating Palestine with Hamas is a misrepresentation, just as much as suggesting that all Jews endorse Israel's aggressive retaliation.

Source: asia.nikkei.com

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https://asia.nikkei.com/Opinion/Israel-Hamas-war-has-awakened-anti-Muslim-hate-in-Thailand

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