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INDIA: Muslim Personal Law
All 3 forms - talaq-e-biddat, talaq hasan, talaq ahasan are unilateral,
extrajudicial, should be struck down; will bring new law to regulate marriage,
divorce among Muslims if SC bans, Centre tells SC: The Hindu/ Indian Express report
New Delhi: The Centre promised to enact a new divorce law for Muslim men
if the Supreme Court, as the "guardian of the Constitution", strikes
down all three forms of triple talaq unilaterally pronounced by a Muslim man to
his wife.The moment came in the day-long hearing on Monday when one of the
judges on the Constitution Bench, Justice U.U. Lalit asked Attorney-General
Mukul Rohatgi a question."So if we accept that giving unfettered rights to
a husband is bad and we strike down triple talaq, then where will Muslim men go
for divorce?" Justice Lalit asked."If Your Lordships strike down all
three forms of talaq, I (the Centre) will bring a law," Rohatgi replied to
that. “If the practice of instant divorce (triple talaq) is struck down by the
court, then Centre will bring a law to regulate marriage and divorce among the
Muslim community,” Rohatgi said as the Indian Expres reported.Chief Justice of
India J.S. Khehar, immediately cut in, observing that the Supreme Court is not
only the "guardian of the Constitution but also the guardian of the
Minority Act".Chief Justice observed that this matter involved
"tinkering with religion itself", and was not about any social
rights.Chief Justice Khehar insisted that the Govt should first address the issue whether triple
talaq is "essential to religion or not". This triggered a tit-for-tat
between the Bench and the Centre in court. Rohatgi objected to the court's line
of thinking, and said the Bench, also comprising Justices Kurian Joseph,
Rohinton Nariman and S. Abdul Nazeer, was approaching the problem of triple
talaq from the wrong end. "Your job is not to interpret the Quran. You are
not an ecclesiastical court to check whether a practice is essential to Islam
or not," Rohatgi said."Let's say, tomorrow you declare that triple
talaq is not an essential part of religion. So what? Nothing. The point is you
have to go a step further and strike down triple talaq. Declare it illegal. You
have to first decide whether this practice is against constitutional morality
or not," Rohatgi submitted. AG said all three forms of triple talaq –
talaq-e-biddat, talaq hasan and talaq ahasan – are "unilateral, extrajudicial,
inequal" and has to be struck down by the court.Rohatgi said the issues of
Muslim marriage and divorce was separated from religion in Shariat Act way back
in 1937 itself.He said practices of marriage and divorce have been codified as
"personal law" under Section 2 of the 1937 Act. The Bench has to test
them on the touchstone of the fundamental rights of gender equality, gender
justice, gender discrimination, human rights, dignity under Articles 14,15, 21
and 51A of the Constitution."What religious practices are essential to a
particular religion or faith is difficult to define for this court. But once
marriage and divorce is separated from religion, in this case under Section 2
of the 1937 Act, these practices of talaq no more enjoy the protection of
Article 25 (freedom of religion) of the Constitution. So talaq is out of
Article 25.Talaq has become 'law' under Article 13 and should be
constitutionally moral,"Rohatgi explained.He said the term
"constitutional morality" includes secularism, dignity and
non-discrimination."What may be permissible for society may not be
constitutionally moral. Nothing, no advocacy by man, will help you cover
something that is wrong by the Constitution. And here, one half of a community
suffers inequality from the male counterpart of the same community,"
Rohatgi submitted.AG went one step further. He submitted that even if talaq was
an essential part of religion and protected under Article 25, the practice
still had to be constitutionally moral."Article 25 is not without reasonable
restrictions. Article had to be subject to the fundamental rights. So no matter
whether a practice is essential to religion or not, talaq has to abide by the
principles of gender equality and Justice," Rohatgi submitted.To this,
Chief Justice Khehar reacted that "tenets of religion can neither be
tested on scientific grounds or on other grounds"."Then tell us why
are we here before a Constitution Bench if we cannot open the Constitution
book? Matters are referred to the Constitution Bench because they have
something to do with the Constitution," Rohatgi replied.Rohatgi asked what
the court would do if someone came to it saying Sati was an essential part of
Hindu religion."Women lived in fear of Sati until the law declared it
illegal. Muslim women want their dignity, freedom to live without fear of
triple talaq. They want to have a life equal to that of another woman, say a
Christian or a Hindu wife," Rohatgi submitted."Women should be equal,
but within the particular religion," Chief Justice Khehar reacted to
Rohatgi's comparison of Muslim women to those of other faiths."How can you
shut your eyes to it (right of the Muslim women)? Women in India are marching
shoulder-to-shoulder with men in every field. We are before a Constitution
Bench here and you cannot shut your eyes to her constitutional rights of
equality and gender justice," Rohatgi stressed. the hindu / indian express
SC open to address polygamy, nikah halala in future as Centre insists
deliberations on them
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday said it was keeping open for
adjudication in the future the issues of polygamy and ‘nikah halala’ among
Muslims as the Centre insisted deliberations on these aspects as well. “It may
not be possible to deal with all the three issues in the limited time we have.
It will be dealt in future,” the Bench clarified.The observation was made when
Attorney General (AG) Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the Centre, said that the
issues of polygamy and ‘nikah halala’ were also part of the order of a
two-judge Bench which had referred to the Constitutional bench the three
issues, including the practice of triple talaq among Muslims.“The scope of
referring had all the three issues that was divorce, nikah halala, polygamy.
