Evening NEWS
DIGEST
30
Nov.2017: 10 Rabial Awwal 1439:Vol:9, No:61
Modi Govt aims to make amends to Shah Bano
Act, make instant triple talaq criminal offence
New Delhi: Govt is looking to make triple
talaq or talaq-e-biddat a criminal offence among other changes in the existing
law in a bid to make amendments to Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on
Divorce) Act, 1986 or more commonly known as the Shah Bano Act, according to Indian
Express report. Officials said that making amendments to Muslim Women Act was
discussed in a meeting attended by Group of Ministers (GoM) who will take the
final decision to draft a law to make triple talaq a criminal offence. Other
than drafting a ‘new preamble’ for the Shah Bano Act, Govt is considering to
make changes to Section 125 CrPc (order for maintenance of making wives,
children and parents) to provide safety for women who are abandoned via instant
triple talaq.The meeting that took place last week was headed by Home Minister
Rajnath Singh where External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj suggested changes
to Act whereas Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad broached suggestions to alter
provisions of CrPc and IPC. The Supreme Court in its August verdict banned
instant triple talaq. The court had then suggested Govt to draft a new but Govt
virtually ruled out framing of a new law
and indicated that existing laws including law dealing with domestic violence
were sufficient. The move to make amendments to Shah Bano Act enacted by Rajiv
Gandhi-led Govt will help shed light for the ruling BJP Govt to take ahead the
discussions on Uniform Civil Code. However, once the law is passed, the Muslim
clergies will have no role in talaq cases and women can move court or approach
the police to lodge complaints. Ministerial committee also felt that law
regarding Dowry Act and Domestic Violence Act was misused and reforms to the
law are needed.Indian Express
To make instant triple talaq a crime, Govt
looks to change Shah Bano law
SC rejects Centre's plea for extension of time
for publication of draft National Register of Citizens Assam
New Delhi: The Supreme Court today rejected
the Centre's plea seeking extension of time for publication of the draft
National Register of Citizens (NRC) for Assam, as Govt termed fixing of the
deadline as judicial overreach and an "encroachment" into the
executive domain.The top court said that on the expiry of the midnight of Dec.
31, the draft NRC pertaining to 2.38 crore claims, will be published. NRC is
being prepared to identify illegal migrants in Assam.The court said it has been
monitoring the process of updating the NRC for three years now and it was the
"sheer inaction on the part of the executive in dragging the matter".A
war of words was also witnessed between the bench of Justices Ranjan Gogoi and
R F Nariman and Attorney General KK Venugopal after the court refused to extend
the time as sought by the Centre.Rejecting the prayer for extension of the
deadline, the bench said "On the expiry of the midnight of Dec. 31, 2017,
draft NRC pertaining to 2 crore claims which have been verified or likely to be
verified by the said date and the additional 38 lakh claims, will be
published".It listed the matter for further hearing on Feb. 20, 2018.When
Justice Nariman asked the AG if the prayer for extension of time was granted,
could it mean further extension could be sought by the Centre, Venugopal said
it was an executive function and if the need arose, further time could be
sought and this possibility cannot be ruled out. He said that fixing a date for
publication of the draft NRC was really an executive function and an order to
this effect by the Court "would be an encroachment on the executive domain
and violation of the doctrine of separation of powers".To this, the bench
said, "the contention advanced before the Court for the first time
overlooks the fact that over a period of three years the Court has been
monitoring the matter and fixing appropriate timelines for the completion of
different phases of the exercise of updating NRC".It said that even on the
last hearing on July 13, when Dec.31, 2017 was fixed for publication of the
draft NRC, "the contentions now advanced of judicial overreach were not
made before the court.""That apart, it is the sheer inaction on the
part of the executive in dragging the matter for a period of over three years
and the absence of any justifiable cause to hold back even a partial
publication that has led the Court to direct publication of the draft NRC on or
before Dec. 31, 2017," the bench said.The Attorney General then said that
part publication of the draft NRC could result in a law and order situation as
a large segment of the people would understand that their names have been
excluded.The bench refused to agree with the contention, saying it did not see
how such a situation could even remotely arise.It said that claims of 47 lakh
persons (where doubts have arisen in respect of their parental linkage) and of
29 lakh people (kept in abeyance of married women who have given a certificate
of Gram Panchayat Secretary) were still pending and would be subject to
verification and covered by publication of another draft NRC subsequently.NRC
of 1951 is being updated for Assam in accordance with the tripartite agreement
between the state and central Govt’s and All Assam Students Union, which was
arrived at in 2005 to implement the 1985 Assam Accord.
SC Raps Centre For Seeking More Time To Update
Assam NRC 1951, Indo-B’desh Border Fencing
NRC Issue: SC Raps Assam Govt for Making
Sweeping Statement
The Supreme Court has pulled up the Assam govt
for making a “sweeping statement” that 15 per cent of the state population were
tribals who have not participated in modernisation and were away from the
mainstream. The top court said it was a “dangerous statement” on the state’s
behalf and was neither good for the health of the people, nor the government as
15 per cent population was a huge chunk.“You are making a sweeping statement.
