Evening NEWS
DIGEST
INDIA :
LYNCHING & COMMUNAL
VIOLENCE, crimes
Hindutva Goons Beat Youths in Muslim Majority Neighborhood of Delhi
New Delhi:Encouraged by the inaction against by the authorities,
Hindutva gangs have become so bold as to take their gangsterism to the
country’s capital itself especially to the Muslim dominated localities. Last
night they attacked and seriously injured Muslim youths in Bara Hindu Rao—
a muslim majority area, Daily Indquilab
has reported.According to the daily, police has not even registered an FIR
against anyone describing the incident only as a minor scuffle.At about 11pm
last night, Abdurrehman, a resident of Kedara which is a part of Bara Hindu Rao
was along with his friend going on a bike towards Pahaadi Dheeraj, a Hindu
majority area, when the goons standing there stopped them and asked their
names. After learning that they were Muslims the goons got hold of Abdurrehman
by his beard and dragged him in a dhaba and started beating him. Abrurrehman’s
brother Afaq said, “Dragging my brother by his beard they took him in a nearby
dhaba and started beating him mercilessly. They pulled his beard so hard that
some of the hairs came in the hands of the attackers and darkness fell before
his eyes. He started yelling out in pain. Struggling to get himself free
somehow he got hold of something and he threw it at the assailants that gave him
chance to flee from there.”Afaq further said, “Police arrived at the scene
after Abdurrehman made three phone calls to them. Instead of taking the victims
to hospital they took them to Sadarbazar police station. Even after being
reminded by us that they needed medical aid police did not pay any attention.
And we had to take them to hospital ourselves.”According to the witnesses, a
few yards away where Abdurrehman was being assaulted, another Muhammad Saleem, from Bihar, was also being
held and beaten where he had happened to come to buy ice cream.Meanwhile in yet
another incident, a young Imam travelling in a train from Gaya was attacked and
pushed out of the compartment.Gulzar Ahmad, originally from Bhagalpur, is an
Imam in a mosque in Gaya. Yesterday he took a train to Bhagalpur. “When I
boarded the train the compartment was quite empty. As more passengers arrived
it started becoming crowded. About an
hour later after departure a young man came
to me and looked at me and abruptly pulled me by my collar with such a
force that I fell down. As I fell others started shouting, ‘Maro, maro’ (kill
him kill him).” Gulzar says.He adds, “There were four to 5 women sitting there
who took mercy on me and requested them to leave me alone. They left me but
then some passengers started shouting, ‘take his mobile’, ‘tear his
clothes.’ I kept quiet and did not utter
a single word. Had I said something my fate would have been worse than Junaid.
There was only a small group that had attacked Junaid, but here where I was, the
whole train would have lynched me. Everyone was shouting, ‘A Muslim has no
right to sit on a seat. Get him out of here. The speed of the train was very
slow at that time. They threw out my luggage and pushed me out from the
emergency exit. I then somehow managed to go down 2 compartments ahead hanging
on the window.”Caravan Daily
Opposition to demand enactment of anti mob lynching law MASUKA
New Delhi: Opposition on July 19 will be
getting together demanding enactment of Manav Suraksha Kanoon (MASUKA) law
against the issue of mob lynching and atrocities being unleashed on Dalits and
minorities in the country.congress MPs Shashi Tharoor, Digvijaya Singh, CPI(M)
MP M.B Rajesh, AAP leader Sanjay Singh, RJD leader Manoj Jha, JDU leader Pavan
Verma along with representatives from Samajwadi Party, NCP and BSP have decided
to unite over the issue of issue of mob lynching and enactment of MASUKA
law.The aim of the law is to curb and punish mob lynching, whether provoked in
the name of the cow protection or any other reason.The leaders will be
insisting Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Government to enact this law and
start a discussion on the need for such legislation.Meanwhile, the Congress
Party has given a notice for tomorrow in the Rajya Sabha, requesting discussion
on mob lynching incidents under the garb of cow protection.ANI
BJP MLA grabs masjid land illegally in Varanasi, 10 injured in ensuing
clash
On Sunday night, communal tension erupted in Sigra area of Narendra
Modi’s constituency Varanasi on a case of land grabbing. Newly elected BJP MLA
from Pindra seat of Varanasi Awadhesh Singh allegedly held a land piece which
is said to be of a proposed Mosque. On Sunday evening, Awadhesh Singh’s
supporters and workers started erecting a boundary wall around the land. Some
local Muslims reached at the land site and opposed the construction. The debate
between the two sides and reached the nearby Sigra police station. While the
Muslims were shouting slogans and asking police to stop the construction, some
fringe elements threw stones from mob. Following this, stone pelting started
from both sides leaving around 10 people injured. Police dispersed the crowd by
