Latest news with #Muslims
New Indian Express
15 minutes ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Nimisha Priya case: Sheikh Habib has close ties with Kerala, visits Kanthapuram's institutions often
KOZHIKODE: Sheikh Habib Umar bin Hafiz, who initiated talks with the officials in Yemen and with the relatives of the person murdered by Nimisha Priya, has close ties with Kerala and is a regular visitor to the institutions run by Kanthapuram A P Aboobacker Musaliyar. A prominent figure in the Ba Alawi Tariqa in the Sufi order, Habib Umar is the founder of Dar al-Mustafa, a religious institution in Tarim in Yemen. Many from Kerala had studied at the institution before the internal strife in the country. He figured in the list of 500 most influential Muslims prepared by Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre in Jordan and George Town University in the USA. His students say that Habib Umar commands respect among all sections in Yemen, barring a few extremist groups. It was his stature that helped him to depute his men to have a dialogue with the officials and the relatives of Talal, the person murdered by Nimisha. Habib Umar was present for the inauguration of the mosque at Knowledge City and the Ma'din Sadath Academy in Malappuram. He created a platform called 'A Common Word Between US and You' in 2007 which works for coordination between Muslims and Christians.
Straits Times
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Thai trans woman arrested over walking topless in Sri Lanka
Find out what's new on ST website and app. The 26-year-old pleaded guilty on July 15 to two charges of indecent exposure and causing distress to others at Arugam Bay. Colombo - Sri Lankan police arrested a Thai trans woman for walking topless at a surfing resort and causing a 'public nuisance', an officer said July 15. In largely conservative Sri Lanka, women going topless is an offence, while men are allowed to leave their torsos uncovered. The 26-year-old, whose Thai passport says she is male but who identifies as a woman, pleaded guilty on July 15 to two charges of indecent exposure and causing distress to others at Arugam Bay. A court handed her a suspended six-week sentence after social media posts showed her walking along a touristic beach strip on July 14. 'She was detained at the police station overnight and taken before the magistrate today following a lot of complaints from residents as well as on social media,' a local police officer told AFP. The magistrate had suspended the sentence for five years, meaning there will be no immediate imprisonment. Any repeat offence, however, would result in her having to serve the six-week term. Arugam Bay, nearly 400km from the capital Colombo, is a popular surfing destination. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Las Vegas Sands' new development part of S'pore's broader, more ambitious transformation: PM Wong Singapore 'Kpods broke our marriage, shattered our children': Woman on husband's vape addiction Business US tariffs may last well after Trump; crucial for countries to deepen trade ties: SM Lee Asia India foreign minister's China visit marks restart in relations amid capricious US trade policy Multimedia Telling the Singapore story for 180 years Life Walking for exercise? Here are tips on how to do it properly Singapore CDL's long-time director Philip Yeo to depart after boardroom feud Singapore 'Nobody deserves to be alone': Why Mummy and Acha have fostered over 20 children in the past 22 years The local community, largely made up of minority Muslims, had complained to authorities in recent weeks about scantily clad foreigners. While Sri Lanka, a Buddhist-majority country of 22 million people, welcomes tourists, nudity is prohibited and the general population remains conservative in outlook. Tourism has long been a key source of foreign exchange for the country, which is still recovering from its worst-ever economic crisis in 2022. The economy has since stabilised, thanks to an International Monetary Fund bailout in 2023 and the return of tourists following the Covid pandemic. AFP
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Savarkar remarks: HC refuses to issue directions to Rahul
Mumbai: Bombay high court has declined to issue any direction to opposition leader on his utterances against late Vinayak Damodar Savarkar. "This court cannot issue any direction to respondent no 1 (Gandhi) to study the contents of this public interest litigation and to remove ignorance about the contribution of Shri Vinayak Savarkar,'' said Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Sandeep Marne. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The PIL was by Pankaj Phadnis, president of Abhinav Bharat Congress, a policy think tank, saying his legal rights as well as that of a large number of citizens to fulfil their fundamental duty under Article 51A(b) was impeded by Gandhi's statements about Savarkar. Article 51A(b) focuses on the duty 'to cherish and follow noble ideals that inspired our national struggle for freedom.' Phadnis referred to Gandhi's May 28 statement that Savarkar considered Muslims traitors. He referred to a Feb 8, 1944, US consulate interview in which Savarkar said the aim of the Hindu Mahasabha is to preserve the integrity of India and its Hindu character with due regard to the rights of all minorities including the Muslims. "Such a man cannot be considered a traitor," said Phadnis. He said the late PM Indira Gandhi praised Savarkar's daring defiance of the British govt. Phadnis had urged HC to direct Gandhi "to personally go through the contents of this petition …to remove ignorance about the contribution of Savarkar to the…nation and to provide proof of his study by a reasoned reply." The judges asked whether they could compel Gandhi to read his petition. Phadnis said, "Leader of the opposition in a democracy can potentially be tomorrow a prime minister. Such a person with this knowledge will create havoc. He cannot misrepresent and mislead citizens. He is creating confusion." The judges noted that Phadnis' petition was dismissed by the Supreme Court on May 27. A defamation case against Gandhi is pending before a Pune magistrate. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Phadnis can take "recourse to such remedy as may be available in law to ventilate his grievances," the judges said. Phadnis had also urged the Centre to include Savarkar's name in the schedule to the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Use) Act. Declining to issue any direction, the judges said HC cannot issue a writ to the legislature either to amend the law to include Savarkar's name in the schedule.