You are the state. How can you say so? You are making dangerous statement that
15 per cent population is tribal and they are not in the mainstream,” a bench
comprising Justices Ranjan Gogoi and RF Nariman said. The court’s observation
came after Assam’s counsel referred to this issue and said the government was
trying to make them come forward in the ongoing process of updation and
publication of draft NRC in the state.“This is not the way to do it. From where
you are making these statements. These kind of sweeping statements are not good
for the health of the people and health of the state. 15 per cent is a huge
chunk. If you say 15 per cent population is not in the mainstream, we will ask
what have you done in this regard as a state,” the bench said.NRC of 1951 is
being updated for Assam in accordance with the tripartite agreement between the
state and central governments and the All Assam Students Union (AASU), which
was arrived at in 2005 to implement the 1985 Assam Accord. The apex court was
earlier told that as on November 22, a total of 3.29 crore claims have been
made for inclusion in the NRC, which is being prepared to identify illegal
migrants.During the hearing, when Assam’s counsel told the court they would
file an affidavit on the issue of tribals, the bench shot back, “When? We are
finishing the matter”. northeasttoday
Govt to roll back move to ban sale of cattle
for slaughter
New Delhi:Centre has decided to withdraw its
controversial plan of notifying a ban on sale of cattle for slaughter in animal
markets, a senior official from Ministry of Environment and Forests said.The
move comes after Ministry sought feedback from states on its May 23
notification on changes made to Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Regulation of
Livestock Market) Rules, 2017.“We sent a file to Ministry of Law earlier this
week, stating that we are withdrawing the notification due to several issues
and will be revising it,”official said, adding that a time-frame for the
process has not yet been decided.After the notification in May, BJP-led-NDA govt
came under severe criticism for attempting to impose the nationwide ban on
ideological grounds.Subsequently, several instances of harassment and assault
by cow-protection groups were reported from various parts of the
country.Farmers, too, opposed the move to restrict trade in markets only to
animals meant for agricultural use, saying they cannot directly access
slaughterhouses. Farmers normally bring their redundant animals to livestock
markets from where traders purchase and transport the cattle to abattoirs.In
Sept., Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan indicated for the first time that the
Centre may lift the ban. At the time, he said the rules were a “regulatory
regime” for preventing cruelty to animals and the Govt “did not intend to directly or indirectly
affect slaughterhouses or harm farmers” or “influence the food habits of
people”.It was then that the Ministry asked states to send their opinion on the
notification that prohibited the sale of cattle for slaughter at animal
markets. Ministry had sent 2 sets of letters to states — the first was soon
after the SC stayed the ban — reminding them to respond. It had also attached a
copy of the notification and said that a new draft would be framed based on
feedback. Ministry also held consultations with animal rights activists and
traders on the issue.Govt’s decision in May had sparked outrage, notably from
states such as Kerala, West Bengal and Meghalaya on the grounds that it related
to an issue under their jurisdiction. Indian Express
After 30 Lynchings, Govt Bows to Farmers
Demand to Withdraw Sale Ban on Cattle for Slaughter
Centre considering making rules banning sale
of cattle at markets 'more acceptable'
No media reporting on Sohrabuddin killing
trial: CBI Court
The special CBI court in Mumbai which is
conducting the trial in the Sohrabuddin Sheikh and Tulsiram Prajapati alleged
fake encounter cases today barred the media from reporting the court
proceedings till further order, following a plea from the defence
counsel.Raising security issues, the defence lawyers referred to a media report
on the death of a judge who had dealt with the case and said "misreporting
has already caused prejudice to both sides". They said it was a
"sensational" case and some untoward incident could happen if
publication of reports was allowed.Special judge Sunilkumar J Sharma, who also
allowed the journalists who were present in the court to put forth their stand,
said, "It may happen that publication (of reports) may create security
problem for the accused persons, prosecution witnesses, defence team and the
prosecution as well. I, therefore, find justification in the request of the
defence team of lawyers."Considering the sensitivity of the matter, there
was a likelihood of some untoward incident happening which may affect the
trial, the judge said.The trial was to start today. However, one of the defence
lawyers moved an application in the morning seeking a ban on the publication of
reports of the court proceedings till the judgement is delivered.Publication of
(reports of) proceedings will prejudice the case of the prosecution or the
defence and may create security problems for the accused, prosecution,
witnesses and defence lawyers, the defence lawyers contended.The case has a
chequered history and "misreporting has already caused prejudice to both
sides",they said.Journalists vehemently objected to the defence lawyers'
demand, saying they were reporting on proceedings in good faith so that the
public at large knows about the progress of the case.Media persons too have
faced attacks in discharge of duty, they pointed out.The defence lawyers
maintained that the matter was "sensational" and some untoward
incident could happen if publication of reports was allowed.Referring to a report
in an English magazine, defence lawyers said that "natural death" of
an earlier judge who had dealt with the case was portrayed as a murder.The
judge said he appreciates mediapersons' hard work and their role in educating
the public. However, the (prime) accused in this case are police officials, the
judge noted.In the past 4 years, ministers from Gujarat and Rajasthan and
