Latest news with #AhmadiyyaMuslims
Scotsman
4 days ago
- General
- Scotsman
VJ Day: Family find Scottish veteran's accounts of his 'forgotten war' in attic
Sign up to our History and Heritage newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... A family's discovery of a box of papers and photographs in an attic which document their father's service in the Far East has unravelled the brutal reality of the 'forgotten war' that he never spoke about. The documents were kept by Captain JCT MacRobert, a Paisley lawyer who was evacuated at Dunkirk and then sent to Burma and India, where he described the Japanese in his account of the 1944 Battle of Kohima as 'a cruel and fanatical an enemy as the world has ever known'. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Indian and Gurkha soldiers inspect captured Japanese ordnance following the Battle of Kohima in 1944. PIC: Getty. | Getty Daughter Fiona Garwood, of Edinburgh, said her father never discussed the war, with his 'Burma hat', which he bought in Calcutta and wore every summer in Scotland, a constant but silent reminder of his service. The newly discovered papers are, meanwhile, a clear and visceral account of the horrors of jungle warfare. READ MORE: Ahmadiyya Muslims in Scotland Mark 80th Anniversary of VJ Day with gratitude and prayers for peace From his own accounts and local maps, it is now known that he was responsible for claiming a hilltop position - known as MacRobert Hill. The recent discovery made at the former home of her parents in Colintraive in Argyll and Bute had been 'huge' for the family, Ms Garwood added. She said: 'They are very much eyewitness accounts of the time. He wrote things down when he had time on the back of army requisition sheets, in pencil. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Then, he added a bit more when he waited to be repatriated but I really don't know if he looked at them again, as everything was very hidden away in an attic. 'We didn't know about it - or his photo album. We didn't even know he had a camera. 'We didn't discover the box until earlier this year so it was a huge find. 'I am very proud of him, because he did write it down and I am so glad he did. He didn't speak about it, but the family now know of his time spent there from his writing.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad READ MORE: The beautifully written war time letter from wife to soldier found hidden behind my fireplace Captain MacRobert, an officer in the Royal Artillery, part of the British Army 2nd Division, fought in the Battle of Kohima in June 1944, a turning point in the Japanese invasion of India and the war against the Axis powers. Later, Earl Mountbatten described Kohima, which raged between April and June, as 'probably one of the greatest battles in history…in effect the Battle of Burma… naked unparalleled heroism…the British/Indian Thermopylae'. The water carrier of Captain CJT MacRobert which is on show at the Kohima Museum in York. His family have no idea how it got there. PIC: Contributed. | Contributed Around 4,000 allied troops and around 7,000 Japanese soldiers were killed at Kohima an important hill station and garrison in Assam on the only road that led from the major British/Indian supply depot at Dimapur to Imphal. The Japanese Army was broken into three different columns to attack it from three different angles. Captain MacRobert was part of the fighting force of the 2nd British Division, the 161st Indian Brigade and the 33rd Indian Brigade at Kohima, which served alongside Burmese, Australian, American and African troops. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Later, Captain MacRobert, described Kohima as 'our El-Alamein ' in reference to the climax of the North African campaign, when the British defeated the Axis army of Italy and Germany. READ MORE: Why those who wish we would stop remembering World War Two are just plain wrong On the end of the operation at Kohima , he wrote: 'At last the hard pressed Kohima Garrison was relieved in after one of the most gallant and bloody defences against as cruel and fanatical an enemy as the world has ever known.' The garrison itself was held by a small group of Indian and British troops, who fought to defend it with little ammunition, diminishing supplies of food and water, medical supplies and hardly any sleep. It was finally reached by allied forces by road, with a long column of ambulances shepherded in by grey tanks and their 'sharply crackling' guns. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Captain MacRobert wrote of the greenery of Garrison Hill turning to 'grey and blackened splintered devastation' as the perimeter was fought over for He wrote: 'From far off, many nights I watched the perimeter battles. Leaping flames and occasional flares cast and revealed moving shadows, some of which were charging infantry men. 'Smoke streamed across that narrow deadly belt . D.F. (Direct Fire) from distant guns, grenades and mortar bombs from closer crashed into it.' Many wounded were brought out who had 'lain in agony and peril for so long in that relentlessly contracting perimeter,' Captain MacRobert wrote. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Their dead, so soon to be joined by so many more of ours, they left behind,' he added. A map of the Kohima area which shows top right McRobert Hill (sic), named after Captain JCT MacRobert, of Paisley. | Contributed The ordeal continued for several days, much of it across the Deputy Commissioner's tennis court, until desperate attempts to get tanks and six pounders up the steep bank to his garden succeeded. There, the Japanese hid in bunkers under his bungalow. Ms Garwood said her father, in later life, formed a type of Kohima Veterans Association to connect with others who fought at the hill station. She added: 'That must have been their therapy, to meet up with people you fought with years later when you could face it and talk to them. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'They understood - they knew what you meant. The families didn't , and perhaps didn't want to know as it was too painful.' Captain MacRobert returned to Scotland by early 1946 and spent the rest of his life working as a solicitor in the family firm in Paisley. He married the following year and had three children. He died in 2000. There was very much a sense that the war in the Far East was a 'forgotten war', Ms Garwood said. She added: 'By the time it got to VJ in 1945, everyone was VE Day'd out and the troops didn't get back for another year or so. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'There were no ships to get them back, they didn't know where everyone was, they had Prisoners of War to locate and get out of the camps, get them fit to travel. 'We may have won the war in the Far East, but we did not win the peace.' Ms Garwood and her sister will travel to Kohima this October with other descendants of veterans to pay their respects to those who never returned and who are commemorated on the Kohima memorial. 'While Dad returned safely, many of his compatriots didn't,' she added.