All these three issues are before this court by virtue of the reference order
of the two- judge bench,” Rohatgi said.The Centre’s assertion assumes
significance in the backdrop of the remarks of the SC that it will only deal
with the issue of triple talaq that too if it was fundamental to Islam.AG asked
the bench also comprising Justices Kurian Joseph, RF Nariman, UU Lalit and
Abdul Nazeer to make it clear that the issues of polygamy and ‘nikah halala’
are still open and would be dealt by other bench in future.“It will be dealt
with in future,” the Bench clarified.PTI
Will bring new law to regulate marriage, divorce among Muslim community
if SC bans tripple talaq: Centre to SC
Law on Muslim marriage, divorce if triple Talaq scrapped: Centre to Supreme
Court
Muslim Personal Law board must take back 'women are emotional' comment:
Centre to Supreme Court
We will frame law on Muslim marriage if triple talaq declared illegal:
Centre to SC
Govt to SC: Will come up with law for Muslims if you strike down triple
talaq
Treat triple talaq as one revocable talaq: Khurshid to SC
In his Written Submissions to the 5 Judge Constitution Bench hearing
petitions challenging triple talaq, Senior Counsel Salman Khurshid has proposed
that Triple talaq be treated as one, revocable Talaq. “It is clear that the
practice in most Muslim countries is to treat Triple Talaq not as three
pronouncements in one sitting counting as a valid irrevocable divorce, but
rather as one pronouncement. The view that triple talaq cannot be an effective
divorce if made as three irrevocable pronouncements in one sitting is supported
by many judicial rulings over many decades, and as recently as 2008,” Khurshid
asserted, thereby submitting that this is the correct view, and is consonant
with the letter and spirit of the Quran. He went on to submit that the real
problem is neither triple talaq nor talaq per se but rather the fact that the
“institutional arrangement has been by-passed”, as even unilateral talaq by the
husband has to be for a reasonable cause, and preceded by attempts by mediators
from either side who report to a qazi, thereby signifying an element of
adjudication. Furthermore, Khurshid pointed out the lack of reliable data to
show that triple talaq amongst Muslims exceeds divorce amongst other
communities. He therefore submitted, “Unless talaq (which is only one part of a
comprehensive scheme of marriage and divorce) itself is found unacceptable, the
anxiety expressed about triple talaq seems misplaced given that there is more
than adequate judicial and legislative material to establish that irrespective
of the number to times talaq is expressed at one sitting it will count only as
one. It is humbly submitted that once that is taken as the accepted position
there is no further issue about Halala since talaq Ahsan allows a fresh nikah
in case the same couple wants to get back together.” In his submissions,
Khurshid also contended that the mere repetition of divorce thrice in one
sitting does not amount to a Mughallaza or final divorce. He cited Hadith to
submit that the Prophet considered three divorces in one sitting as one. He
made reference to an incident when once news was brought to him that one of his
disciples had divorced his wife, pronouncing the three talaqs at one and the
same time, the Prophet stood up in anger on his carpet, and declared that the
man was making a plaything of the words of God. The Prophet had then made him
take back his wife. Khurshid further submitted that the Quran has nowhere
ordained that the three divorces pronounced in a single breath will have the
effect of three separate divorces. “Therefore, according to the Holy Quran
divorce is permissible only twice during the lifetime of the husband. The
possibility of being with the wife is still open after two pronouncements of
divorce. It is only after the third divorce is pronounced that the divorce
becomes irrevocable. The essence of the provision is to give some time to the
husband to make a conscious decision as to whether he wants to irrevocably
break the marriage tie and also to stop the earlier practice of divorcing the
wife as many times as one may wish for during their lifetime,” he averred. With
regard to the scope of Court’s interference, Khurshid submitted that it is not
the role of the Courts to interpret Muslim Personal Law, but it can hold which
interpretation is correct. He therefore contended, “The role of the Court, not
being a body necessarily well versed in the intricacies of the faith or vested
with the trust and authority of its followers, is not to interpret the
teachings of the Holy Quran and the Hadis. The role of the Court is to look at
the interpretations offered by scholars and imams and decide which is the correct
one to apply to a given case.”