high-ranking police officials have been discharged, and the matter appears
"sensational", he said, upholding the defence lawyers' request. Charges
have been framed against 22 accused, including police officials, and today the
trial was to commence but the prosecution could not produce witnesses, the
judge noted.BJP president Amit Shah, Rajasthan Home Minister Gulabchand
Kataria, former Gujarat police chief PC Pande, Additional DG of Police Geeta
Johri are among those who have been discharged in the case.PTI
Can attend but not report: media gag in
Sohrabuddin trial
UP cracks down on madrasas: registration
deadline ends, 75 in just 3 districts to lose 'recognition'
The madrassas which had not submitted
documents can still issue certificates to students,but these would not be
recognized by the Govt .According to instructions issued by the state Govt , it
is mandatory for all madrassas to register on the designated website. Institutions
were to upload the required documents on the website by Oct.30."There are
a total 134 madrassas in Muzaffarnagar, out of which 116 have submitted documents
required, while 18 have not. These include Jamia Husania, Fazul Islam, Maqtab
Maulana Azad madrassas. This means they do not want to be registered with the
Madrassa Board," said Bharat Lal Goud, Muzaffarnagar minority welfare
officer.In Saharanpur, 17 madrassas have not uploaded their documents. "We
have investigated the functioning of these madrassas, and we discovered that
they were running only on paper. The verification process of documents uploaded
on the website is still on. Once it is complete, we will take further
action,"said Saharanpur DM PK Pandey. According to officials, 92 madrassas
have been verified so far and 62 are being verified.In Bareilly district, 30
madrassas out of more than 350 have not submitted their documents, according to
district minority welfare officer Jagmohan Singh Yadav."However, all the
192 madrassas in Badaun have submitted their documents and verification process
is ongoing," he added."We are currently verifying the details of
16,500 madrassas in the state which have uploaded their information on the
portal. In the next phase, we will serve notice to those madrassas which have
failed to provide information online and will ask about the reasons for it. Govt
will take action accordingly," said
Rahul Gupta, registrar, UP Madrassa Board.TOI
UP cracks down on madrasas
Sc order in Hadiya case baffles Muslim
leaders, activists
New Delhi: The Supreme Court’s silence on
Kerala woman Hadiya’s contested conversion and marriage with a Muslim man while
setting her free from her Hindu parents’ custody has surprised some Muslim
community leaders. “It’s very strange that Hon’ble judges of the Supreme Court
have questioned the guardianship of a married woman,”said Navaid Hamid,
President of Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat. Dr. Zafarul Islam Khan, Chairman of
Delhi Minorities Commission, shared his sense of unease saying:“I am baffled
how the Hon’ble court refused to allow Hadiya to go with her husband…”“We were
expecting the SC would decide all 3 aspects of the issue. The annulment of her
marriage and right to profess a religion of her choice are two major questions
under threat after the Kerala High Court judgment. But instead of deliberating
those aspects which contradict the fundamental rights of a citizen, the SC has
unfortunately decided not to give its verdict or opinion on them,” said Navaid
Hamid, President, AIMMM.When she was asked to name any guardian in Tamil Nadu,
she had said her husband Shafin Jahan would be her guardian.But Justice DY
Chandrachud rejected this suggestion saying husband cannot be guardian of wife.
The judge’s views have surprised Hamid. “What SC did is just transfer of her custody
from parents to an institution. She is still not free. It is just transfer of
confinement of an independent citizen. It also gives an impression that she is
still not a free citizen. She has been given limited freedom of leaving her
parents’ house to resume of her studies in confinement of an institution,” he said.Dr
Zafarul Islam Khan, Chairman of Delhi Minorities Commission, said:“I am baffled
how Hon’ble court refused to allow Hadiya to go with her husband and how the
court ordered her to resume her studies. The issue at hand was her right to
convert and to marry whomever she wanted as an adult but, curiously, this
fundamental right was overlooked in this case.”“The court by not allowing her
to go with her husband and, instead, allowing her something she did not
request, has not reinstated a fundamental right under the Indian constitution,”
said Dr Khan. Not only Muslim leaders, human rights lawyer and activists have
also raised similar point.“Amazing that the SC did not set the brave
25-year-old Hadiya free to live with whoever & wherever, & had
appointed college Dean as her guardian!”, tweeted SC lawyer Prashant
Bhushan."I appreciate her bravery and courage that she remained with her
stand. Really, Islam is related to heart, nothing can be forced. If one accepts
it under pressure, he/she cannot remain with it much longer. Hadiya endured all
the difficulties all these months, she must have been put under pressure also
and mentally harassed to change her opinion, yet no change in her stand shows
her true and strong faith in Islam.She got strength by reading, understanding
and believing Islam from heart,”said Salim Engineer, Secretary General, Jamaat-e-Islami
Hind.CaravanDaily
Hadiya
was very happy after talking to her husband over phone:college dean
Guardian lets Hadiya speak to husband; her
father to move SC seeking ban on her meeting media, Jahan
'Love jihad': Under 'Beti Bachao, Bahu lao'
campaign, Sangh affiliate wants to bring in '2100 girls in 6 mths'
New Delhi: A Hindu fringe group has come up
with a new idea to counter the issue of 'love jihad'. Rajasthan woman elopes
with Muslim boyfriend, refuses to marry until he converts to Hinduism. Hindu Jagran Manch is encouraging Hindu youth
to marry Muslim women and convert them to Hinduism. Group is also planning to
launch an awareness programme in schools so that Hindu girls do not get lured
by Muslims boys.Their catchline for this campaign is 'Beti Bachao, Bahu Lao'.