using mild lathicharge, with the use of tear gas and pepper bombs. More force
was asked and deployed in the area to bring calm. Police has imposed Section
144 at the site, and has claimed that tension was spontaneous, not planned. With
the incident, tension has increased in the area because of Month of Saawan. Saawan
usually gets high number of Shiva worshipers due to which administration is put
on high alert. Local sources have informed TCN that tension lasted for at least
an hour and the protestors were repulsed towards a different locality. The
information also revealed that alleged land grabber MLA had the land in
possession from past few years, he used to tie his cows at the land. But on Sunday,he
suddenly started building a wall around the land.TCN
Two groups clash over disputed land in Varanasi: TOI
Ludhiana pastor murder: No trace of killers; Amarinder orders crackdown
on elements trying to whip up communal passions
Chandigarh: Having failed to trace Ludhiana pastor Sultan Masih's
killers, the Punjab Police on Sunday got 'crackdown' orders from the Chief
Minister Captain Amarinder Singh.Chief minister's orders came after 20 hours
when Sultan Masih was shot dead by two unidentified motorcycle-borne assailants
at Salem Tabri locality of Ludhiana. The police is clueless about the armed
killers who were wearing masks when they shot the pastor from a close range.
The incident took place outside a church when the pastor was talking to someone
on his mobile phone."Taking a serious view of the killing, Captain
Amarinder Singh has directed DGP Suresh
Arora to order a police crackdown on
elements trying to whip up communal passions in the state by indulging in such
attacks and to remain on high alert against such forces," a Punjab
government spokesperson said on Sunday.The chief minister has also directed DGP
to ensure that the various departments of the police and intelligence in the
state liaison and coordinate with one another to gather advance intelligence to
prevent the recurrence of such incidents, the spokesperson said.
Pastor shot dead outside Ludhiana church
Rakesh Sinha of RSS booked under non-bailable sections in Bengal
Police in Kolkata have booked RSS ideologue, Rakesh Sinha, under several
non-bailable sections for inciting communal violence.Sinha has been accused of
posting a communally insensitive tweet on 12 July using his Twitter account.
He’s booked under 153 A1 (A)(B), 505(1)(B),295A,120B. According to Sinha’s
lawyer, one Manoj Kumar Singh filed the complaint against him, calling his post
“provocative” that can lead to communal tension and riots.“FIR has been lodged
against me in Kolkata without any evidence and registered without any
annexture. Mamata Banerjee wants to silence her opponents and this mentality
needs to be crushed.Freedom of Expression is under threat and she is using the
police and administration as the B-team of TMC,”Sinha told Mail Today.JantaKaReporter
Nagpur: Salim Shah’s neighbours at Hattikhana come out in his support
Katol:Resentment is running high in Katol taluka's Hattikhana hamlet,
where almost every resident stands in support of 32-year-old Salim Shah, who
was recently beaten up by 'gau-rakshaks' for allegedly carrying beef. He is
currently in police custody on the same charge. Shah's family is still reeling
in uncertainty and fear, even as the neighbours express solidarity with the man
who has grown up along with them. Local civic body employee Manoj Shendre,
local grocer Shabbir Shah, Gaffoor Sheikh, Vicky and many others came out to
speak in favour of Shah when TOI visited the area on Sunday.It was only after
neighbours started speaking that the family members too walked out of the house
to share information. "He was in great pain, specially behind the ears and
head. People consume tobacco, which is banned, but do you thrash anyone in such
merciless manner," asked a family member."His wife (Nazreen) is still
hospitalized due to the trauma. The children are on the verge of falling ill,
as there is no one to take care of them; the rest of the family is engaged in
arranging bail and helping Shah, who is now in police custody," said
another kin, who was visiting the family.Shah's father Ismail was too cagey to
step out of the home, while the children had fear writ on their faces. The poor
family does not know how to cope with the situation.This was their first
interaction with police machinery. Every stranger at their doorstep is seen as
a police personnel in plain clothes or an informer.As the bandobast has been
withdrawn from the locality, strangers stepping into the neighbourhood get
curious looks from nearby houses. Media has become a regular feature for the
neighbours and also the Shahs.BJP's incumbent minority cell president of the
district, Ramzan Ansari, also a neighbour of Shah, too said there was nothing
objectionable about Shah's behaviour. He still feels that those who thrashed
Shah should be punished. TOI
Greater Noida: 2 men beaten up for ‘stealing cows’, held
Two people were beaten up in Namauli village in Greater Noida for