Triple talaq LIVE hearing: Issue isn’t the practice but is patriarchy,
says Kapil Sibal
Marriage of Muslim woman during ‘iddat’ not void: Delhi Court
New Delhi: As the issue of triple talaq is being debated in the Supreme
Court, a city court has ruled that the marriage performed by a Muslim woman
during the ‘iddat’ (waiting) period is not void. The Delhi court dismissed the
claim of a man, accused of domestic violence by his wife, that their wedding
was invalid as the per Islamic law, as she had not completed ‘iddat’ after
getting a divorce from her first husband.In Islamic law, a divorced woman has
to wait during the ‘iddat’ period for about three months before she can
remarry. “Any marriage performed by a Muslim woman during the iddat period is
an irregular marriage and not a void (batil) marriage. Hence, the contention of
the man on this aspect is found to be without any merits,” Special Judge
Bhupesh Kumar said while relying on a Supreme Court observation.The court said
there was “sufficient evidence” to issue notice to the Muslim man, who worked
with the Coal India Ltd in Chhattisgarh, under the domestic violence act,
saying “even depriving aggrieved person economically or financially amounts to
domestic violence.”In her complaint seeking Rs 10 lakh compensation and monthly
maintenance from the accused man, her second husband, the woman had said that
he had concealed his first wedlock from her and when she found out about it, he
started avoiding her and stopped sending her money. She said she had married
the accused after obtaining divorce from her first husband. The man, on the
other hand, denied that he had married the complainant, saying she was in the
‘iddat’ period and any wedding during this period is invalid.“As per Islamic law,
the female cannot remarry during ‘iddat’ period and any marriage taking place
during ‘Iddat’ period cannot be termed as valid marriage,” he said, adding that
the woman got divorced from her first husband on Oct.4, 2012 and the second
nikah was performed 2 days later.The court also rejected the man’s contention
that the provisions of Protection of Women from Domestic Violence (PWDV) Act
are not attracted as there are no allegations of physical, sexual or verbal
abuse in the application.PTI
‘Triple talaq’ a social evil, not integral to worship:Law Minister Prasad
PM Narendra Modi’s Govt stands with Muslim women on the triple talaq
issue as it is a matter of “gender justice, gender equality, gender dignity,”
Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said today. Holding that the issue of triple
talaq was a constitutional matter, the minister said the practice is not
integral to worship in Islam. “Triple talaq is not a part of Islamic worship
and we will oppose the practice. Many Muslim-majority countries have abolished
the practice,” Prasad said.“It is an issue of gender justice, gender equality,
gender dignity and our Govt will stand
by Muslim women no matter what,” he added.
Triple talaq should be declared invalid: Haryana Minister
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/triple-talaq-should-be-declared-invalid-haryana-min/1/954358.html
Ambala: Haryana minister Anil Vij today said triple talaq should be
declared invalid as most of the Muslim countries have done it and also women
from minority community in the country have been raising their voices against
it.The state Health Minister said that BJP Govt supports the rights of Muslim
women."Personally, I am of the view that triple talaq should be declared
as invalid," Vij said."Most of the Muslim countries have declared it
invalid and Muslim women have been raising their voice in India too against
triple talaq," he said.PTI
Talaq case: Muslim clerics defy Allahabad HCt's observations on fatwas,
say it has no jurisdiction
Agra: Islamic clerics in Agra have defied the Allahabad High Court's
observations on fatwas, asserting that the court had no jurisdiction over
Islamic religious matters under Article 25 of the Constitution of India - which
governs freedom of religion. Notably, the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad
had observed during the hearing of a case of a Muslim couple, that fatwas had
no legal standing, and couldn't be imposed forcibly on anyone.Opposing these
observations, Agra Mufti Abdul Khubaib Rumi said nobody has a legal right to
turn down the orders of the Islamic Court.Article 25 of the Constitution of
India specifically allows everyone the freedom to observe one's religion, and
similarly, Article 26-B gives everyone the right to have their own personal
religious beliefs, he said.If a Muslim gets married as per Sharia law, he
should also be allowed to seek talaq as per Sharia if the need arises, and the
Court shouldn't interfere in this matter, Rumi said.Qari Mudassar Ali Qadri
said this matter was connected to personal law, and that the Court couldn't
hold a hearing on this.He advised Muslims to contact only clerics in cases
related to personal law, and not take them to the Court - which he said had no
jurisdiction in these matters.Jamit-ul-Quresh district President Mohammed
Sharif Kale said that the High Court's observations on Islamic fatwas were
unacceptable, and went against the spirit of the Constitution.The Imam of a
local mosque said on the condition of anonymity that while Muslims may go to
the Supreme Court against the High Court's observations, it's a fact that
whatever the High Court at Allahabad has said will become the law unless it's
challenged in a higher court. indiatoday
OTHERS
Kulbhushan case: Pak objects India’s plea against death sentence, tells
ICJ it’s unnecessary and misconceived
New Delhi: Opposing India’s plea demanding suspension of Kulbhushan
Jadhav’s death sentence, Pakistan on Monday told the International Court of
Justice that India’s application is “unnecessary and misconceived”. Pakistan’s
counsel Khawar Qureshi told the ICJ that India is using the court as “the scene
of political theatre”.Raising the issue of Jadhav’s passport, Qureshi said
India has been unable to provide an explanation for Jadhav’s passport which
bears a Muslim name. Reacting to India’s allegations of Pakistan denying
consular access to Jadhav, Qureshi said the former naval officer has no right
to consular access. He also asserted that India did not respond to Pakistan’s
letters regarding Jadhav.Earlier in the day, India demanded immediate
suspension of Kulbhushan Jadhav’s death sentence, expressing fears that
Pakistan could execute him even before the hearing at ICJ was over. India’s