Ajju Chauhan, chief of Manch, argues that the programme would protect Muslim
women from triple talaq and polygamy. “Love jihad has become a huge problem in
our country. Even young girls are being lured into this, with Muslim youth
targeting Hindu girls and trying to convert them to Islam...Now, they are worried
because they feel their daughters are being eyed by jihadis.”“To counter this, Hindu
Jagran Manch has instructed its workers to run the campaign for a year. In the
next six months, we will try to get 2,100 girls.” The campaign is to give a
befitting reply to love jihadis, added Chauhan. timesnownews
Rajasthan: Muslim man, Hindu woman elope; VHP,
Bajrang Dal protest
Jaipur: Members of VHP, Bajrang Dal, Hindu
Jagran Manch and other organisations protested outside Jodhpur’s Maha Mandir
police station on Tuesday after news spread that a Hindu woman had eloped with
a Muslim man.“Pooja Joshi, 20, was missing since Sunday, and her brother Deepak
Joshi has submitted a missing person’s complaint.We traced her and her
neighbour Mohsin Khan, about 23 years old, to Bikaner, and brought them back to
Jodhpur a day later,” said Sita Ram Khoja, SHO of Maha Mandir police station.
The two, however, declined to go back to their homes and were kept in police
protection for the night. No untoward incident was reported, the police said.
Jodhpur ASP Shriman Lal Meena said the two were produced before a magistrate
Tuesday where the girl said she wanted to stay at her uncle’s place.The girl
reportedly told the magistrate she wasn’t taken away forcibly and would marry
Mohsin once he converted to Hinduism. indian express
Rajasthan HC concludes hearing on
inter-religion marriage, reserves judgement
Jaipur: Rajasthan High Court has concluded the
hearing on the religious conversion and inter-faith marriage without any law
and reserved its judgement.The high court was hearing a habeas corpus petition
filed by Chirag Singhvi, who alleges that his sister – Payal Singhvi, who is
now known as Aarifa – was coerced into converting to Islam and that her
marriage papers are forged. The police had produced Payal alias Arifa before
the court on Nov. 7, when the court had allowed Payal (22) to live according to
her own wish. The state Govt had, however, asked the court to clarify the legal
status of conversion and inter-faith marriage.Mahesh Bora, counsel for Payal’s
husband Faiez Modi told the court that Arifa (Payal) and Faiez are adults and
they got married by mutual consent. He cited the SC’s judgment and said that in
the hearing of habeas corpus petition, the court can only order the corpus to
be produced. If the corpus is an adult, he or she can live with anyone
according to the person’s wish.Bora added Aarifa has been living with her
husband with the permission of the court, so the habeas corpus petition has now
become infructuous. After hearing all the parties, the HC reserved the order.HT
India has given ‘no evidence’ against Hafiz
Saeed: Pak PM
New Delhi: PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has said India has
provided “no evidence” against Hafiz Saeed, days after the US warned there would
be repercussions for bilateral relations if Pakistan Govt does not re-arrest
and prosecute JuD chief. Noting that Saeed had recently been freed from house
arrest by a judicial panel because there were “no charges” against him, Abbasi
told Bloomberg in an interview that Saaed should be prosecuted internationally
if the charges against him could be substantiated. “The court, a 3-judge bench,
has released him (Saeed) saying there are no charges against him, the country
has a law you know,” said Abbasi.“Prosecute him internationally if there is
substance to these charges -- these are accusations only. No evidence has been
provided by India,” he said, without giving details.HT
5 BJP ruled states have highest crime rates
against Dalits, reveals NCRB data
New Delhi:The latest data released by NCRB may
give the Opposition a shot in arm for the Gujarat polls. The latest data for
2014-16 reveals that BJP ruled states recorded highest crime rates against
scheduled castes.NCRB data, released today says that the 5 states that recorded
the highest crime rate in the category of "crime/atrocities against
scheduled castes" during 2014-16 were all ruled by BJP directly or in alliance
with other parties. MP occupies the top position in crime against scheduled
castes in terms of crime rate, which is defined by the incidence of crime
recorded per one lakh population. MP registered 3,294 incidents of crime
against scheduled castes in 2014 followed by 3,546 in 2015 and 4,922 last year.
