Latest news with #Rifai
Roya News
3 days ago
- Politics
- Roya News
Hundreds of Syrian return home voluntarily from Jordan
Residents of the Syrian city of Homs welcomed a convoy of families returning voluntarily from Jordan after displacement during the Syrian uprising. The return was organized by the humanitarian group Waqf Farah in coordination with the Homs Governorate. Yahiya Rifai, a representative of the organization, told Syria's official news agency SANA that the convoy is the second to depart Jordan's Azraq camp voluntarily as part of ongoing efforts to support stability and the return of displaced families to their hometowns and villages. Rifai said the arrangements followed a visit by Waqf Farah's founder, Dr. Mohammad Rahif Hakmi, to Azraq camp, where coordination took place with relevant authorities to facilitate the return. The convoy included 235 families—around 730 people—who were previously forcibly displaced from Syria to Jordan. They arrived in Homs province aboard buses, accompanied by trucks carrying their belongings. The organization also distributed food baskets and clothing to all returning families. The convoy entered Syria through the Nassib border crossing in Daraa province on Saturday and continued to 14 residential areas in rural Homs, with support from Waqf Farah and in coordination with Syrian, Jordanian, and Emirati authorities.
Jordan News
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Jordan News
Rifai: Modernization Does Not Threaten Stability - Jordan News
The Mohammad Al-Hammouri Forum for Cultural Development hosted former Prime Minister Samir Rifai in a seminar titled "The Narrative of Independence: From Independence to the Future", during which he shed light on the evolution of the Jordanian independence narrative amid regional and international transformations. He also highlighted the uniqueness of the Jordanian experience compared to other independence movements in the region. اضافة اعلان In his speech, Rifai emphasized that political modernization is based on three essential pillars: A clear political will, The Royal Committee, which included figures from across the political spectrum and held over 8,000 hours of dialogue, Implementation and practice — a responsibility that lies with political forces and parties that must conduct serious reviews of their roles and responsibilities. He warned that modernization has become a national imperative within the equation of stability and trust-building, without excluding anyone, undermining state institutions, or compromising the rule of law. Rifai stressed that the political reform and modernization project in Jordan is a steady and ongoing path stemming from an unambiguous royal will. He stated: 'I have always spoken — and will continue to speak — about political reform and modernization in the same spirit with which we entered the Royal Committee, because it was a manifestation of royal will and a clear directive through its outcomes.' He criticized the reliance on local electoral lists, noting that they do not yield national or program-based parties. He said: 'Local lists do not produce programmatic parties. The goal of national lists is to push for the establishment of parties with real platforms. The presence of 250,000 blank ballots is a positive indicator of voter awareness — not the opposite.' On independence and identity, Rifai stressed that independence was not a gift or a grant, but the result of a long struggle that began even before the founding of the Emirate in 1921. He pointed out that over the past century, the Jordanian state has proven that stability cannot be built through force and that security can only be achieved through a justice system that respects human dignity and upholds the rule of law. He affirmed that Jordan has never been a vindictive state and has never acted on impulse, but instead relied on wisdom, patience, and decisive action — without exclusion, vengeance, or injustice. He further stated that national identity should not be reduced to slogans, but should reflect a deep understanding and appreciation of national achievements. He called on all Jordanians to take pride in and celebrate these achievements, and to reject those who deny them. He criticized the failure to present Jordan's national narrative effectively, saying: 'We have fallen short and delayed in presenting our country's story, but it's not too late. We must present our identity clearly. It is alive, shaped and stabilized through sacrifices, and derived its traits from the moderate national character.' He explained that national identity was shaped by hundreds of factors and many challenges and struggles, with Jordan's determination to persevere — sometimes even in the face of conspiracies — playing a key role. On the topic of regional and international challenges, Rifai stated that external pressures are not new: 'We have experienced such pressures frequently, and we have grown accustomed to them. Despite being one of the poorest countries in terms of resources, Jordan has been among the least responsive to these pressures.' Rifai concluded by referencing multiple attempts to undermine Jordan and its sources of strength, emphasizing that these efforts have failed: 'Various movements have tried to weaken Jordan and topple the state, but they faded away while Jordan — with its identity, institutions, and resilient people — remained.' In response to a question about the decision to ban the Muslim Brotherhood, Rifai noted that a judicial ruling to dissolve the group was issued in 2020 and questioned why its implementation had been delayed for five years. This seminar is part of an intellectual series launched by the Forum earlier this year under the title "The War of Awareness and Narrative", aimed at countering misleading narratives targeting national identity and strengthening collective awareness through deep critical readings of Jordan's history and political transformations in the region. As part of this series, the Forum has previously hosted prominent political and intellectual figures from Jordan and the Arab world, including former Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa, former Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Dr. Marwan Muasher, and former Prime Minister Abdul Raouf Al-Rawabdeh, who all offered in-depth insights on issues of identity, national narrative, and regional transformations. It's worth noting that the Mohammad Al-Hammouri Forum for Cultural Development is an independent intellectual institution that seeks to provide an open space for dialogue on political, cultural, and social issues, encouraging critical thinking and the exchange of ideas among intellectuals and public affairs enthusiasts.