forceful submission was made as ICJ began hearing the case of the 46-year-old
former Navy officer who was arrested on March 3 last year and sentenced to
death by a Pakistani military court on charges of espionage and subversive
activities.Battling Pakistan in the UN’s highest judicial body, India said the
situation was grave and urgent, prompting it to approach the court “at such
short notice”. indianexpress
At ICJ, Pakistan says India's application on Kulbhushan Jadhav is
unnecessary, misconceived
ICJ reserves verdict on India's appeal to stay execution of Kulbhushan
Jadhav
Not one jot of evidence provided by India;Pakistan at ICJ
Kashmir not relevant to China-Pakistan corridor, Beijing says as Belt
and Road summit ends
Beijing: China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) , which passes through
Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), is not aimed at “third parties” and doesn’t
affect Beijing’s position on the Kashmir issue, foreign ministry said on
Monday.President Xi Jinping initiated the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) as a
roadmap for peace and he has said countries should respect each other’s
sovereignty and territorial integrity, the foreign ministry added.Referring to
India’s decision to skip the two-day Belt and Road Forum (BRF) in Beijing, the
ministry said in a statement: “Regarding the issue of Kashmir which the Indian
side is concerned about, we have been stressing that the issue was left over
from history between India and Pakistan, and should be properly addressed by
the two sides through consultation and negotiation.“CPEC is an initiative on
economic cooperation. It is not directed at any third parties, not relevant to disputes over territorial
sovereignty and does not affect China’s position on the Kashmir issue.”China
hosted at least 29 heads of state, including Russian President Vladimir Putin
and Pakistan PM Nawaz, Sharif, for the
conference.HT
Boycott China-made prayer mats: cleric
Charminar: A city-based religious leader has urged Muslims to exercise
caution before buying prayer rugs, mats or carpets that have been manufactured
in China.Maulana Mohammed Husamuddin Sani, who is a member of the United Muslim
Forum, a body of Muslim religious leaders, said given the restrictions on
practising Islam in China, which have been reported in sections of the media,
it is better to 'think twice before buying' Chinese prayer carpets. Timesofindia
No action to be taken against Indian Army Major who was 'congratulated
for his acumen' after tying Kashmiri 'human shield' to escape stone-pelting
mobs
The Court of Inquiry (CoI) convened by the Army in J&K has given a
clean chit to a Major who tied a civilian to an Army jeep's bonnet.Following
furore, Army had convened a CoI on April 15, two days after an FIR was filed by
J&K Police into the incident,allegedly involving a major from 53 Rashtriya
Rifles.No action has been recommended against the Major. A source confirmed,
'Court martial is out of the question. Not even disciplinary action was
recommended against the officer.' Sources say the 5-vehicle convoy led by Major
had soldiers, 12 poll officials, 9 ITBP men and two policemen.DailyMail
Govt responsible for current
crisis in Kashmir: J&K Jamaat Chief
Srinagar: Jamaat-e-Islami J&K Chief Ghulam Mohammad Bhat has sought
release of political prisoners particularly Hurriyat leaders for restoration of
peace in the State.In an exclusive interview with “The Kashmir Magazine” the
Jamaat Chief said that Govt by imposing
restrictions on the political activities of the Hurriyat leaders has given an
opportunity to the angered youth to take decisions on their own.Explaining his
argument on the lead role taken by youth Bhat said “When leadership has been
jailed and restrictions are imposed on the political activities of the
dissenting voices, the youth take decisions on their own. The political
detentions have largely contributed to the current crisis in Kashmir,” said
Bhat, who was re-elected as Jamaat-e-Islami Chief in August 2015 this year
after the completion of the term of Jamaat presidency by Mohammad Abdullah
Wani. In reply to a question Bhat said “the Kashmir dispute should be resolved
to respect the wishes and aspirations of the people and avoid a major
confrontation between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan”.All parties, India,
Pakistan and Kashmir, to the dispute must be involved to find a solution which
is acceptable to all of us” Bhat said.kashmirmonitor
Palestinian leader Abbas kicks off India visit with tech tour
New Delhi:Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas began a three-day visit to
India on Monday with a tour of an IT facility that is helping Ramallah build a
high-end tech hub.Abbas, who arrived late Sunday, will hold talks on the Middle
East peace process, among other issues, with PM Narendra Modi in coming days.But his first
stop was to a technology institute outside Delhi where India is lending its IT
know-how to help Palestine spur job creation in the tech sector.India agreed in
October to spend $12 million financing a new IT hub in Ramallah in a sign of
India’s “strong commitment to support (the) Palestinian cause”, the foreign
ministry said at the time.Abbas and his delegation spent nearly two hours touring
the Centre for Development of Advance Computing. The Palestinian leader will
this evening attend a function at the India Islamic Cultural Centre in New
Delhi.Abbas will on Tuesday be formally welcomed at the presidential palace
before meeting Modi, Indian President Pranab Mukherjee and Foreign Minister
Sushma Swaraj.New Delhi is hosting Abbas ahead of Modi’s visit to Israel in
July -- the first by an Indian PM .India has traditionally voiced its support
for Palestinian statehood, initially shunning diplomatic relations with the
Jewish state.The frost has thawed, however, with India -- the world’s biggest
arms importer -- increasingly seeking closer defense ties with Israel, a top
weapons exporter.AFP
Palestinian leader Abbas visit signals a shift: The hindu
Yogi Adityanath agrees with VHP’s demand to rebuild temple at Ghazi
Baba's mazaar site
Lucknow: CM Yogi Adityanath statement at a VHP programme might kick up
another storm as he expressed his agreement over the VHP's demand to rebuild a
Surya Temple at Balaar in Bahraich, rename Lucknow's Sainik School on Raja
Suheldev and construct a memorial in name of Raja Suheldev. Interestingly,
after raking up contentious issues at Ayodhya, Mathura and Kashi, RSS might add
