Latest news with #Abdalla
India Gazette
6 days ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
Indonesia can be a guiding light for other Islamic nations: BJP leader Hemang Joshi in Jakarta
Jakarta (Indonesia), May 30 (ANI): BJP leader and Member of the All-Party Delegation Group 3, Hemang Joshi, praised Indonesia's inclusive governance and strong stance against extremism, noting the enthusiastic response the Indian delegation has received during its ongoing diplomatic visit to Southeast and East Asia. 'This is our third day in Indonesia, and we have engaged with several high-ranking government officials and ministers who lead various political parties here. We've had meaningful discussions and gained insight into their perspectives,' Joshi said. He further added, 'Based on my experience and that of our entire delegation, I can confidently say that Indonesia can serve as a guiding light for other Islamic countries in terms of governance and how to function as a civil society. Indonesia wholeheartedly believes that terrorism, murder, or violence have no place in Islam.' Reinforcing this shared commitment, KH Ulil Abshar Abdalla, Chairman of the Nahdlatul Ulama Executive Board, highlighted the deepening strategic and cultural ties between India and Indonesia. Speaking during a meeting with the visiting Indian parliamentary delegation in Jakarta, he emphasized the common challenges both countries face in combating terrorism and promoting peace. 'Both India and Indonesia have gone through this challenge of terrorism. I shared our experience of tackling the problem of extremism with our colleagues from India. Both countries have similar desires to achieve economic development, political stability, peace and harmony. We share a similar vision and aspirations,' Abdalla said. Abdalla said that if people exploit religion to legitimise violence, then it can be very dangerous. 'Of course, certain groups in Islam promote violence in the name of Islam. This is not right because Islam is a peace-loving religion and Muslims are peace-loving people. I said to our colleagues from India that the biggest victims of terrorism are not Hindus, Buddhists, or Christians. The biggest victims are Muslims themselves... That's why the first people who are concerned about tackling this problem are Muslims themselves... People living in South and Southeast Asia want peace and harmony because economic development and political stability cannot be achieved without it... If people do not have a proper and correct understanding of religions, and exploit religions to legitimise violence, that's dangerous... I told our colleagues from the Indian Parliament that the deepest geological layer in Indonesian history is shaped by Indian history and civilisation... So, India and Indonesia should collaborate on a people-to-people basis too,' he said. Echoing the shared commitment to counter terrorism and promote peace, JD(U) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha, leader of Group 3 of the All-Party Delegation, highlighted KH Ulil Abshar Abdalla's empathy towards India's concerns during their meeting in Jakarta. Jha noted that Abdalla, a Muslim leader, expressed understanding of India's pain and assured support within the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). Jha recalled Abdalla mentioning his visit to the Mahakumbh and emphasizing that India's Muslim population is larger than Pakistan's. Yet, Pakistan often mobilizes the OIC to pass resolutions against India. Abdalla assured that he would look into the matter, signaling potential support for India within the Muslim world. The delegation, which includes MPs Aparajita Sarangi (BJP), Abhishek Banerjee (TMC), Brij Lala (BJP), John Brittas (CPI-M), Pradan Baruah (BJP), Hemang Joshi (BJP), Salman Khurshid, and Mohan Kumar, alongside JD(U) leader Sanjay Kumar Jha, continues its diplomatic engagement aimed at strengthening India's international partnerships and counterterrorism efforts. (ANI)
India Gazette
6 days ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
Jakarta's Nahdlatul Ulama Board Chairman acknowledges India's pain, says exploiting religion for violence wrong
Jakarta [Indonesia], May 30 (ANI): In a reaffirmation of the deepening strategic and cultural ties between India and Indonesia, KH Ulil Abshar Abdalla, Chairman of the Nahdlatul Ulama Executive Board, underscored the shared challenges both countries face in combating terrorism and promoting peace. His remarks came during a meeting with the visiting Indian parliamentary delegation in Jakarta. 'Both India and Indonesia have gone through this challenge of terrorism. I shared our experience of tackling the problem of extremism with our colleagues from India. Both countries have similar desires to achieve economic development, political stability, peace and harmony. We share a similar vision and aspirations,' Abdalla said. Abdalla said that if people exploit religion to legitimise violence, then it can be very dangerous. 'Of course, certain groups in Islam promote violence in the name of Islam. This is not right because Islam is a peace-loving religion and Muslims are peace-loving people. I said to our colleagues from India that the biggest victims of terrorism are not Hindus, Buddhists, or Christians. The biggest victims are Muslims themselves... That's why the first people who are concerned about tackling this problem are Muslims themselves... People living in South and Southeast Asia want peace and harmony because economic development and political stability cannot be achieved without it... If people do not have a proper and correct understanding of religions, and exploit religions to legitimise violence, that's dangerous... I told our colleagues from the Indian Parliament that the deepest geological layer in Indonesian history is shaped by Indian history and civilisation... So, India and Indonesia should collaborate on a