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Samik: Not party's job to attend ‘namaz' or ‘hari naam sankirtan'
Kolkata: Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya, who has been making attempts to recalibrate its political narrative in the state, on Tuesday said a party's job was not to attend "namaz" or "hari naam sankirtan (chanting Hari)". Bhattacharya, who emphasised BJP's "inclusive politics", also claimed that Trinamool had fostered divisions in society. "A political party's duty is not to participate in namaz or hari naam sankirtan, but to provide assistance to people for hospitalisation, admission in schools, or better civic amenities. People don't come to political workers to listen to Sundarkanda of Ramayana," Bhattacharya said at a workers' meet in Cooch Behar. Bhattacharya, who has earlier tried to bridge the gap with minority communities and said BJP is not against Muslims, asked party workers to refrain from divisive politics. "A political party's job is not to wedge a divide among people. We want Durga visarjan and Muharram processions to go forward simultaneously. They shouldn't need different routes," he said. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata Taking on Trinamool, Bhattacharya said: "Who is trying to change the situation in Bengal? Who is forcing Hindus to unite overnight? Trinamool has changed the narrative in West Bengal." He claimed a member of the Muslim community could not even protest against atrocities on Hindus without being "attacked" by the governing party. In the same breath, the Bengal BJP president criticised attempts at radicalisation. "What is happening in Murshidabad, Maheshtala or Kidderpore? Radicalisation is a curse on the entire world and we have to fight against this," he said. Saying the party had always put the country first, Bhattacharya said: "Indira Gandhi was a Congress neta. Yet (former PM Atal Bihari) Vajpayee ji called her 'Devi Durga'. BJP doesn't believe in political differences if it is about the national interest."
Al-Ahram Weekly
6 hours ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Al-Azhar condemns Hanover terror attack against Algerian student - Foreign Affairs
Egypt's Al-Azhar has condemned as a terror attack the fatal stabbing of Algerian student Rahma Ayat in Hannover, Germany. Al-Azhar, in a statement on Tuesday, denounced the crime, reportedly carried out by a far-right German assailant, and urged "firm international action' to combat the rise of white nationalist and far-right terrorism in Europe. The world's leading Islamic institution warned of the growing threat posed by such ideologies to Muslims and refugees across the continent. It called for 'decisive legal measures' to curb these acts of terrorism and prevent future tragedies. Al-Azhar extended its heartfelt condolences to the family of Rahma Ayat. On the morning of 4 July, 26-year-old Algerian nursing trainee Rahma Ayad was fatally stabbed in the stairwell of her apartment building in Arnum, south of Hanover. Police arrested a 31-year-old German man, a resident of the same building, later that day. The suspect remains in custody, though formal charges have not yet been filed, and authorities have not confirmed a motive. Ayad's family revealed that she had voiced concerns two months prior about being harassed by her neighbour. Her mother reportedly said Rahma felt unsafe due to ongoing verbal abuse related to her hijab and Arab identity, according to media sources. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