construction Surya Temple at Bahraich in its agenda. What is certain to stir up
hornet's nest is CM Aditya Nath Yogi's nod to VHP's demand.CM was speaking at VHP's 'Hindu Vijay Utsav'
programme at Scientific Convention Centre being held to mark the victory of
Raja Suheldev over Muslim invader Ghazi Saiyyad Salar Masud, who also was the
nephew of army general of Mahmud Ghazni. In this country, name anyone who will
not have respect for Ashfaaque Ullah Khan, Abdul Hameed and APJ Abdul Kalam,
but it has also to be decided whether those who claim a connect with Ghazni,
Ghauri, Khilji, Babar and Aurangzeb, should be given any space or not, Yogi
said.Clarifying that a new education policy was on the anvil, the CM said that the UP Govt would include great personalities of the
country like Raja Suheldev, Lakhan Pasi, Jhalkari Bai in the course textbooks
of the students. The new education policy would be implemented by the next
academic session, the saffron-clad CM said. Mahmud Ghazni and his nephew had
plundered the country and had even demolished maths and temple and then used to
divide the country, the CM said and added that but Raja Suheldev had understood
their gameplan. After foreign invasion, the country forgot about the Indian
heroes, Raja Suheldev had united many smaller kingdoms but the honour he should
have got, eluded him, Yogi further said. timesofindia
Adityanath defends ‘selfless’ RSS, wants debate on nationalism
Lucknow: CM Yogi Adityanath at an event on Sunday defended the RSS from
charges of spreading communalism in the country. He called it an organisation
that worked selflessly and called for a debate on who is communal and who is a
nationalist. Claiming that RSS worked with the cooperation of society, the CM said,
“But when it works in any slum or backward area, wanting to generate
nationalist sentiments and respect for the motherland in every citizen, then
finger is raised against it and it is said that it spreads communalism. Is it
not the best time to hold a debate on nationalism?…who is communal and who is
nationalist in the country… Should a difference between nationalism and
communalism not be there?”He was speaking at the “Hindu Vijyotsav”, organised
by VHP, where he was the chief guest. indianexpress
Assam: New Tea Board chief Bezbaruah says only RSS can unite hindus,
wants migrants de-franchised
Hojai: Many quarters, including a section of the media, might dislike
the RSS, but it is the RSS that can bring about Hindu unity in order to help
take the country forward, Prabhat Kamal Bezbaruah, the newly appointed chairman
of Tea Board, said here on Sunday. He also called for disenfranchising
Bangladeshi infiltrators to “resist the demographic invasion” in Assam. Bezbaruah,
a tea planter, was named Tea Board chairman on May 5. He was attending a
training camp here for RSS volunteers from Assam, Nagaland and Meghalaya. Hojai
in central Assam, about 140 km from Guwahati, is where the RSS has its most
important training centre in the Northeastern region. Speaking as the chief guest
at the closing ceremony of the 20-day camp, Bezbaruah said, “We did not have
Hindu unity. That is why we were ruled by Muslim nawabs and kings for about
1,000 years and for about 200 years by the British.” indian express
Police ask mosques to make announcements on Najeeb
New Delhi: With JNU student Najeeb Ahmed missing for over 200 days now,
the Delhi Police has approached mosques in the national capital and
neighbouring UP to make regular
announcements on him in the hope of making some headway in the case.Najeeb went
missing after a scuffle at his hostel allegedly with ABVP members on the night
of Oct.14. A reward of Rs 10 lakh was announced by police for any information
about him.The probe into his disappearance has turned up no clue so far with
police continuing to grope in the dark.A senior police officer summed it up
succinctly: "Despite so many teams working on the case, we have failed to
make any headway." Now, they have turned to mosques for help.The
investigating officers met the imam of Fatehpuri Masjid in Chandni Chowk and
requested him to make announcements about Najeeb during prayers. "We asked
them to request people to share any clues or information about Najeeb. We have
even requested imams of other mosques in Delhi, neighbouring areas and some
cities in UP like Badaun, Bareilly where
Najeeb has stayed to make regular announcements," said a senior police
officer.Police have also requested them to share information about the
disappearance with "jamaats" who travel between mosques. Meanwhile,
Najeeb's family members say they have lost faith in the police."We are as
clueless about Najeeb now, as we were on the first day," said Najeeb's
brother Mujeeb.He said the police has done "little" in tracing his
brother and has only "harassed" them.PTI
Muslim scholars for guard against ‘insiders disintegrating community’: Indian express
Ahmedabad:Muslim scholars from different schools of thoughts on Sunday
appealed to people to be on guard against efforts of insiders unwittingly
disintegrating the community by playing into hands of anti-Islam forces.
Following a brainstorming session at Bhagat Singh Hall in Saraspur, the Muslim
leaders also concern over Waqf funds of crores of rupees lying idle. The meet
was organised by Noor E Mohammadi Education and Social Welfare Trust, a local
welfare body. Mufti Rizwan Tarapuri, head of All India Milli Council,
explaining the modus operandi of anti-Islam forces, said in the guise of
scholars they spread controversial thoughts on orders from those wanting to
disintegrate the community over differences in belief. “We must ignore these
elements. The anti-Islam forces are eyeing Asian countries now to break Muslim
unity. Let us spread message of love from all platforms. The unity lies in
reviving our past glory,” he said.Iqbal Shaikh, ex- member of the Central Waqf
Council, said:“They (anti-Islam forces) conduct daily drills, but Muslim youths
are in slumber.” He claimed Waqf funds of around Rs 4.90 lakh crore in the
country were lying idle. “Even if 10% of the idle is used properly for welfare
of the community, it will a great service to the community”, he said. Shaikh
also criticised the “criminal” attitude of several tenants of Waqf properties
and said they pay rent as per market rates that existed 2 to 3 decades ago. He
said at many places trusts and Waqf boards were hands in gloves in selling its
properties even after Nov.2013 when sales of these properties was banned.