people-to-people basis too,' he said. Echoing these sentiments, JD(U) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha, who is leading Group 3 of the All-Party Delegation, shared insights from the same meeting, noting Abdalla's empathy towards India's concerns and his assurance of support within the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). Jha said that Abdalla, being a Muslim, expressed that he understands the pain of India. He also recalled visiting the Mahakumbh and pointed out that the Muslim population in India is larger than that of Pakistan. Yet, Pakistan mobilises support within the OIC to pass resolutions against India. Abdalla, Jha said, assured that he would look into the matter. Speaking about the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jha told ANI, 'The innocent people were killed in Pahalgam after ascertaining their religion... They wanted to destroy the communal harmony of India. We conveyed our concerns to them... They also appreciated India's economic growth.' The delegation also met with leaders of Indonesia's National Mandate Party (PAN), where Jha emphasised Pakistan's role in promoting terrorism while contrasting it with India's economic progress. The Indonesian leaders acknowledged the involvement of the Pakistan Army in supporting such activities and assured their full support. 'This dialogue is part of our broader effort to counter misinformation about India's internal security challenges at international platforms like the OIC, while also showcasing India's economic trajectory,' Jha said. In addition to political engagements, the delegation interacted with leading Indonesian think tanks and academic institutions such as the Indonesian Council of World Affairs (ICWA), Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia (FPCI), The Habibie Center, Indo-Pacific Strategic Intelligence (ISI), Center for Indonesia Policy Studies (CIPS), University of Indonesia, and Indonesia Air Power Studies Center. According to the Embassy of India in Jakarta, the delegation conveyed a strong and unified national message of zero tolerance for cross-border terrorism. Discussions with Indonesian counterparts reflected an understanding of India's position and a shared commitment to tackle false narratives propagated by vested interests. The delegation includes MPs Aparajita Sarangi (BJP), Abhishek Banerjee (TMC), Brij Lala (BJP), John Brittas (CPI-M), Pradan Baruah (BJP), Hemang Joshi (BJP), Salman Khurshid, and Mohan Kumar, alongside JD(U) leader Sanjay Kumar Jha. (ANI)
Yahoo
7 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Federal Judge Rules Mahmoud Khalil's Detention as 'Unconstitutional'
This week, a judge ruled that the Trump Administration's effort to deport Mahmoud Khalil—the Columbia University graduate who organized student encampments to protest Israel's genocide in Gaza—is unconstitutional. On Wednesday, Judge Michael Farbiarz issued an order stating that the state's grounds for Khalil's arrest—that his anti-genocide stance is a potential threat to the nation's foreign policy—could give way to carte blanche detentions and deportations. As the Guardian noted, Farbiarz's ruling is the first one by a federal judge regarding the constitutionality of the president's pursuit of deportation of any non-citizen deemed a peril to U.S. foreign policy. However, Farbiarz has yet to grant Khalil's release as he claims his attorneys have yet to address another charge by the government: that Khalil didn't include his personal affiliations to some organizations—namely, a United Nations agency that works with Palestinian refugees and a Columbia protest group. In a statement to the Guardian, Khalil's attorneys said they would give Farbiarz the additional argument as quickly as possible. Until then, Khalil will remain in detention at the Central Louisiana ICE Processing Center in Jena, Louisiana. Most Popular Woman Accused of Microaggressions Disputes Claims Microaggressions You're Doing Great, Pete Hegseth! Hugh Jackman's Ex-Wife, Deborra-Lee Furness, Calls Their Split a 'Traumatic Journey of Betrayal' 'Every day Mahmoud spends languishing in an ICE detention facility in Jena, Louisiana, is an affront to justice, and we won't stop working until he is free,' the lawyers said. It's been nearly three months since Khalil—a green card holder—was arrested and detained by ICE agents without a warrant and in the presence of his then eight-month pregnant wife, Noor Abdalla. Over one month later, Abdalla gave birth to their son. In an op-ed for the Guardian published earlier this month, Khalil wrote what he characterized as his 'first words' to his son, and described how he was only able to support his wife during childbirth by speaking to her over a 'crackling' phone. 'During your first moments, I buried my face in my arms and kept my voice low so that the 70 other men sleeping in this concrete room would not see my cloudy eyes or hear my voice catch,' he wrote. 'I feel suffocated by my rage and the cruelty of a system that deprived your mother and me of sharing this experience. Why do faceless politicians have the power to strip human beings of their divine moments?' This week, Abdalla spoke publicly about navigating life after the birth of their first child as Khalil remains miles away. 'I walked into the house by myself with this beautiful baby, and I think it just kind of hit me,' Abdalla told The Cut. 'I have to do this alone.' 'I rely on him a lot,' Abdalla added. 'It was always a fear of mine that he was not going to come to the birth.' Still, she told the publication that she tried to maintain optimism that Khalil would be home before her water broke. When it did, her attorneys asked ICE to grant him a temporary release to be present for the birth. 'I still had a feeling that, maybe, they're going to feel that we are humans,' she said, before describing how she learned the request was cruelly denied as she was contracting in the hospital. 'I was angry with everybody,' Abdalla added. 'Giving birth is not easy.' Frankly, hell is too kind of a place for everyone who's had anything to do with Khalil's detention. Like what you just read? You've got great taste. Subscribe to Jezebel, and for $5 a month or $50 a year, you'll get access to a bunch of subscriber benefits, including getting to read the next article (and all the ones after that) ad-free. Plus, you'll be supporting independent journalism—which, can you even imagine not supporting independent journalism in times like these? Yikes.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Acadiana Planning Commission receives funding to assess and revitalize historic buildings