MP is followed by Rajasthan, which recorded 12.6 % of total number of crimes
recorded against scheduled castes in the country in 2016.Rajasthan recorded
6,735 incidents of crime against scheduled castes in 2014, which declined to
5,911 in 2015 and 5,136 in 2016. Goa holds third position in terms of crime
rate against scheduled castes. With 5,701 incidents of crime reported against
scheduled castes last year, Bihar stood fourth in the table. Election-bound Gujarat was at the fifth rank
in terms of crime rate against scheduled castes. Gujarat has seen an increase
in number of incidents of crime against scheduled castes since 2014.NCRB data
shows that Gujarat registered 1,094 incidents of crime against scheduled castes
which increased to 1,322 in 2016.With 10,426 incidents, UP reported the highest number of cases of
atrocities against scheduled castes accounting for 25.6 % followed by Bihar with 14% and Rajasthan with 12.6 % in 2016.IndiaToday
Gujarat Polls: Another communal video
surfaces, shows man with skull cap slaughtering cow, threatening PM
As the dates for Gujarat Assembly polls draw
closer, different forces have gone aggressively to work behind the scene to
exploit all means for electoral gain. They are leaving no stone unturned to
polarise the electorate, preferably on communal lines.With an aim to incite
communal hatred against Muslims, a gruesome video of cow slaughter is being
circulated on WhatsApp in the state that will go to polls on Dec.9 and 14. A
man wearing skull-cap can be seen – in the video – sitting on a severed head of
a cow.He can be heard hurling threats to PM Narendra Modi. “Modi, we will continue
slaughtering your mother. This war will continue until you are finished,” the
man says in the video.He goes on threatening by pointing at the cow’s horns,
nostrils and tongue. Pointing at the skinned body of the cow, he says, “Look,
we have even removed the clothes of your mother.”At the end of the video the
man can be seen putting his feet on the severed head of the cow and chanting
'Allahu Akbar'.Interestingly, the man is speaking in Kashmiri accent that shows
the video is not from Gujarat. The authenticity of the video is not known
either.Though the authenticity of the video cannot be vouched for, it is being
widely circulated in the state, particularly among Patidar groups who are
opposing the ruling party for using massive force on their community members
demanding quota.“The video is, of course, provocative but we know why it is
being circulated. These tricks won’t work anymore,” said Rahul Patel,an
Ahmedabad-based leader of PAAS said.NewsClick
Somnath temple: Rahul Gandhi’s name figures in
‘non-Hindu’ list, Congress claims visitors’ book is ‘fake’
New Delhi: As Congress vice-president Rahul
Gandhi returned to the election campaign trail in Gujarat, his visit to famous
Gir Somnath temple on Wednesday hasn’t gone unnoticed.A member of Gandhi
entourage allegedly entered his name in the temple’s “non-Hindu” visitors book.
Secretary of Shree Somnath Trust, Pravin Laheri, said: “We have a rule that all
non-Hindus have to register their names. Somebody entered the names of Ahmed
Patel and Rahul Gandhi in this register. The temple has nothing to do with it.”Meanwhile,
Congress party claimed that Rahul Gandhi never signed the register and alleged
it is fake.indianexpress
PM Modi has quit Hinduism and imbibed
Hindutva: Kapil Sibal on 'non-Hindu' row
Assam: Police complaint against former AIUDF
MLA for 'hate' speech
Guwahati: Sheikh Shah Alom, ex-MLA of AIUDF
has been booked for allegedly trying to
incite communal disharmony in the state during a public meeting on last
Sunday.In the complaint lodged at the Panbazar police station, rights activist
Kamal Kumar Medhi has claimed, "Alom's speech is a threat to the communal
harmony of the state. Strict action must be taken against such people and
activities." Medhi has also demanded that Alom should be booked under
NSA.Alom, while attending the public rally organised by Badruddin Ajmal-led
AIUDF in Goalpara, had allegedly said the minority community people should
unite to attack those who have been trying to harass them. He said,
"Muslims have ruled the country for over hundreds of years and people from
other religions never faced any trouble. But in the last 70 years, minority
communities are being harassed by the rulers. It's time to be offensive and
take command."AIUDF general secretary Champak Kalita said, "Party
immediately slapped a show-cause notice upon Alom. He has resigned from party."TOI
Telangana: Jamaate-Islami to hold 2-week
‘Seerat’
Hyderabad:Telangana Zone of Jamaat-e-Islami
Hind (JIH) has decided to launch a two-week Seerat Campaign from Dec.3
throughout the state to pass on the message of Prophet Mohammed. Hamid Mohammed
Khan, president of Jamaat's Telangana state and Odisha, told mediapersons
Milad-un-Nabi marked an important day in the Islamic calendar as it referred to
the birth of the Prophet.He appealed to the Muslim scholars, intellectuals and
students to cooperate in successfully organising the campaign. Majlis
Tameer-e-Millat stated that it would
organise celebrations on Dec.2 and 3 at Nizam College Ground in city.Deccan
Chronicle.