News18
6 days ago
- Politics
- News18
Yunus's Year: Bangladesh's Descent Into Hate And Extremism
Last Updated: The promise of democratic renewal has been eclipsed by division, persecution, and a troubling tolerance for extremism, threatening the nation's secular and pluralistic foundations When Muhammad Yunus, the Nobel laureate, became Chief Adviser to Bangladesh's interim government in August 2024, expectations were high that his leadership would stabilise the nation after Sheikh Hasina's ousting. Renowned for his microcredit work, Yunus was seen as a harbinger of reform. Yet, one year later, Bangladesh faces a grim reality of rising hate, Islamic extremism, targeted attacks on Hindus, and questionable global alliances. Far from a golden era, Yunus's tenure has coincided with a surge in communal violence, with over 2,000 documented attacks on minorities, particularly Hindus, since Hasina's departure, according to a local minority rights organisation. Temples, homes, and businesses have been vandalised, and figures like ISKCON monk Chinmoy Krishna Das face sedition charges for advocating minority rights, signalling a crackdown on dissent. Yunus's dismissal of these incidents as 'exaggerated propaganda" has drawn sharp criticism, with a UN report confirming widespread mob violence against Hindus, Ahmadiyya Muslims, and indigenous groups. The administration's failure to curb extremist elements, including the registration of a previously banned Islamist party as a political entity, has emboldened radical forces. Surge in Communal Violence Against Hindus Since Muhammad Yunus assumed leadership in August 2024, Bangladesh has seen a sharp rise in communal violence targeting its Hindu minority, who comprise about 8 per cent of the population. A minority rights organisation has documented over 2,000 attacks on Hindus, including the destruction of 69 temples, nine deaths, and widespread looting of Hindu-owned businesses and homes. Reports describe incidents such as the burning of Hindu villages in Chittagong and the desecration of religious idols in Dhaka. The arrest of ISKCON monk Chinmoy Krishna Das in November 2024, charged with sedition for leading protests demanding protections for minorities, underscores the government's harsh stance toward dissent. The violence surged after the fall of Sheikh Hasina's government, with mobs exploiting the political vacuum to target vulnerable communities. This has displaced thousands of Hindus, many fleeing to India, straining bilateral ties. Critics argue that Yunus's administration has failed to deploy sufficient security or pursue prosecutions, creating a perception of tacit complicity. The lack of decisive action has fuelled fears of a systematic campaign to marginalise minorities, threatening Bangladesh's social cohesion and raising questions about the interim government's commitment to protecting all citizens equally. Rise of Islamic Extremism Yunus's interim government has been criticised for enabling a resurgence of Islamic extremist groups, undermining Bangladesh's secular identity. The registration of a previously banned Islamist party as a political entity in late 2024 has sparked widespread alarm. Reports highlight the growing influence of radical groups, exemplified by the forced cancellation of a Sufi cultural festival in Kushtia due to threats from Islamist factions. Investigations indicate that student-led protests in 2024, initially sparked by job quota disputes, were infiltrated by radical elements, with the government failing to curb their influence. The release of over 50 individuals facing terror-related charges, including members of banned organisations, has further heightened concerns. These developments suggest a growing tolerance for extremist ideologies, reminiscent of past incidents like the 2016 café attack that killed 22 people. The administration's lenient approach has raised fears that Bangladesh could become a hub for militancy, threatening both domestic stability and regional security, as radical rhetoric gains traction without sufficient oversight or intervention. Denial and Inaction on Minority Persecution Yunus's dismissal of minority attacks as 'exaggerated propaganda" during a December 2024 press conference has drawn sharp criticism from international and local observers. A UN report from February 2025 documented 'systematic mob violence" against Hindus, Ahmadiyya Muslims, and indigenous communities, contradicting Yunus's claims. The report detailed over 1,500 cases of arson, assault, and property destruction, with police often absent or complicit. Critics have noted the government's failure to establish an independent commission to investigate these incidents, with only 3 per cent of reported cases leading to arrests. The detention of ISKCON monk Chinmoy Krishna Das without bail has become a focal point of outrage, with global leaders highlighting Bangladesh's shrinking democratic space. The administration's inaction has fostered a climate of impunity, allowing perpetrators to act without fear of consequences. This failure to address minority persecution undermines Bangladesh's constitutional commitment to secularism and pluralism, risking further alienation of its diverse communities and eroding public trust in the interim government's ability to uphold justice. Problematic Global Alliances Yunus's foreign policy has raised alarms about Bangladesh's shifting alignments, particularly its growing closeness with Pakistan and China, which has coincided with a deteriorating relationship with India. Since August 2024, the interim government has pursued stronger ties with Pakistan, marked by high-level diplomatic