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Sexual assault case filed against Guns N’ Roses’ lead vocalist Axl Rose by former penthouse model

OpIndia Staff
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Sexual assault case filed against Guns N’ Roses’ lead vocalist Axl Rose by former penthouse model

Former model Sheila Kennedy has filed a lawsuit against the lead singer of popular band Guns N’ Roses, Axl Rose. Kennedy has accused Axl Rose of sexual assault and battery. As per the complaint, the violent incident took place in a hotel room in New York in 1989. Kennedy has sought damages from Rose for intentional infliction of emotional distress and gender-motivated violence. The legal team handling her case has requested a jury trial. Notably, Kennedy was diagnosed with depression and anxiety following the alleged assault in the late 1980s.

Kennedy’s legal team filed the lawsuit in the New York Supreme Court shortly before the expiration of a law allowing survivors of sexual assault to file a lawsuit against the alleged accused regardless of the original statute of limitations expired. At the time of the alleged assault, Kennedy was the 26-year-old model for Penthouse magazine. Reportedly, she met Rose at a nightclub in New York City in early 1989. Later that night, the musician allegedly assaulted her sexually at his hotel suite. The limitation under the law that allowed the lawsuit would have expired on the midnight of 23rd November.

In a statement to CNN, Rose’s attorney, Alan S, rejected the allegations. He stated the incident described in the lawsuit never occurred, and Rose does not recall meeting Kennedy.

As per the lawsuit, Rose invited Kennedy and another model to a party at his hotel suite. They had alcohol and drugs at the party. Initially, Kennedy did not mind meeting Rose, but later, when he allegedly pushed her against the wall and kissed her, the perception changed.

In her complaint, Kennedy claimed to have witnessed Axl Rose engaging in painful and aggressive sexual conduct with the other model. She further added in her complaint that Rose physically assaulted Kennedy and dragged her across the suite by her hair. He then allegedly sexually assaulted her.

Kennedy further claimed in her lawsuit that following the traumatic experience, she suffered lasting emotional, physical, psychological and financial impacts. Furthermore, she developed symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD when exposed to music by the popular band.

Dr Ann Olivarius is represented in her case. She expressed hope that Kennedy’s case would encourage other victims to come forward. She added that the case can potentially become a turning point for the music industry. The incident was previously explained in Kennedy’s autobiography ‘No One’s Pet’ published in 2016. In 2021, a documentary titled ‘Look Away’ based on abuse in the music industry also highlighted the case. Reportedly, in 1994, People Magazine published an article alleging Rose’s abusive behaviour towards his past partners, including Erin Everly and Stephanie Seymour.

Greece: Pakistani asylum seeker who had killed 17-year-old Greek girl gets life imprisonment, says she had ‘insulted Prophet Muhammad’

OpIndia Staff
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Greece: Pakistani asylum seeker who had killed 17-year-old Greek girl gets life imprisonment, says she had ‘insulted Prophet Muhammad’

On Wednesday (22nd November), the Joint Jury Court of Athens sentenced a 23-year-old Pakistani asylum seeker to life imprisonment for the murder of his Greek girlfriend in 2022. The convict, Munasif Ashan told the court that he killed his 17-year-old girlfriend because she “insulted Prophet Muhammad”.

The distressed family of the minor victim reportedly yelled at the murderer inside the courtroom and also tried to hit him. The father of 17-year-old Nicoletta, who was discovered dead in her home in the Peristeri neighborhood of western Athens, had requested the death sentence as a fitting retribution for the killer of his daughter.

The Pakistani accused was found guilty of murder in the unanimous ruling.

In his testimony, Munasif Ashan stated that he was in a relationship with the deceased for almost one and a half years. He said that his decision to leave Greece and go to Italy was because of a fight between the couple.

He claimed that the deceased girl had asked him to embrace Christianity and had insulted the Islamic Prophet Muhammad during an argument.

“I tried to leave and she started throwing my clothes. I told her to sit on the bed, she started cursing me and cursing Muhammad. I pushed her off the bed and told her to stay there. She kept cursing me and Muhammad, and I got angry. I grabbed her by the neck and said, ‘Who is telling you such things all the time? I’m listening to you.’ I grabbed her at that time by the head and told her to apologise,” the murderer said.