AMU VC ends tenure on sour note, skips farewell party after protests
The tenure of AMU V-C Lt General
Zameer Uddin Shah did not end without a controversy. Following an uproar in the
varsity after the announcement of his grand farewell plans, the VC himself
skipped the event on Saturday.Soon after the announcement of a big farewell
event for the VC, the university's students' union (AMUSU) launched large-scale
protests, bringing down posters and hoardings of the event which was to be held
at polytechnic department auditorium. After Shah did not turn up for the
Saturday's event, 2 other farewell programmes scheduled for Sunday were also
cancelled. The members of AMUSU and ex-president of the union said that the VC,
who has been accused of several irregularities, should answer their questions
instead of attending a party.However, a member of the farewell organising
committee, Dr Rahat Abrar, claimed that to avoid a confrontation, the panel
requested the VC and pro vice chancellor Brig Syed Ahmad Ali not to come for the
function. He added that a farewell was given to Lt Gen Shah at the VC's lodge
on Sunday. Timesofindia
Muslims caught between hostile atmosphere and appeasement: Karnataka
CM's adviser Mattu
Mangaluru: Muslims in the country are at a crossroads now as they are
caught between appeasement and a hostile atmosphere, Dinesh Amin Mattu, media
adviser to the CM , said here on Sunday. Speaking at the Muslim Youth Conference,
organised by the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), he said that an
accused became a convict only if charges were proved. But in the case of
Muslims in the country they were being projected as convicts even before
proving charges.He said that those who tried to appease the community have not
given much benefits to them. The community should think about why they have not
been able to emerge as a force with powerful leadership. The community should
recognise and give patronage to leaders within, he said.Mattu said that Muslims
have contributed to the freedom struggle and have sacrificed their lives in
battlefields.Muslim rulers had faced the British in the early stages of freedom
struggle. But this fact has been sidelined in the projection that the country
got Independence mainly through non-violence movement, he said. thehindu
WORLD
Top court upholds life sentence for prominent Bangladesh Jamaat preacher
Sayeedi
Dhaka: Bangladesh’s top court, on Monday, upheld a life sentence for an
Islamist preacher convicted of war crimes, rejecting calls for him to be hanged.The
Supreme Court stood by its 2014 decision to jail Delwar Hossain Sayeedi for
life over atrocities committed during Bangladesh’s 1971 war of independence
against Pakistan.Sayeedi’s lawyers wanted the prominent member of
Jamaat-e-Islami, Bangladesh’s largest Islamist party, acquitted while Govt attorneys sought capital punishment for 77-year-old
cleric.“ Court rejected the review appeals by both sides,” Sayeedi’s lawyer
Tanvir Al Amin told AFP. 5 Jamaat leaders, including Motiur Rahman Nizami, have
been executed for their alleged part in bloody crimes during the war of
independence.Sayeedi was sentenced to death in 2013 by a war crimes tribunal,
despite criticism by human rights groups that the proceedings failed to meet
international norms.The verdict triggered some of the worst political violence
in years in the Muslim-majority nation, with scores left dead as tens of
thousands clashed with police.AFP
Largest Islamist movement in Algeria refuses to join Govt
The leader of Algeria’s largest Islamic movement stressed on Sunday that
it would not be joining the Govt , Quds Press has reported. Abdul Razzaq
Al-Maqri of the Movement of Society for Peace said that the executive bureau of
the group has decided to remain in opposition.“We must keep up with the
democratic logic,” he explained. “The party which wins should be in the Govt and the one which does not win remains in
opposition.”Al-Maqri revealed last week that the group had received an offer
from President Abdelaziz Bouteflika to join the upcoming Govt . Although there
could be coalitions formed, he continued, the movement does not see it
happening in Algeria.The senior politician reiterated his movement’s commitment
to strive for a democratic political project in the country. “We are optimistic
about the future although we are not going to be part of the Govt ,” he
repeated. Furthermore, Al-Maqri denied that his movement is a branch of Muslim
Brotherhood, Tunisia’s Ennahda or Morocco’s Justice and Development Party. Such
comparisons between the three parties is illogical, he insisted, as the
circumstances differ in countries across the region. He suggested that the
experience of Ennahda in Tunis is similar to his own movement’s experience in Govt
15 years ago. middleeastmonitor
Tehran mayor Qalibaf quits presidential race, backs hardliner Ebrahim
Raisi:Reuters
Tehran Mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf quit the Iranian presidential race
on Monday, backing instead hardline cleric Ebrahim Raisi in Friday's
vote.Qalibaf, a former Revolutionary Guards commander and police chief, was one
of the main challengers to President Hassan Rouhani who is seeking a second
term.In the last election four years ago, Qalibaf finished second but with just
16.5 % of the vote. Rouhani, who pledged to reduce Iran's international
isolation and grant more freedoms at home, averted a second round by winning
just over 50 percent.This time around, establishment conservative hardliners
who want to unseat Rouhani are mainly placing their trust in Ebrahim Raisi, a
jurist and Shi'ite cleric who studied at the feet of Supreme Leader Ayatollah
Ali Khamenei.They were not happy that the maverick Tehran mayor was standing
again and thereby raising the risk of splitting the anti-Rouhani vote."I
should take an important decision to keep the unity of revolutionary
forces," Qalibaf said in a statement published in state media. "I ask
all my supporters around the country to use all their capacity to help my
brother, Ebrahim Raisi, win the election."Raisi and Qalibaf were following
the same campaign tactics, criticising Rouhani's economic record and his policy
of detente with the West. Both presidential hopefuls jumped on the Islamic
Republic's unemployment rate, which rose to 12.4% last year, up 1.4% from the
previous year.