allegedly stealing cows and handed over to the police.The two have been
identified as Navbahar and Shiv Kumar, both from Dankaur. According to the
police, they are aged between 22 and 25 years.Police said the incident took
place around 2pm on Saturday when some people of Namauli village spotted the
two youth goading three cows into a transport van near LG Chowk.2 of the
villagers claimed that the cows belonged to them. HT
Jamia Millia Teachers Protest Against Mob Lynching
New Delhi: Teachers of Jamia Millia Islamia on Monday staged a protest
demonstration against the incidents of mob lynching in the name of cow
protection. Wearing black bands on their arms and chests, the teachers were
shouting slogans against the trend of mob violence."Incidents of mob
lynching, which have been going on in our country, are a great challenge to the
democracy. Innocent people are lynched by mobs in the name of cow
protection...We strongly condemn such attacks," said Dr Veeramani S.,
Assistant Professor, Centre for Management Studies, Jamia Millia
Islamia.IndiaTomorrow
2013 MP riots over cow: SC raps police for not producing video as
evidence
New Delhi:The Supreme Court on Monday castigated the Madhya Pradesh
police for not getting a video pertaining to the 2013 communal riots over
rumours of cow slaughter and producing them as crucial evidence before a trial
court, warning the officials of action.“You (Dy Superintendent of SIB) are in
for a serious trouble, sir! Why have you not got the VCD examined,” asked a a
bench comprising Chief Justice J S Khehar and Justice D Y Chandrachud, while
taking strong note of the acquittal of nine of the 12 accused persons in one of
the 12 rioting cases in which FIRs have been lodged.The bench warned that it
would “fix accountability” of the concerned police officers.9 persons, out of
12, have been acquitted. 3 have been absconding,” it said, asking why no action
has been taken and was it because the accused belonged to “a political party”.
Multi-faith get-together in Asansol of W. Bengal to bridge communal
divides
Asansol: Mazhab nahi sikhata aapas me bair rakhna (Religion does not
teach us enmity among ourselves), Muhammad Iqbal noted in his famous song
"Sare Jahan se achhca," which is sung by every Indian with immense
fervour and sense of patriotism.Yet we fail to follow these words of wisdom and
harbour apprehensions about our neighbours, simply on pretexts that they belong
to other communities. The lack of interaction or socio-cultural exchange
results in all kinds of fears and misunderstanding against each other.Keeping
this in mind, Association SNAP in collaboration with Tipu Sultan Memorial
Society organised a communal harmony program at the Red Cross Society Bhawan in
Asansol on 16th July 2017 under the banner, ‘Know Your Neighbour' (KYN)
campaign.In view of the recent communal violence in Basirhat of the state, such
multi-faith gathering carries much significance.Some of the eminent
personalities who attended the program including, Swami Bharupanand of
Ramkrishna Mission, imam of local mosque Mufti Md Saeed Asad Qasmi, Father Anil
Kumar Tirkey of local church, author and Sahitya Akademi Awardee Jaya Mitra,
scientist Amirul Islam of Burnpur Steel Plant, Professor of BC college
(Asanosol) Amitabha Mukhopadhyay; and several other academicians, teachers,
social activists, students and common residents.IndiaTomorrow
Bengal Govt Fears Darjeeling Agitation May Turn Into An Underground
Armed Movement
Senior police officers currently involved in controlling the law and
order situation in Darjeeling have expressed fear of armed attack on them by the
agitators. Several senior IPS officers have been sent to handle the situation
in the hills, as an indefinite strike has been on in Darjeeling for the past
one month in demand for a separate Gorkhaland state.The officers have reported
this to the top brass of the state administration leading to fears that the
prolonged agitation may turn into an underground arms movement against the
state, like the Maoist movement. Huffington
OTHER
Prez polls: Close to 99% voting recorded, some states see 100%: TOI
Close to 99% voting was recorded for electing India’s 14th president,
the returning officer for the poll announced on Monday. The counting of votes
will take place on July 20. Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Assam, Gujarat,
Bihar, Haryana, Himachal, Jharkhand, Nagaland, Uttarakhand and Puducherry
recorded 100% voting. In Parliament House, the voting percentage was 99%, said
Lok Sabha secretary general Anoop Mishra, who is also the returning officer for
the polls.He said while the sanctioned strength of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya
Sabha is 776, 771 MPs were eligible to cast their votes.There are two vacancies
each in Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, while one BJP MP Chedi Paswan does not
have voting rights, he added. In Delhi, 717 MPs were to cast their ballot but
only 714 exercised their franchise. TMC’s Tapas Pal, BJD’s Ram Chandra Hansdak
and Ambumani Ramadoss of the PMK did not cast their votes.