Daily Mail
29-04-2025
- Daily Mail
Aussie man accused of sparking wild brawl at world famous Finns Beach Club in Bali makes a stunning claim about what happened - as he faces court for the first time
The lawyer of an Australian man accused of assaulting a security guard at a popular beach club while holidaying in Bali claims his client acted in self-defence. Mohamed Rifai, 27, from Sydney 's south-west, appeared in Denpasar District Court for the first time on Tuesday, two months after the alleged attack outside the Finns Beach Club in Canguu. He made no comment as he arrived for day one of his trial wearing a red prison vest over a white shirt surrounded by a large media pack. Rifai faces up to five years behind bars in Indonesia if he's found guilty. Bali prosecutor Lovi Pusnawan read out the indictment and charged Rifai with article 351 subsection one and subsection two of the criminal code. 'The defendant Mohamed Rifai's act has caused the victim to suffer injuries in the head, bruises in the mouth, and loss of his teeth,' he told the panel of judges. 'The defendant assaulted the victim causing the victim to suffer severe injuries.' Rifai said that he decided to not lodge objection over the indictment. The 27-year-old decided against lodging an objection over the indictment and didn't make any comments during or after the proceedings. Speaking outside court, Rifai's lawyer Sabam Antonius claimed that his client was the victim in the alleged incident. 'He only defended himself after he was attacked,' he told reporters. 'My client is the victim.' Mr Antonius added the job of a security guard was to protect customers and 'not fighting with members in the bar'. The trial will resume on May 8 to hear from witnesses. Rifai remains in custody over the alleged brawl between five Aussies and up to 15 security staff at Finns Beach Club on February 11. Footage of the brawl was shared on social media following the incident. The head of the venue's security alleged the tourists attacked staff after they were asked to leave the bar. The alleged incident escalated into a wild brawl with security guards in the parking lot outside. Bali police also charged eight security guards with 'group assault' over the alleged melee. Mr Rifai's mother broke her silence earlier this year to defend her son when she visited him in jail. 'They were all fighting in self defence because they were (allegedly) attacked by security first, that's all I can say,' she claimed. 'Security (allegedly) started it and they had to fight back in defence - they were trying to get out of the situation.' The four other Aussies involved in the incident were not charged as Bali police have deemed them to be 'witnesses' to the alleged brawl. Four security guards were allegedly injured during the fight. One guard had his teeth and nose broken and suffered a significant laceration to the back of his head. A second guard allegedly suffered a bite wound to his hand and cuts to his arm, while two others suffered bruising and head abrasions.
Zawya
03-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
88 investment, operational contracts signed in Jordan-Syria free zone
AMMAN: A total of 88 investment and operational contracts have been signed in the Syrian-Jordanian Joint Free Zone since its reopening earlier this year, according to the Jordan Free Zones Investors Commission (JFZIC). JFZIC Vice Chairman Sharaf Al Din Rifai told Al Mamlaka TV that the contracts were distributed among 78 contracts for the old part of the zone and 10 contracts for the new expansion. More than 800 investors are awaiting approvals to start their businesses to invest and operate in the JFZIC. Rifai stressed that the zone is witnessing a "very active" commercial movement for all commercial and economic activities, and that the authority is working in coordination with concerned authorities in the two countries to facilitate procedures in the region and stimulate commercial movement. © Copyright The Jordan Times. All rights reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Rudaw Net
29-03-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Syria's Sharaa appoints Assad opponent as grand mufti
Also in Syria US warns possibility of attacks in Syria over Eid SDF captures accused ISIS smuggler in Hasaka province Rojava parties delay announcement of unified Kurdish demands in Damascus Israel continues striking Syria despite condemnations A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa on Friday issued a decree appointing Osama al-Rifai, a Muslim cleric known for supporting the opposition to former president Bashar al-Assad, as the country's grand mufti, the chief religious legal authority who issues advisories on the Islamic legal code. 'It was a necessity to restore to Syria what the ousted regime had destroyed in the entire area, the most important of which was the restoration of the position of grand mufti of the Syrian Arab Republic. This position is now held by one of the finest scholars of the Levant, the virtuous Sheikh Osama bin Abdul Karim al-Rifai,' Sharaa said, the state-run SANA news agency reported. Rifai, born in 1944 in Damascus, publicly expressed support for the Syrian opposition in 2011 and was subsequently beaten by Syrian security forces when they attacked the mosque where he was giving a sermon. He left Syria for Turkey the following year. He was appointed grand mufti of Syria by the opposition in 2021, the same year the Assad regime abolished the position. Rifai has been accused of having hardline views on Shiite Islam, which he has criticized for being a 'danger to Islam.' In a 2020 sermon published on his Facebook page, Rifai accused Shiites of 'having a great hatred to Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaah [Sunni Muslims].' 'As you see, they have these self-flagellations, banners, overly expressing their emotions and feelings, which are fitna [strife]' towards Islam, he said. In Turkey, Rifai was appointed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as the head of the Syrian Islamic Council (SIC) for Assad's opponents. Sharaa issued a second decree on Friday, forming the Supreme Fatwa Council that consists of 15 scholars and clerics who will issue religious edicts and advise on Islamic law. He said that the council 'seeks to regulate moderate religious discourse that combines authenticity and modernity, while preserving identity, resolving disputes that may lead to partition, and closing the door in front of evil and discord.'