Many religions, one India’ campaign from
tomorrow: SIO
Udupi: Udupi district unit of the Students
Islamic Organisation of India will be launching its “Many religions, one India”
campaign from Dec.1 to 31.Addressing presspersons here on Wednesday, Jishan
Akhil, campus secretary of the State unit of the organisation, said that it was
essential to unite people. They should be told to respect all religions and
live in harmony in society. It was the responsibility of all citizens to take
the country towards progress. Hence, the Students Islamic Organisation of India
would be carrying out the campaign in the district. As part of the campaign,
marathons, mohalla meetings, corner meetings, cycle jatha and seminars would be
held to promote harmony among various communities.An inter-religious conference
will be held here on Dec.16, he said.
NIA frees Cuttack man after grilling: orissapost
Cuttack: NIA raided a house in Samantarapur
village in an area coming under Kishorenagar police station here Wednesday, and
detained a man suspected to have links with LeT. The agency, however, released
the man later after questioning. A six-member NIA team detained the suspect,
Akhtar Hussein Khan, from his rented house and took him to an undisclosed
location for interrogation.
WORLD
Pope heads to Bangladesh as rights groups
criticise his silence on Rohingya crisis
Yangon: Pope Francis wrapped up his visit to
Myanmar on Thursday with a Mass for young people before heading to neighbouring
Bangladesh where Muslim Rohingya refugee crisis was expected to take center
stage.Francis has so far refrained from speaking out about Asia’s worst
humanitarian crisis in decades out of diplomatic deference to his hosts in
Myanmar, who consider the Rohingya as having illegally migrated from Bangladesh
and don’t recognize them as their own ethnic group. Vatican has defended
Francis’ silence, saying the pope wants to “build bridges” with the
predominantly Buddhist nation. But human rights groups and Rohingya themselves
have expressed disappointment that Francis, an advocate for refugees and the
world’s most marginal, refrained from condemning what the UN has said is a
textbook case of ethnic cleansing.Vatican spokesman Greg Burke said Francis
took seriously the advice given to him by the local Catholic Church, which
urged him to toe a cautious line and not even refer to the “Rohingya” by name
during his trip.“You can criticize what’s said, what’s not said, but the pope
is not going to lose moral authority on this question here,” Burke told
reporters on Wednesday.AP
Europe's growing Muslim population could
triple by 2050: Pew report
Brussels: Muslim population in some European
countries could triple by 2050 while it will barely change in others, according
to new projections. Projections were in a report titled "Europe's Growing
Muslim Population" released on Wednesday night by Washington-based Pew
Research Centre. The report shows a stark west-east divide. Muslim share of
Germany's population could grow from 6.1% in 2016 to 19.7% in 2050 if high
migration continues, whereas over the border Poland's share would change from
0.1% to 0.2% in the same scenario. Even if all current 28 EU members, plus
Norway and Switzerland, closed their borders to migrants, the Muslim population
share in the west would continue to grow owing to a younger age profile and
higher fertility rates, but remain very low in the east. According to Pew's
data, Muslims made up 4.9% of Europe's population in 2016, with an estimated
25.8 million people across 30 countries, up from 19.5 million people in
2010.IANS
Muslim population in Europe to grow regardless
of migration levels, claims study:AFP
Ex-Egypt PM Ahmed Shafiq 'blocked from leaving
UAE'
A former Egyptian PM says he is not being allowed to leave the UAE,
the country where he has resided since 2012 after losing the Egyptian elections
to Mohamed Morsi.The reason for his travel ban is unknown, Ahmed Shafiq said in
an exclusive video statement to Al Jazeera on Wednesday."I was surprised
to know that I am prevented from leaving UAE for reasons that I don't
understand and I am not willing to understand," he said.Earlier in the
day, Shafiq had announced that he intended to run in 2018 presidential polls
against President Abdel Fateh el-Sisi.Shafiq, who also participated in the 2012
Egyptian elections, said he wanted to head back to Egypt in the coming
days."I have announced my intention to run the upcoming presidential
elections and I was planning to start a tour among the Egyptian communities
living abroad before going back to Egypt in the next few days," he said. aljazeera
El-Sisi orders `brute force' operation to
pacify Sinai
Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi
ordered the military to restore security in northern Sinai within three months,
authorizing the use of “brute force” days after militants carried out the
single worst terrorist strike in the country’s recent history. Addressing an
audience of Muslim clerics, El-Sisi said he had told Armed Forces
Chief-of-Staff Mohamed Farid Hegazi: “You are responsible, you are responsible
within three moths to restore security and stability in Sinai.”Bloomberg
At least 800 civilians killed by US-led
coalition strikes in Iraq, Syria: Report