Indian politicians vote to elect new president
Venkaiah Naidu is NDA’s choice for Vice President
BJP president Amit Shah on Monday announced that Union Minister M.
Venkaiah Naidu is the NDA's vice-presidential candidate.Naidu is currently the
Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs, Information and Broadcasting.BJP
Parliamentary Board met on Monday evening to announce Mr. Naidu’s candidature.
The meeting was attended by all members, Shah said. Naidu, 68 and a former BJP
President, met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, sources said. thehindu
Saleem Khan,LeT suspect arrested
from Mumbai airport
New Delhi: Saleem Khan, suspected Lashkar-e-Taiba militant, was arrested
from the Mumbai Airport on Monday in a joint operation by UP and the
Maharashtra ATS, news agencies reported. Khan, a native of Hathgaon village in
Fatehpur, UP, had been on the run for the past 9 years. A lookout notice was
put out for him in 2008 when he was declared a ‘Wanted’ criminal. Officials
said that he was caught on the basis of the lookout notice, according to a
report in IANS. indianexpress
China holds military drill near Arunachal border, ‘enemy’ aircraft the
target
Beijing: China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has held “live-fire
drills” in Tibet, close to the India’s border in Arunachal, to practice quick
movement of troops and destroy enemy aircraft, the state media has said.The
reports didn’t say when and why the 11-hour military exercise was held, the
latest in a series of the war games the Chinese have talked about following the
month-old standoff between the two countries in Doklam region that borders
India’s northeast frontier in Sikkim.“The brigade that conducted the (latest)
drills was from the PLA’s Tibet military command and is one of China’s two
plateau mountain brigades,” CCTV, the national broadcaster, said.The report is
being seen as a message to the Indian government and military, as China claims
large parts of Arunachal, India’s easternmost state, as southern Tibet.The
drill was held in the Tibet Autonomous Region in the middle and lower reaches
of Yarlung Zangbo river, which “is located in the upper stream of the
Brahmaputra river which flows through China, India and Bangladesh”.Yarlung
Zangbo enters India through Arunachal where it is called Siang before it
becomes the Brahmaputra in Assam. China has been building dams over it, causing
concern in India that it could affect the flow of the Brahmaputra. The mountain
brigade had long been stationed around the middle and lower reaches of the
Yarlung Zangbo and was responsible for frontline combat, the nationalistic
Global Times quoted the CCTV report as saying.It said quick delivery of troops
and different military units coming together for joint attacks was practised,
which also involved use of anti-tank grenades and missiles.“Video also shows
radar units identifying enemy aircraft and soldiers using anti-aircraft
artillery to annihilate targets,” the English language tabloid said.It wasn’t
clear if the drill was part of a military exercise carried out earlier this
month at 15,000 feet in the Tibet plateau, the first time the PLA had gone so
high. During the exercise, the Chinese soldiers tested new equipment including
tanks, the official Xinhua news agency had said.HT
Unnamed, unknown, foreign militants remain alive in Kashmir graveyards
Gantmulla: A discreet call went out as bullets whizzed past and the
report of automatic rifles echoed in the surrounding mountains of south
Kashmir’s Pulwama district on July 3.The message from Bamnoo village to a
police station in north Kashmir was short. “Keep a grave ready.” Security
forces have killed two militants, but their partner was holed up in a house and
fighting desperately. In the thick of the counter-insurgency operation, ground
intelligence suggested the third gunman could be a foreigner.The man was shot
dead hours later and his grave was ready by the Jhelum river in Baramulla