Conservative Ghalibaf withdraws from Iran Prez race
Rouhani’s deputy promises to defend rights of Sunnis
The first vice president of Iran has promised his country’s Sunni
Muslims that he will defend their rights if he is elected. Presidential
candidate Eshaq Jahangiri made his promise during a conference about “Ahl
Al-Sunnah in Tehran” organised by the Advocacy and Reform Group and Sunni MPs
in the Iranian Parliament on Sunday.“I met last week with Shaikh Abdolhamid
Ismaeelzahi, Imam of the Sunnis in Iran, and some Sunni scholars,” explained
Jahangiri, “and promised to defend the rights of Sunni citizens.” He added that
the development movement in Iran started with the reformist Govt of former President Mohammad Khatami and
continued with the current Govt of President Hassan Rouhani. “Iran,” he claimed,
“is an ethnically and religiously diverse society, where Shia, Sunnis, Turks
and Kurds live and the state is not monopolised by one community.” According to
Rouhani’s deputy, compared to past, Sunnis now have some advantages. “We have
opened up the field of diplomacy and appointed a Sunni ambassador.They must be
present in all official positions.”Indicating that he had met with many Sunni
representatives in Iran during his campaign, and listened to their problems and
demands, Jahangiri assured them that the current Govt seeks to fulfil their
constitutional rights. middleeastmonitor
Iranian-backed militia warned to keep away from Yezidi areas
A Kurdish leader has warned an Iranian-backed militia to keep away from
Yezidi areas in Sinjar. Masoud Barzani accused the group of breaching an agreement
which rejects any Shia presence in the Kurdish region.Barzani’s warning was
aimed at the Popular Mobilisation Forces militia (Hashd Al-Shaabi) during a
meeting with security and military officials from Sinjar following a campaign
by the PMF to control villages around the Yezidi town over the weekend. Kurdish
sources reported that the militia laid siege to the Yezidi areas of Tal Qasab
and Tal Banat on Saturday and Sunday. A Kurdish Peshmerga military official who
attended the meeting between Barzani and Sinjar officials told Rudaw TV that
the Shia group had changed its plans by attacking Yezidi-populated areas and
breaching the agreement between Erbil and Baghdad. Middleeastmonitor
US plan to arm Kurdish militia casts shadow over Trump-Erdogan talks
Ankara: Angered by a US decision to arm Kurdish YPG fighters in Syria,
Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan heads to Washington this week for talks with
Donald Trump seeking either to change the president's mind or to "sort
things out ourselves".Trump's approval of plans to supply the YPG as it
advances towards the Islamic State stronghold of Raqqa, just days before his
first meeting with Erdogan, has cast a shadow over Tuesday's planned talks
between the two NATO allies. Ankara, a crucial partner in the US-led coalition
against Islamic State, considers YPG an extension of the Kurdistan Workers
Party (PKK), which has waged an insurgency in Turkey's mainly Kurdish southeast
for three decades and is designated a terrorist group by Turkey, the European
Union and United States.Washington sees the YPG as distinct from the PKK and as
a valuable partner in the fight against Islamic State. Reuters
Syria army 'moves into area' where rebels evicted ISIL
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/05/syria-army-moves-area-rebels-evicted-isil-170515043533965.html
The Syrian army and allied armed groups have started moving large
numbers of troops to a desert region on the country's border with Iraq and
Jordan as US-backed rebels make advances nearby, according to rebel sources.
Speaking to the Reuters news agency on Monday, rebel sources and commanders
said that hundreds of Syrian soldiers and fighters from Iranian-backed militias
have in recent days poured into the town of Sabaa Biyar, located in a
sparsely-populated desert territory that stretches to the Jordanian and Iraqi
border known as the Syrian Badia.In recent weeks, US-backed Free Syrian Army
(FSA) fighters had been advancing in the area, from which the ISIL recently
pulled out. Sabaa Biyar, a remote town near the strategic Damascus-Baghdad
highway, was captured by the army and its allies last week as they seek to
prevent areas left by ISIL from falling into the hands of Western-backed rebels
such as the FSA. "They have sent big reinforcements from artillery, to
tanks and armoured vehicles," Major Issam Al Reis, the spokesperson for
FSA's Southern Front group, told Reuters.