OPELOUSAS, La. (KLFY) — With the help of a grant, the Acadiana Planning Commission (APC) is looking forward to assess and plan revitalization for underused properties in Acadiana. With the help of the Brownfields Assessment Coalition Grant, one of the biggest properties the APC looking at is the former Abdalla's Shopping Center right here in the heart of Opelousas. Kade Jones, a representative with APC, shared his excitement about the grant and the opportunities it will give to the commission. 'We work with the city administration to identify sites that are identified as having a lot of reuse potential, and opportunity to be something great.' Jones said. The grant provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency helps the planning commission assess, clean up, and safely redevelop vacant properties through a multi-phases process like Abdalla's to ensure contamination issues don't present more challenges in the future. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now 'Sort of like a visual inspection where you'll walk into a site and identify it looks like there may be some mold and mildew here, some asbestos in these tiles.' Jones said. 'Phase two, come back with actual lab gear and take soil samples. And you take samples of the paint, and you get some actual detailed data on how bad that contamination is or is not.' Once the assessment is complete, Jones said the APC will also be able to meet with city officials and residents to help plan the future of the historic buildings. 'What would they like to have developed and what would they not like?' Jones said. 'So, we're making sure to keep this an open, transparent process where we're working with the community, with the property owners and with the city to make sure, you know, things are getting planned. That is actually a community benefit that we're hearing directly from them. The assessments will not end at Abdalla's in Opelousas, as Jones mentioned, there is already plans to assess buildings in Abbeville, Eunice and Ville Platte to begin the revitalization process. The Big Mac was nearly called something entirely different Major crash in Iberia Parish blocks traffic; seek alternate routes Bear crashes through ceiling of Kentucky home: 'Almost fell on my mom' More Storms Wednesday & Thursday, Drier Going Into the Weekend… Acadiana Planning Commission receives funding to assess and revitalize historic buildings Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Al Etihad
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Al Etihad
Abu Dhabi's Cultural Foundation presents Emirati Artist Maitha Abdalla in solo exhibition
26 May 2025 19:13 ABU DHABI (WAM)The Abu Dhabi-based Cultural Foundation, a cultural centre under the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), is shining a spotlight on local talent, with 'Maitha Abdalla: Between Metamorphosis and Reality', an ongoing solo exhibition by Emirati multidisciplinary artist, Maitha display until August 30, 2025, the exhibition invites visitors into a world where fantasy and reality merge, identity is ever shifting, and storytelling takes on a deeply personal a captivating mix of painting and sculpture, Abdalla explores folklore, mythology, psychology, and social constructs that shift between abstraction and representation. The exhibition highlights the power of art to spark dialogue, inspire self-reflection, and strengthen cultural connections within the the lines between disciplines, Maitha Abdalla's practice spans film, photography, sculpture, painting, drawing, and performance. She draws inspiration from the performative nature of theatre, using its constructed nature to explore themes of folklore, and social works often depict characters caught in confined, domestic spaces - symbols of vulnerability and self-exploration. Through expressive, textural techniques, she applies dense layers of oil and acrylic with her fingertips, and outlines figures with gestural smears of charcoal, making her process as physical as it is work explores social structures, memories, and fantasies through a lens that is both objective and intensely personal. Infused with drama, melancholy, and introspection, her compositions invite viewers into a world of shifting emotions and fragmented layered textures and expressive techniques, Abdalla embeds herself in her art, with each brushstroke and gesture reflecting her presence, making her creative process a 'performance in itself.'An artist talk featuring Maitha Abdalla, moderated by Munira Al Sayegh (Lead Curator and Founder of Dirwaza Curatorial Lab), will take place on May 28, 2025, from 6:30 to 8:00 diverse practice, spanning performance, sculpture, painting, and video, explores fundamental themes of birth, death, guilt, and metamorphosis, blurring the lines between memory and myth. The conversation will reflect on her artistic journey through the lens of these powerful ideas, including insights from her recent residency at the Cultural Foundation. The nuanced discussion will also investigate tensions between visibility and vulnerability, the relationship between language and the physical form, and the role of ritual in the act of creation.