district’s Gantmulla village, about 100km away.But the pit remained empty for
two weeks, covered with a tin sheet. The body never reached the pre-assigned
grave. The man turned out to be a Kashmiri and was buried in his native
village.Gravedigger’s labour in windy, rainswept Gantmulla didn’t go waste,
though. The corpse of an unidentified foreign militant, killed in a cave
hideout in Pulwama’s Tral forests, arrived a fortnight later.HT
ISIS Shrouds rather than Pak flag
at Militants' Funerals Latest Worry for J&K Authorities
Srinagar: The massive number of supporters gathering at funerals of
slain militants is not the only cause for worry for Jammu and Kashmir
authorities. The latest concern is over the shroud in which the militants’
bodies are draped, especially its colour and the text on it.In the last 3 days,
the bodies of two militants from Hizbul Mujahideen and Jaish-e-Mohammad have
been draped in black shrouds bearing the insignia of the Islamic State or ISIS
rather than the Pakistani flag which is normally used by these outfits. The
body of slain militant Mukhtar Ahmad Lone alias Bite Moulvi was draped in an
ISIS flag in Tral on Sunday while being taken for Namaz-e-Janaza, the last
rites. Hundreds of supporters joined the funeral procession.Lone was one of the
three militants killed on Saturday in an encounter with security forces near
their hideout in Satoora hills of Tral in Pulwama district. Like the current
crop of militants, he had joined militant ranks a month ago.The colour and text
on the shroud was another cause for worry as it was the second such funeral of
a militant where these had been used.On Friday, the body of Sajjad Gilkar, a
militant belonging to Hizbul Mujahideen, was also wrapped in a black ISIS flag
in downtown Srinagar, an area known for its pro-Pak posture.It was a departure
of sorts from the earlier funerals of militants killed in encounters or
civilians killed in cross-fire where Pak flags were used as shrouds. It was not
clear who draped Gilkar's body in the black cloth as his family maintained they
had not planned the funeral to be done this way.A police officer told
CNN-News18 on condition of anonymity that “growing radicalisation could be a
reason for the change of colour of the flags used in funerals”.CNNNews18
Tughlaqi-era mosque now a settlement as govt turns a blind eye
Just 500m from Vijay Mandal Enclave in Kalu Sarai, in the narrow bylanes
of the area, lies a historical jewel that time has forgotten. It is difficult
to believe that once, the Masjid Kalu Sarai was a sight to behold. Today, the
government apathy has left the structure in a state of extreme disrepair. The
bigger problem, however, is the people who have settled in the mosque premises.
Families from different regions, including Rajasthan and Punjab, have been
living here for decades. They have done irreversible damage to the structure by
breaking down walls and expanding into the it. Further, they do not allow
anyone to enter the premises to conduct a survey. Sources said the residents
have kept dogs as pets specifically for the purpose of terrorising the visitors.In
fact, when a DNA team visited the complex, a woman told them to leave while
signalling her dog, who immediately started barking. 2 years ago, Jamiat
Ulama-i-Hind, as part of its programme to reopen the closed mosques in Delhi,
had visited the Kalu Sarai mosque. Their team was attacked by dogs as well.
They were then told that a former MP had made the mosque's courtyard his home
and had brought in many other people. The delegation had come across a man who
claimed that he was operating a furniture business from inside, but refused to
let the team members in."Many families came here after Partition. My
grandfather, who was already living here, gave some space to a Muslim family.
That is the only Muslim family living here. Over the years, the others converted
the mosque into a residential complex," Mohammad Aslam, a local, said.