He further said, “She grabbed my hand and told me to let her go. I didn’t let her go and kept telling her to apologise. After some seconds, I saw that her eyes were closed. Then I gave her water, gave her air. I was nervous and left the house. I took my things and left the house. I went to my brother to get some money and went to Larissa Station to catch the train to Thessaloniki.”

The Pakistani youth found out about his girlfriend’s death on the next day from the internet. As soon as he read the news, he contacted his fellow Pakistanis to leave the country, Greek media had reported.

He said, “The next day I knew from the Internet. I called my father and told him that I made a mistake. He asked me what happened and I told him about the girl. He got mad and hung up on me. Then I found a compatriot who worked for immigrants, and I told him I wanted to leave, and he helped me.”

Tension could be felt in the courtroom from the beginning to the end. After the hearing, the victim’s father burst out at the convict. He shouted, “Don’t look at me at all, rot in prison.” To calm him down, the police took him from the courtroom.

He said, “To lose my daughter in a car accident, I understand that, but to lose her in this way to have her strangled?” Notably, the victim’s parents had been against Nicoleta’s relationship with the Pakistani man.

Repoirts stated that the victim girl wanted to break up with the Pakistani Munasif Ashan. She had communicated the same a week before her murder. The communications in the seized mobile phone of the victim revealed that Munasif had issued her multiple death threats.

According to the postmortem results, the Pakistani purportedly suffocated his 17-year-old girlfriend with his hands. He reportedly crushed her nose and head with his left hand, leaving scratches, bruises and abrasions on her face. He is suspected to have used a cloth to seal her lips with his right hand.

Shockingly, upon his arrest, several identity cards were found in Munasif’s possession consisting of different dates of birth and names. The Greek authorities had listed the accused for deportation in 2021 but they released him from the migrant camp during a ‘decongestion’ drive.

During interrogation, he revealed that he wanted to get married to Nicoletta and had plans to have the wedding in Italy. He was asking Nicoletta to help him with his asylum application and she refused. Nicoletta reportedly asked him to become a Christian and ‘spoke badly of the Quran’, as per the murderer’s claims.

Merely applying sindoor doesn’t mean marriage, ‘saptapadi’ important for union to be recognised under Hindu law: Patna High Court on ‘pakadua byaah’ case

OpIndia Staff
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Merely applying sindoor doesn’t mean marriage, ‘saptapadi’ important for union to be recognised under Hindu law: Patna High Court on ‘pakadua byaah’ case

The Patna High Court has given a significant judgment regarding forced marriage in Bihar. It stated that the Hindu law does not recognise marriages in which vermillion (sindoor) is forcefully put on a female’s forehead or applied under coercion. The decision was pronounced by a division bench comprising Justices P B Bajanthri and Arun Kumar Jha.

The court declared that unless the act of Hindu marriage is consensual and includes the custom of ‘saptapadi’ which involves the bride and groom completing seven rounds around a sacred fire, the union is termed void.

The petitioner, Ravi Kant, who was a signalman in the Army at the time, was kidnapped in the Lakhisarai area of Bihar more than ten years ago. He was then intimidated to apply vermilion on the respondent bride’s forehead at gunpoint, the bench observed on 10th November when it annulled the “forced” wedlock.

The high court noted, “From bare perusal of the provisions of the Hindu Marriage Act, it is obvious that the marriage becomes complete and binding when the seventh step is taken (around the sacred fire by the bride and groom). Conversely, if ‘saptapadi’ has not been completed, the marriage would not be considered to be complete.”

On 30 June 2013, Ravi and his uncle went to a temple in Lakhisarai to offer prayers where they were abducted after which Ravi was pressured to “marry” later that day.

When Ravi’s uncle attempted to file a complaint with the district police, he was reportedly turned away. Ravi then went to the chief judicial magistrate’s court in Lakhisarai and filed a criminal complaint. On 27th January 2020, the family court denied his petition after he filed a request for the annulment of marriage.

The high court bench, which heard the case, pointed out that the family court’s conclusions were incorrect and expressed surprise that the respondent’s priest had no prior knowledge of ‘saptapadi’ and could not recall the location of the wedding ceremony.

PAs of Lok Sabha MPs lose access to Digital Sansad login after Mahua Moitra controversy: Report

OpIndia Staff
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PAs of Lok Sabha MPs lose access to Digital Sansad login after Mahua Moitra controversy: Report

Ahead of the winter session of the Parliament, the Lok Sabha has reportedly made certain changes to its Digital Sansad portal’s login and passwords for the Members of Parliament. This comes after a huge controversy erupted over cash-for-query scam accused Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra allegedly sharing her parliamentary ID and password with Dubai-based businessman Darshan Hiranandani.