Baghdad: At least 800 civilians have been
killed in strikes in Iraq and Syria by the U.S.-led coalition fighting Islamic
State since the campaign began in 2014, according to a report released by the
coalition on Thursday.The estimate in the monthly report, which said coalition
strikes had unintentionally killed at least 801 civilians between August 2014
and Oct. 2017, was far lower than figures provided by monitoring groups. The
monitoring group Airwars says a total of at least 5,961 civilians have been
killed by coalition air strikes.Reuters
'Winter without food, firewood or diesel' in
Syria's besieged towns
Trump
to recognise Jerusalem as Israel capital in coming days:report
Us President Donald Trump is set to recognise
Jerusalem as the capital of Israel within days and is considering how to move
the American embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, according to Ynet News.Reports
from inside Israel allege that pressure from the Republican Party and
Evangelical Christian groups is encouraging the Trump Administration to assess
how to fulfil the president’s election promise and avoid signing the waiver
that would leave the embassy in Tel Aviv.Renewed every 6 months, the waiver is
signed by the heads of both US political parties to prevent the embassy being
moved from the Israeli capital to Jerusalem, and has been signed by every US
president for the past 2 decades.The latest report comes just 2 days after US
Vice President Mike Pence said that Trump was “actively considering” how to
move US embassy to Jerusalem, reiterating that “America will always stand with
Israel”.MEMO
Hamas blames Fatah’s dominated Govt for chaos in Gaza ministries
Palestinian Movement Hamas placed
responsibility for chaos in Gaza’s ministries on the Fatah-dominated Govt of national accord, Shehab news agency
reported.Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said in a written press release that
this “chaos came as a result of the irresponsible Govt ’s decision, which
violates the Cairo agreement, to call on the employees who have sat at home
since the division to go to their work.”In a statement, the Ramallah-based Govt
said: “Palestinian cabinet stresses the need of the return of all old employees
to their positions,” giving its directions to the ministers to arrange for the
“immediate” return of these employees.In response to this call, the Syndicate
of Employees in Gaza called for the ministries not to allow any employee to
return to his position until this issue is sorted out by the administrative
committee agreed upon in the Cairo agreement. middleeastmonitor
10 US senators urge Netanyahu not to demolish
Palestinian villages: middleeastmonitor
10 US senators have written to Israeli PM Benjamin
Netanyahu urging him not to demolish Palestinian villages in the occupied West
Bank, reports the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. The letter, initiated by Sens. Dianne
Feinstein, D-Calif.,and Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.,states: “we have long championed
a two-state solution as a just resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict”.
“Yet, your Govt’s efforts to forcibly evict entire Palestinian communities and
expand settlements throughout the West Bank not only directly imperil a
two-state solution, but we believe also endanger Israel’s future as a Jewish
democracy”.
Israeli plan to set up new settlement city in
West Bank
Israeli occupation authorities are planning to
set up new large settlement city on the western borders of the occupied West
Bank, Israeli media reports reported on Wednesday.According to Quds Press, Israeli
news site 0404 revealed that a special committee was assigned by the Israeli
interior ministry 6 months ago to prepare for the plan.The committee offered
its recommendations on Wednesday, the Israeli site said, noting that the
committee recommended bringing a number of settlements together to create a
large settlement city applicable for expansion. According to the news website,
the settlements in question are Oranit, south of Qalqilia, Sheari Tikva, in the
east, Etz Efraim, in the villages of Qalqilia and Elkana in the west of Salfit. middleeastmonitor
Israeli army imposes ‘severe restrictions’ on
Palestinian communities near Hebron
Israeli military has been imposing “severe
travel restrictions” on four Palestinian communities in the Masafer Yatta
region of the southern occupied West Bank, according to NGO B’Tselem. The
area’s Palestinian residents “have been suffering incessant harassment by
Israel for decades”, B’Tselem states, since “Israel does not allow them to
connect to infrastructure and repeatedly demolishes their homes, in an attempt
to drive them out of the area”.Since 9 Nov, however, the military has
restricted movement in four communities in the Masafer Yatta region of the
South Hebron Hills – Khirbet al-Halawah, Khirbet Jenbah, Khirbet al-Fakhit and
Khirbet al-Markez – which are home to some 600 people, half of them minors.In particular,
Israeli occupation forces have blocked off roads connecting the communities and
leading to the main road, “forcing residents to walk a fair distance to the
main road”. middleeastmonitor
Trump criticized in Britain and US for sharing
anti-Muslim videos
President Donald Trump, who campaigned to bar