"There were many Keekar trees around the mosque. People cleared them to
make this settlement," he added.DNA
Kolkata Tipu Sultan mosque alters namaz timings ahead of rally
Kolkata: The authorities of Tipu Sultan Masjid, the biggest place of
worship for Muslims in the Esplanade area, have decided to bring the time of
the afternoon namaz ahead by 20 minutes on Friday, July 21, anticipating a
gathering in the vicinity to observe Martyrs' Day. Martyrs' Day is observed on
July 21 every year in remembrance of the 13 people who had been shot dead on
this day in 1993 when the police opened fire on a rally of the Youth Congress,
demanding that voters' IDs be made mandatory for voting.The stage on Friday's
event — where Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who was a Youth Congress leader
in 1993, would be the main speaker — has been put up on the street next to the
masjid and a turnout of 8-10 lakh people is expected.Looking at the security
aspect and the present tense situation in the state, the authorities of the
trustee board of the masjid have decided to change the timing of the prayers
slightly.DNA
WORLD
Palestinians reject Israel security measures in al-Aqsa
Al-Aqsa Mosque officials have rejected new security measures put in
place by Israel as it reopened the holy site following a deadly gun battle that
prompted a two-day closure.Muslim religious authorities, who administer the
compound, are refusing to pray there on Sunday after Israeli authorities installed
metal detectors and additional closed-circuit television cameras."The
closure of al-Aqsa Mosque compound, the occupation in itself and the prevention
of the call for prayers are all unfair and unjust and constitute a violation to
the United Nations resolutions and the international agreements," Omar
Kiswani, director of the al-Aqsa Mosque, told reporters outside the
site."We hold the Israeli government responsible for the changes they have
made in the al-Aqsa Mosque and taking its control away from us. We will stay
outside the mosque until we get back the way it was taken from us." Dozens
of worshippers gathered to pray at an entrance to the compound next to the
Lions' Gate entry to the Old City, as Israeli security officials look on.Some
women wailed and cried, calling on worshippers not to enter.At least two people
were reportedly detained after confrontations with Israeli forces, according to
reports. aljazeera
Rohingya crisis: UN warns 80,000 children 'wasting' from hunger in
Myanmar
More than 80,000 children under the age of 5 living in majority-Muslim
areas of western Myanmar are “wasting” and will need treatment for acute
malnutrition over the next year, the World Food Programme has warned. The
report from the UN agency was based on an assessment of villages in western
Rakhine state, where some 75,000 stateless Muslim Rohingya people have fled a
bloody army crackdown.Those who remain are now reeling from a food crisis, with
WFP finding one-third of homes are experiencing extreme food deprivation in
Maungdaw, one district particularly affected by the violence. This includes
episodes of no food in the house or not eating for 24 hours.A quarter of all
households composed of only one female adult as the men had left due to the
military campaign. These households had the highest frequency of episodes of
severe hunger, WFP said.No children under the age of two met minimum adequate
diet requirements, the assessment found, while 225,000 people need humanitarian
assistance.“It is estimated that 80,500 children under the age of five are
expected to be in need of treatment for acute malnutrition over the next twelve
months,” the WFP report said. A WFP spokesperson in Myanmar said this “wasting”
— condition of rapid weight lose that can become fatal — impairs the
functioning of the immune system. theguardian
IS chief Baghdadi almost certainly alive:Kurdish official
Sulaimania, Iraq:A top Kurdish counter-terrorism official said on Monday
he was 99% sure that Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was alive and
located south of the Syrian city of Raqqa, after reports that he had been
killed.“Baghdadi is definitely alive. He is not dead. We have information that
he is alive. We believe 99% he is alive,” Lahur Talabany told Reuters.“Don’t
forget his roots go back to al-Qaeda days in Iraq. He was hiding from security
services. He knows what he is doing.”Still, Talabany said the IS was shifting
tactics despite low morale and it would take 3 or 4 years to eliminate the
group. After defeat, the IS would wage an insurgency and resemble al-Qaeda on
“steroids”, he said.HT
Iraqi National Coalition opposes Kurdistan independence referendum
Iraqi National Coalition announced its opposition to the referendum on
Kurdistan’s independence on Sunday, TheNewKhaliji.org has reported. The Shia
parliamentary bloc made the announcement during its regular meeting. The
leadership reiterated its stand on Iraqi unity and total opposition to the
referendum covering the governorates with Kurdish majorities in the north of
the country. The referendum is scheduled to take place on
25 September and a vote in favour of independence is widely expected. According
to US Presidential Envoy to the anti-ISIS Coalition, Brett McGurk, Washington
