Latest news with #HassanAbdulGhani
The Star
22-04-2025
- The Star
High Court orders ex-assistant coach to begin jail term for sexual assault
Mat Salleh (centre) had his appeal dismissed by the High Court on April 22. – BERNAMApic KUALA TERENGGANU: A former assistant bowling coach found guilty of sexually assaulting a Malaysia Games (Sukma) athlete has been ordered to serve his six-year jail sentence with immediate effect. High Court judge Justice Datuk Hassan Abdul Ghani made the order after dismissing an appeal by Mat Salleh Jalani, 62, to set aside the conviction and sentence handed down by the Sessions Court on May 16 last year. "The court dismisses his appeal and upholds the sentence imposed by the Sessions Court,' he said on Tuesday (April 22), directing Mat Salleh to begin serving his prison sentence immediately. The Sessions Court had found Mat Salleh guilty of physical sexual assault on a teenage boy, aged 14 at the time of the offence, and sentenced him to six years' jail. The offence was committed at a housing estate in Marang in March 2018. The charge was framed under Section 14(d) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, which provides for imprisonment not exceeding 20 years and caning upon conviction. DPP Nur Nabihah Hanin Ayim appeared for the prosecution while Mat Salleh was represented by Wan Suhaili Wan Ismail, who said her client would file with the Court of Appeal against today's decision. – Bernama
Iraqi News
11-03-2025
- Politics
- Iraqi News
Syria announces end to ‘military operation' after mass killings
Latakia – Syria's new authorities announced on Monday the end of an operation against loyalists of deposed president Bashar al-Assad, after nearly 1,000 civilians were killed in the worst violence since his overthrow. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor reported the mass killings of at least 973 civilians since Thursday, the overwhelming majority of them members of the Alawite minority executed by security forces or allied groups. The fighting in the coastal heartland of the Alawite minority to which the ousted president belongs has threatened to throw into chaos the country's fragile transition after decades of the Assad clan's iron-fisted rule. The authorities on Monday ended their sweeping 'military operation' against security threats and 'regime remnants' in Latakia and Tartus provinces on the Mediterranean coast, defence ministry spokesman Hassan Abdul Ghani said in a statement on official news agency SANA. The announcement came after interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa, whose Islamist group led the offensive that toppled Assad on December 8, said the country would not be dragged into civil war again. 'Syria… will not allow any foreign powers or domestic parties to drag it into chaos or civil war,' Sharaa said in a speech posted by SANA. He also vowed to 'hold accountable, firmly and without leniency, anyone who was involved in the bloodshed of civilians… or who overstepped the powers of the state'. In Jableh in Latakia province, an resident spoke to AFP in tears, requesting anonymity for safety concerns and saying they were being terrorised by armed groups who had taken control of the town. 'More than 50 people from among my family and friends have been killed. They gathered bodies with bulldozers and buried them in mass graves.' – 'Anxiety and fear' – In some areas, residents began tentatively venturing out but many were still afraid to leave home after dark and complained of a lack of basic supplies. 'Today the situation in Latakia is a little calmer, people are out and about after five days of anxiety and extreme fear,' said Farah, a 22-year-old university student who gave only her first name. But with the situation still 'very tense', she said that 'after six o'clock, you do not see anyone in the street… the neighbourhood turns into a ghost town.' Clashes broke out on Thursday after gunmen loyal to the deposed president attacked Syria's new security forces. The ensuing violence killed 231 security personnel and 250 pro-Assad fighters killed, according to the Britain-based Observatory which relies on a network of sources inside Syria. The authorities did not provide any casualty figures. In addition to the mass killings of Alawites, there have been reports of Christians being caught up in the wave of attacks. During a sermon in Damascus on Sunday, the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch John X said that 'many innocent Christians were also killed' alongside Alawites. Obituaries were shared on social media for several members of the small Christian community living on the coast. Sharaa's group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which has its roots in the Syrian branch of jihadist network Al-Qaeda, has vowed to protect Syria's religious and ethnic minorities since toppling Assad. HTS is still listed as a terrorist organisation by the United States and other governments. – 'Not in control' – Analysts have said the latest violence calls into question the new authorities' ability to rule and rebuild a country devastated by 13 years of civil war. 'The militia chaos that we saw in the Alawite coastal cities tells us… that the new Syrian army is not in control,' said Joshua Landis, an expert on Syria at the University of Oklahoma. The violence 'will hinder Ahmed al-Sharaa's efforts to consolidate his rule and to convince the international community that he is in control', Landis added. Iran, a key backer of Assad, on Monday rejected accusations that Tehran may have been involved in the latest violence. Foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei described the claims in media reports, including from the Saudi-owned Al Arabiya TV channel, as 'completely ridiculous'. United Nations rights chief Volker Turk said Sunday the killings 'must cease immediately', while the Arab League, the United Nations, the United States and other governments have condemned the violence. The presidency also announced that an 'independent committee' had been formed to 'investigate the violations against civilians and identify those responsible for them', who would face the courts.