exchanges and trade discussions, despite historical tensions rooted in the 1971 Liberation War. Simultaneously, Bangladesh has deepened its economic and military cooperation with China, including agreements on infrastructure projects and arms purchases, as noted in regional analyses. These moves have strained ties with India, a traditional ally, which has expressed concerns over Bangladesh's reluctance to address cross-border security issues, including the refusal to extradite terror suspects. The interim government's silence on smuggling along the India-Bangladesh border has further exacerbated tensions. A US report highlighting Bangladesh as a potential conduit for terror financing has intensified scrutiny of Yunus's 'pragmatic diplomacy," which critics argue prioritises alliances with Islamist-leaning and geopolitically contentious actors over regional stability. This shift risks isolating India, a key economic and security partner, while emboldening Pakistan and China, whose influence could undermine Bangladesh's non-aligned stance. The administration's failure to balance these relationships threatens to destabilise South Asia, raising questions about its commitment to fostering cooperative regional dynamics. The author teaches journalism at St Xavier's College (autonomous), Kolkata. His handle on X is @sayantan_gh. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18's views. tags : bangladesh China communal violence Minority Rights Muhammad Yunus pakistan view comments Location : Dhaka, Bangladesh First Published: August 13, 2025, 10:03 IST News opinion Opinion | Yunus's Year: Bangladesh's Descent Into Hate And Extremism Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
India.com
29-07-2025
- Politics
- India.com
UN, Rights Group Slam Pakistan For Ongoing Persecution Of Religious Minorities
Shocked at reports of increasing violence against vulnerable communities on grounds of their religion or belief in Pakistan, a panel of United Nations (UN) human rights experts has called for immediate investigations, prosecutions, and reforms to protect the country's religious minorities. Only last week, the UN human rights experts issued an unusually sharp rebuke to Pakistan, expressing that they were "shocked at reports of increasing violence against vulnerable communities on grounds of their religion or belief". Their statement, published on July 24, carried the weight of decades of frustration, a 'One World Outlook' report cited. "Pakistan must break the pattern of impunity that has allowed perpetrators to act without restraint," the UN panel urged, calling for immediate investigations, prosecutions, and reforms to protect the country's religious minorities. The minorities in Pakistan - including Ahmadiyya Muslims, Christians, Hindus, and Shia Muslims - continue to be neglected and increasingly subjected to targetted state-backed persecution. The latest reports from Amnesty International and New York-based rights group Human Rights Watch have also highlighted the "systemic repression" and called the violence stemming from blasphemy allegations in 2025 "intensified terror against communities who have nowhere to turn". According to the report, the ongoing violence against minorities is deliberate rather than "sporadic or random". The recent UN report held Pakistan responsible for "tacit official complicity", arguing that law enforcement's failure to act has emboldened extremists. Raising concern, the UN experts stated, "The cycle of fear prevents both people and institutions from upholding the rights and dignity of these minorities". Pakistan's Ahmadiyya community, the report highlighted, continues to face severe persecution, having been constitutionally declared non-Muslim in 1974. They are prohibited by law from identifying themselves as Muslims, practicing their faith publicly, or referring to their places of worship as mosques. Human Rights Watch documented multiple incidents of violence against Ahmadiyya in 2024, involving desecration of their mosques, vandalism of their cemeteries, and burning of their religious texts. "Even in death, they are denied dignity as graveyards are routinely vandalised," the report stated. Pakistani authorities place Ahmadiyya voters on separate electoral rolls, their religious sites are frequently sealed by police, and they are often charged with "fabricated" blasphemy cases leading to detentions, disappearances, and escalating extrajudicial killings. The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) also described the blasphemy laws as "a mechanism of ethnic cleansing", and has repeatedly suggested designating Pakistan a "country of particular concern". According to the 2025 report of the Commission, "religious minority communities — particularly Christians, Hindus, and Shia and Ahmadiyya Muslims — continued to bear the brunt of prosecutions under Pakistan's strict blasphemy law". Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have recorded several cases of sexual violence against women who were detained under fabricated blasphemy charges by Pakistani authorities. On the other hand, forced conversions and marriages remain a persistent crisis with Hindu, Christian, and Sikh girls — some as young as 12 — being abducted, forcibly converted to Islam, and married off to their abductors. Earlier this year, during a UK Parliamentary debate, lawmakers criticised these practices as a "serious abuse of human rights that robs women and girls of the right to choose their own future". The UN, in its July 2025 statement, also called on Pakistan to abolish blasphemy laws, hold perpetrators accountable, and ensure the protection of religious sites.