does not support it because it would “destabilise” the region.“Right now, ISIS
is not finished,” he said. “We have to be very clear about that. They are in
Tal Afar, just south of the Kurdistan region. They are in Hawija, just south of
Kirkuk.” That is why the US does not think the referendum should happen in
September. “We think that under the Iraqi constitution there is an important
process of dialogue that has to take place. And having a referendum on such a
fast timeline, particularly in disputed areas, would be, we think,
significantly destabilising.” All eyes must remain fixed on the enemy –Daesh–
which is not defeated, the envoy added. “Anything that would distract from
completing this mission is something that we will not support.” middleeastmonitor
Iraq: 25,000 Daesh fighters were killed in Mosul
UN condemns jump in Afghan civilian deaths
UN has condemned an increase in civilian deaths in Afghanistan in the
first half of 2017, with 1,662 killed and more than 3,500 injured.Deaths and
injuries from suicide bombings and other "complex attacks" rose 15
percent, according to a new report by the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan
(UNAMA), which has been documenting civilian casualties in the war-torn country
since 2009.At least 40 percent of all civilian casualties were caused by
anti-government forces, including the Taliban, and in attacks claimed by the
ISIL group, the report said. aljazeera
Panama Papers case: JIT finds massive increase in Nawaz Sharif, family’s
wealth
New Delhi:Joint Investigation Team (JIT), which is probing Pakistan
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his family’s financial history in the Panama
Papers probe, has found a “significant disparity” between their declared wealth
and known sources of income. This massive increase has been noted to have
happened during the year 1992-93 when Sharif was the Prime Minister of the
country. The JIT in its report had found Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz, and
sons Hussain and Hassan Nawaz guilty of financial irregularities including tax
evasion. However, Sharif termed the report as ‘baseless’. indianexpress
UAE arranged hacking of Qatari media: Washington Post
UAE arranged for Qatari government social media and news sites to be
hacked in late May in order to post false quotes linked to Qatar's emir, prompting
the Qatar-Gulf diplomatic crisis, the Washington Post reported on Sunday,
citing US intelligence officials.The Qatari emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al
Thani, had been falsely quoted in May as praising Hamas and saying that Iran
was an "Islamic power," the Post reported. In response, Saudi Arabia,
the UAE, Egypt and Bahrain cut diplomatic and transport ties with Qatar on June
5, accusing it of supporting "terrorism". Qatar strongly denies the
allegations. Qatar said in late May that hackers had posted fake remarks by the
emir, an explanation rejected by Gulf states.The Post reported that US
intelligence officials learned last week of newly analysed information that
showed that senior UAE government officials discussed the planned hacks on May
23, the day before they occurred. aljazeera
UK: Mosque in Manchester burnt in suspected arson attack
A mosque in the British city of Manchester has been severely damaged in
a suspected arson attack, police said on Monday.Five fire engines tackled the
blaze at the Nasfat Manchester Islamic Centre on Droylsden Road in the northern
England city and Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said they are treating
Sunday’s incident as “suspicious”.“We sent five pumps to the scene and an
investigation is now underway. The fire is being treated as suspicious and a
joint investigation has been launched by GMP and GMFRS (Greater Manchester Fire
and Rescue Service),” a GMP statement said on Monday.Nasfat
(Nasrul-Lahi-l-Fathi Society of Nigeria) opened up in Manchester as a mosque
and Islamic centre in 2009 and it has about 300 members.PTI
Philippine President Duterte offers Muslim self-rule to counter Islamic
State
Manila:President Rodrigo Duterte offered self-rule to the Philippines’
Muslim minority on Monday in an attempt to defeat Islamist militants who seized
a southern city in the gravest challenge to his year-old rule.Duterte hopes the
promise of autonomy will persuade Filipino Muslims to reject the Islamic State
group, whose followers still control parts of Marawi after nearly two months of
fighting that had left more than 500 people dead.Duterte vowed to shepherd
through Congress a “Bangsamoro Basic Law” bill jointly written and submitted to
him Monday by government officials and the country’s largest Muslim guerrilla
group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). “This moment is a significant
step forward in our quest to end centuries of hatred, mistrust and injustice
that cost and affected the lives of millions of Filipinos,” he said in a speech
to MILF leaders and government officials.Both sides said that giving the mainly
Catholic nation’s large and largely impoverished Islamic minority a better
choice was crucial to heading off the lure of violent extremism.AFP
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Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 4:48 PM)
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