Palestinians mark 69th 'Nakba' anniversary with rallies
Palestinians are commemorating the 69th anniversary of the
"Nakba", the "day of catastrophe" in which Israel was
officially declared a state following the forced removal of more than 750,000
Palestinians from their homes and the destruction of over 500 villages and
towns.People across historic Palestine - including Israel, the occupied West
Bank and the Gaza Strip - are holding rallies, marches and candlelight vigils
on Monday, as well as sounding sirens.Israel has made publicly commemorating Nakba
increasingly difficult for Palestinians, with a "Nakba Law" that
authorises Israel's finance minister to revoke funding from institutions that
reject Israel's character as a "Jewish state" or mark the country's
"Independence Day" as a day of mourning. aljazeera
Palestinian prisoners defiant despite Israeli pressures
Ramallah:Hundreds of Palestinian prisoners on Monday entered their 29th
day of an open-ended hunger strike in Israeli jails to demand better
conditions. Spearheaded by long-term prisoner Marwan Barghouti, the mass strike
is considered one of the largest by Palestinian prisoners in recent years. “The
strike aims to retain many of the prisoners’ rights taken away by the Israeli
prison administration,” Issa Qaraqe, head of the Palestine Liberation
Organization (PLO)’s committee on detainees, told Anadolu Agency. He said
jailed Palestinians demand the resumption of bi-monthly family visits, which
were halted last year, and allowing visits by second-degree relatives.
Afghan Taliban reject Hezb-e-Islami talks claim
Kabul: Taliban in Afghanistan on Monday rejected reports that they are
in contact with leaders of the party led by Gulbuden Hekmatyar.On Sunday, a
section of local media reported that the Hezb-e-Islami and the Taliban are in
contact for a peaceful resolution of the years-long conflict in the
country.“Inside the country and abroad, we are in touch with some Taliban
leaders that are willing to join the peace process”, local media quoted
Qareebur Rehman Saeed, spokesman for the Hezb-e-Islami, as saying.Swiftly
rejecting the claim, the Taliban issued a statement on Monday saying no such
contacts were made.“We strongly reject the claim... the Hezb-e-Islami members
should not propagate such things which are far from reality”, Zabehullah
Mujahed, spokesman for the Taliban said in a statement.It added: “Islamic
Emirate’s [Taliban] stance is [clear] that laying arms in front of enemy, and
supporting enemy in its evil designs is against Sharia”.When contacted, Nadir
Afghan, spokesman for the Hezb-e-Islami, told Anadolu Agency that there is a
minor confusion on what his colleague told local media, and what it was
reported and conceived by the Taliban.“We have not said that official contact
with the Taliban’s political office in Qatar has been made for peace talks, he
said, adding: "There are some Taliban commanders and leaders, with whom we
are in contact, are willing to shun violence and join the peace process.”
Anadolua agency
Christian militias kill up to 30 Muslim civilians in CAR
Bangui, Central African Republic:Hundreds of civilians are seeking
refuge inside a mosque in the Central African Republic’s border town of
Bangassou amid ongoing attacks by Christian militias that have killed up to 30
civilians, U.N. officials and aid workers said on Sunday.The attacks throughout
the weekend on the town of Bangassou on the Congolese border have involved
hundreds of fighters with heavy weaponry and appeared to be aimed at Muslims,
they said, in the latest sign that the multi-year conflict is worsening. UN
base there has also been targeted, prompting the deployment of extra troops to
the remote town on Sunday in anticipation of further attacks. They had
succeeded in partly securing the town by dusk, said Herve Verhoosel, spokesman
for the U.N. mission (MINUSCA).“The situation is extremely deplorable and we
are doing everything to rapidly retake control of Bangassou,” MINUSCA chief
Parfait Onanga-Anyanga told Reuters in an interview. Asked about the civilian
death toll, he added: “It is clear that we are looking at numbers that could
easily reach 20 to 30.” Many of the fighters are child soldiers who appeared to
be under the influence of drugs, he added.Local Red Cross President Pastor
Antoine Mbao Bogo said gunfire continued to ring out from the town on Sunday,
blocking attempts by his organization and others to reach the wounded and recover
the dead.Reuters
Massacre in CAR forces hundreds to seek refuge in mosque
Myanmar: EU urges humanitarian access to Rakhine state
Yangon:A top EU official on Monday called on Myanmar’s Govt to grant full humanitarian access to the
western Rakhine state, decrying the worsening situation since the military
locked down the area last year.“During my visit I saw that malnutrition rates
have deteriorated after the recent crisis,” said European Commissioner for
Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides after a 2-day visit
to Rakhine’s northern Maungdaw area to assess the humanitarian situation there.AA
State of emergency in Yemen's Sanaa over cholera crisis
A state of emergency has been declared in Yemen's rebel-held capital,
Sanaa, according to the local Saba news agency, after a cholera outbreak killed
scores of people over the past two weeks. The health ministry of the Houthi Govt
announced the measure late on Sunday,
saying that "the number of casualties surpassed the normal rates,
exceeding the capacity of the health system, which has become unable to contain
this unprecedented health and environmental disaster".The ministry's
statement came after the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said on Sunday that a
cholera outbreak has killed 115 people between April 27 and May 13. aljazeera
FLASH: NEWS & VIEWS
Adityanath's Govt wants ghar wapsi, but it first needs to curb violence
against Dalits:Somak Ghoshal Editor, HuffPost India
‘For elections, we are Hindu. After that we are Dalits’: Bhim Army
founder explains his ideology
Minority report for BJP-Recognising Muslim communities as
religious-cultural minorities, cannot be called appeasement: Hilal Ahmed ,
associate professor, CSDS
For those who look for Gujarati martyrs: Aakar Patel, Executive
Director, Amnesty International India
Ball in SC: Triple divorce is neither fundamental to Islam, nor is it
sacramental. It can’t be an enforceable civil right: Tahir Mahmood
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 8:44 PM)
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