Observer
10-03-2025
- Politics
- Observer
Syria announces end to 'military operation'
LATAKIA: Syria's new authorities announced on Monday the end of an operation against loyalists of deposed president Bashar al Assad, after nearly 1,000 civilians were killed in the worst violence since his overthrow. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor reported the mass killings of at least 973 civilians since Thursday. The authorities on Monday ended their sweeping "military operation" against security threats and "regime remnants" in Latakia and Tartus provinces on the Mediterranean coast, defence ministry spokesman Hassan Abdul Ghani said in a statement. The announcement came after interim president Ahmed al Sharaa said the country would not be dragged into civil war again. "Syria... will not allow any foreign powers or domestic parties to drag it into chaos or civil war," Sharaa said in a speech posted by SANA. He also vowed to "hold accountable, firmly and without leniency, anyone who was involved in the bloodshed of civilians... or who overstepped the powers of the state". — AFP
Roya News
10-03-2025
- Politics
- Roya News
Escalating violence in Syria's coastal region sparks international concern
Violence has been intensifying along Syria's coast in recent days, prompting widespread international concern. However, contrary to reports circulating on social media and in some international media outlets, the United Nations stated that it has not deployed any fact-finding or investigative mission to the region, and added that such missions can only be authorized by the UN Human Rights Council or the UN Security Council. The Syrian Foreign Ministry, in its memorandum to international missions published on Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), accused remnants of the previous regime, supported by foreign entities, of launching a violent attack on the coastal region on March 6. The armed groups temporarily seized municipal administrations and besieged six hospitals during the assault. Additionally, government forces faced repeated ambushes from militias loyal to the former regime as they advanced toward Latakia. Reports also indicated that some individuals were killed simply because their license plates indicated they were from Idlib. Despite the UN not deploying an official mission, Colonel Hassan Abdul Ghani, a spokesperson for the Syrian Ministry of Defense, confirmed that the ministry has enacted new strategies to combat these remnants. He emphasized that the Syrian government will not tolerate any threats to national security or the resurgence of criminal cells. Colonel Ghani also noted that while no UN mission was in the area as claimed, the Syrian government is committed to investigating the situation thoroughly and seeking justice for the victims. Special investigation committee formed On the political front, Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa emphasized the importance of holding accountable those responsible for the bloodshed of civilians or for abusing state authority for personal gain. He vowed, 'No one will be above the law, and anyone whose hands are stained with the blood of Syrians will face justice sooner or later.' In response to the violence, the Syrian presidency has formed a special investigation committee to identify and bring those responsible for violations against civilians to justice. Another committee has been established to maintain civil peace, engage with residents of the Syrian coast, and foster national unity during this critical time. Security Council meeting Diplomats have reported that both the United States and Russia have called for a UN Security Council meeting to address the growing violence in Syria. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed Washington's strong support for Syria's religious and ethnic minorities, including Christian, Druze, Alawite, and Kurdish communities. He condemned the involvement of 'radical Islamic terrorists, including foreign jihadists,' in the attacks in western Syria and urged the temporary Syrian authorities to hold accountable those responsible for massacres against minorities.
MTV Lebanon
10-03-2025
- Politics
- MTV Lebanon
Syrian Defense Ministry Announces End of Coastal Military Operation
The Syrian Ministry of Defense, announced the conclusion of the military operation against the remnants of the deposed regime in the Syrian coast and the return to normal life. Spokesperson for the Syrian Ministry of Defense, Colonel Hassan Abdul Ghani said in tweets on the X platform: 'In fulfillment of the promise we made to our dignified people with the launch of the second phase of operations, we announce the success of our forces, thanks to Allah and the determination of our men, in achieving all the specified objectives of this phase'. Abdul Ghani added: 'Our forces have neutralized the security cells and remnants of the former regime from the town of al-Mukhtariyah, the town of al-Mazaira'a, the area of al-Zobar, and other locations in Lattakia Governorate, as well as Dalia town, Tanita town, and Qadmous in Tartous Governorate, resulting in the thwarting of threats and securing the area.' Colonel pointed out that the 'public institutions are capable of resuming their work and providing essential services to the citizens now and we are preparing for the return of normal life and working to reinforce security and stability ' He affirmed that: 'In the coming phase, security services will work to enhance their efforts to ensure stability, maintain security, and safeguard the well-being of the citizens stressing that new plans have been developed to continue the fight against the remnants of the deposed regime, to eliminate any future threats, and to prevent the reorganization of criminal cells and We will give the investigation committee full opportunity to uncover the circumstances of the events, verify the facts, and bring justice to the oppressed.'