Mint
07-06-2025
- Politics
- Mint
‘Do all you can to eliminate...': US lawmakers' message to Bilawal Bhutto-led Pakistan delegation
US lawmakers told Bilawal Bhutto-led Pakistan delegation to do all it can to eliminate 'vile' Jaish-e-Mohammed. Congressman Brad Sherman said on Friday he met former Pakistan minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Pakistan's Ambassador Sheikh and House Foreign Affairs leadership for a "candid conversation about regional tensions following last month's India-Pakistan conflict, democracy in Pakistan, & counterterrorism in the region." In a series of posts on X, Sherman said he "emphasised to the Pakistani delegation the importance of combatting terrorism, and in particular, the group Jaish-e-Mohammed, who murdered my constituent Daniel Pearl in 2002." "Pearl's family continues to live in my district, and Pakistan should do all it can to eliminate this vile group and combat terrorism in the region," Sherman said. Terrorist Omar Saeed Sheikh was convicted of orchestrating the 2002 kidnapping and murder of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl. He added that "water rights" along the Indus River was a major point of discussion during the meeting. He said, "India should not take any adverse actions towards Pakistan to restrict the Indus" and that "China should not take any adverse actions towards India to restrict water in the region." He said, "Within Pakistan, water flowing through Punjab and Sindh must remain accessible to the millions of Pakistanis who rely on the Indus to survive." Sherman also said the protection of religious minorities in Pakistan remains an important issue. "Christians, Hindus, and Ahmadiyya Muslims living in Pakistan must be allowed to practice their faith and participate in the democratic system without fear of violence, persecution, discrimination, or an unequal justice system," he said. Bhutto-led Pakistani delegation met Congressman Brad Sherman in Washington on Thursday, timing their visit to the US capital around the same time as a multi-party delegation of Indian parliamentarians led by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor is in Washington DC. Bhutto met UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres with his delegation as well as Security Council Ambassadors in New York.
News18
07-06-2025
- Politics
- News18
'Eliminate This Vile Group': US Congressman To Pakistani Delegation On Jaish-e-Mohammed
Last Updated: US Congressman Brad Sherman told the Pakistani delegation to ensure the elimination of the "vile" Jaish-e-Mohammed, while stressing the protection of religious minorities. In a strong rebuke, senior US lawmaker Brad Sherman told the visiting Pakistani delegation led by Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari that the country should do 'all it can" to eliminate the 'vile" terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), as well as ensure the protection of religious minorities. The JeM has been responsible for several terrorist attacks against India and was also behind the abduction and execution of American journalist Daniel Pearl in 2002. 'I emphasised to the Pakistani delegation the importance of combating terrorism, and in particular, the group Jaish-e-Mohammed, who murdered my constituent Daniel Pearl in 2002," said Sherman on X. 'Pearl's family continues to live in my district, and Pakistan should do all it can to eliminate this vile group and combat terrorism in the region. The protection of religious minorities in Pakistan remains an important issue," he added. Sherman said Christians, Hindus, and Ahmadiyya Muslims living in Pakistan must be allowed to practice their faith and participate in a democratic system without the fear of violence, persecution and discrimination. The Pakistani delegation, led by Bilawal Bhutto, met Sherman in Washington on Thursday, around the same time as a multi-party delegation of Indian parliamentarians led by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor was in the US capital. Seven all-party delegations had travelled to various countries, briefing key interlocutors about Operation Sindoor in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack and India's strong resolve to fight terrorism emanating from Pakistan. Sherman also urged the Pakistani delegation to relay to their government the need to free Dr Shakil Afridi, who continues to languish in prison for helping the United States kill Osama bin Laden. 'Freeing Dr Afridi represents an important step in bringing closure for victims of 9/11," he said. Afridi is a Pakistani physician who helped the Central Investigation Agency (CIA) run a polio vaccination programme in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province to collect DNA samples of bin Laden's family. He was arrested shortly after bin Laden's death in Abbottabad in May 2011 and sentenced to 33 years in prison. About the Author Aveek Banerjee Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from geopolitics to diplomacy and global trends. Stay informed with the latest world news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) pakistan Pakistan terrorism US Congressman US lawmakers First Published: News world 'Eliminate This Vile Group': US Congressman To Pakistani Delegation On Jaish-e-Mohammed