Muslims he sees as a security threat, on Wednesday shared anti-Muslim videos
posted on Twitter by a far-right British party leader, drawing condemnation
from Britain, US Muslim groups and some members of Congress.The White House
defended Trump’s retweets saying he was raising security issues. As president,
Trump has issued executive orders banning entry to some citizens of several
Muslim-majority countries, although courts have partially blocked the measures
from taking effect.“Look, I’m not talking about the nature of the video,” White
House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders told reporters. “The threat is real and that’s
what the president is talking about is the need for national security, the need
for military spending, and those are very real things. There’s nothing fake
about that.” middleeastmonitor
Muslim Holds Ancient Key to 'Jesus Tomb Site'
in Jerusalem:Reuters
Jerusalem: As dark falls, Adeeb Joudeh, a
Muslim, makes his way through the stone alleyways of Jerusalem‘s walled Old
City cradling the ancient key to one of Christianity’s holiest sites.Centuries
ago, the imposing iron key to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, built where
many Christians believe Jesus was crucified and buried, was entrusted to his
family, one of Jerusalem‘s most prominent clans, says Joudeh.He dates the
arrangement back to the time of Saladin, the Muslim conqueror who seized the
holy city from the Crusaders in 1187.“Honestly, it’s a great honour for a
Muslim to hold the key to Church of Holy Sepulchre, which is the most important
church in Christendom,” Joudeh, 53, said.Another of the city’s oldest Muslim
families, the Nusseibehs, were entrusted with the duty of opening and closing
the church doors, a task they perform to this day. It requires firm fingers:
The key is 30 cm long and weighs 250 grams.
Ex-Israel soldier heading child prostitution
ring deported from Colombia
A former Israeli soldier was deported from
Colombia for alleged links to a criminal network suspected of drug trafficking,
child prostitution and tax offenses that spanned across several countries in
Latin America.43-year-old Assi Moosh was expelled by Colombia and returned to
Tel Aviv under escort by immigration officers last weekend. In a statement
confirming the deportation, security officials said: “Police in Santa Marta,
capital of the Magdalena department, hereby announce the removal of an Israeli
citizen who owns a spa hotel frequented by many foreign tourists. Deportation
procedures have been commenced as per law and will be carried out due to the
Israeli’s conduct, which has harmed Colombia’s national security.”Colombian
news agencies reporting on the deportation revealed details surrounding the
expulsion of Moosh who was exposed as being part of a group of ex-Israeli
soldiers that had turned a small fishing village in Taganga into a “sex and
drug den” from their base in a luxury resort that was known to locals as
“little Israel”. middleeastmonitor
Suspected US drone targets Haqqani militants
in Pakistan, killing 4
A suspected US drone strike on Thursday
targeted a hideout of the Haqqani militant network along Pakistan’s mountainous
border with Afghanistan, killing four people, officials said.If confirmed, it
would be the fourth such US strike inside Pakistan since President Donald Trump
took office in Jan. 2 Pakistani intelligence officials and a local govt officer
said an unmanned aerial vehicle dropped two missiles on a compound housing
militants under the command of a senior network commander, Abdur Rasheed
Haqqani.Villagers initially reported a blast in the Upper Kurram area to
authorities, said one of the officials, adding, “We got it from our informant
later that it was a US drone strike that targeted Haqqanis.”It was not clear if
the commander was among those killed, added the officials, who sought anonymity
as the issue is a sensitive one.Reuters
Theresa May: Saudi blockade on Yemen must be
eased
British Prime Minister Theresa May has called
on Saudi Arabia to ease the siege on Yemen "as a matter of urgency"
to avert "a humanitarian catastrophe".The statement, published by
May's office on Thursday, said the British leader met King Salman and Crown
Prince Mohammed bin Salman late on Wednesday during her three-day tour of the
Middle East."They discussed Yemen, where the prime minister made clear
that the flow of commercial supplies on which the country depends must be
resumed if we are to avert a humanitarian catastrophe," the statement
said. aljazeera
FLASH: VIEWS & NEWS
No justice in sight for many prisoners jailed
without conviction:Iftikhar Gilani
Let Hadiya take charge of her life:Brinda
Karat
Why has Hadiya not been allowed to join her
husband?Seema Mustafa
In 21st century India, Supreme Court is
treating an adult woman like she’s her father’s property: Anjali Mody
Hadiya: no one has the right to separate a
married couple:Humra Quraishi, Milli Gazette
The Supreme Court Has Failed Hadiya – And
Maybe Rest of Us Too:Vakasha Sachdev
Question to SC: Does an adult woman not have a
right to privacy and autonomy?Kavita Krishnan
Telescope: Secret mission of Ivanka
Trump:Shailaja Bajpai
Compiled and edited by
Anwarulhaq (Released at: 5:53 PM)
Posts
0 comments:
Post a Comment