Notably, the restriction does not apply to MPs themselves, but rather to their secretaries and personal assistants. These applications, which were widely used by MPs for tasks such as question submission for parliamentary debates, email access, and Travel Allowance (TA) bill submission, will now not be accessible to the supporting staff and the MPs will have to manage their own digital parliamentary functions.

It is pertinent to note that the parliamentary authorities have not issued a statement or confirmation in this regard yet. Members of the Lok Sabha are now required to conduct their own digital parliamentary operations. However, given the time and skills limitations of many members, this could prove to be challenging.

“At best, the members can sit beside their assistants or secretaries, sharing the passwords and OTPs to get their work done. Most MPs are still using this ‘unofficial’ method to participate,” Times of India (TOI) quoted a source.

Since the launch of Digital Sansad on September 1, members have been able to authorise assistants or secretaries to access their accounts by giving the email addresses and phone numbers of their authorised staff to the Lok Sabha secretariat.

According to the Lok Sabha user manual, Members of Parliament are allowed to add details of their personal assistants or personal staff who they want to access their login to manage their parliamentary operations. The MPs are required to fill details of PA/PS including their names, email IDs and mobile number. The MPs are required to check and save the declaration “I hereby declare that the information is true as per my knowledge. I understand that the PA/PS will not get any rights for remuneration by the Parliament of India,” to make their parliamentary login accessible to their personal assistants.

Image via LS members’ login user manual

The development follows cash-for-query scam accused TMC MP Mahua Moitra’s admission that she handed her Parliament login ID and password to businessman and her friend, Dubai-based businessman Darshan Hiranandani, in order for someone in the latter’s office to put in the questions to be answered in the Lok Sabha. Hiranandani responded with an affidavit accusing her of collecting payments in cash and as gifts of luxury items to ask questions.

Hiranandani said in his affidavit that Moitra gave him her Parliament username and password so he could post questions on her behalf. As reported earlier,  the IT ministry had stated that it had sent a report to the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee confirming that the TMC leader’s parliamentary ID was accessed 49 times from Dubai.

Kapurthala, Punjab: Nihang Sikhs open fire at police officials on duty, kill one, injure six

OpIndia Staff
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Kapurthala, Punjab: Nihang Sikhs open fire at police officials on duty, kill one, injure six

On 22nd November, Nihang Sikhs opened fire at police officers in Sultanpur Lodhi of district Kapurthala, Punjab. One policeman was reportedly killed, while two were injured. The incident took place when police went to arrest some Nihang Sikhs at a Gurdwara. The police personnel were standing on the road when Nihangs opened fire at them.

The senior officials rushed to the spot after receiving the information. An additional police force was deployed to maintain law and order in the area.

As per police officials, there was a scuffle between two Nihang Sikh groups over ownership of Sri Akal Bunga Sahib Gurdwara. When the police reached the Gurdwara to detain Nihang Sikhs, who were accused of infringing on the premises, they opened fire. Hindustan report suggested that the police arrested ten Nihang Sikhs while around 30 were still lodged inside the Gurdwara premises.

The tension between the two factions was boiling for a few days, leading to police presence. The main aim was to avoid any clashes between the two groups. However, Nihang Sikhs opened fire at the police standing outside the Gurdwara on the road and killed one of them.

According to reports, Baba Budha Dal 96 Karori Sant Balbir Singh held Gurdwara Sri Akal Banga, opposite the historical Gurdwara Ber Sahib. Two of his associates, Nirvair Singh and Jagjit Singh, managed the Gurdwara. On 21st November, Sant Baba Man Singh forcibly entered the Gurdwara with his associates. They assaulted Jagjit and Nirvair and snatched their belongings, including weapons, money and phones. Sant Baba Man Singh’s group took over the Gurdwara following the scuffle. Jagjit Singh filed a case against Baba Man Singh at Sultanpur Lodhi Police Station.

On 22nd November, Baba Man Singh’s associates tried to take over the ‘Peer Geb’ near Busowal Roar. The police intervened and arrested the ten associates. Notably, the basis of the arrest was multiple cases, including murder and clashes, since 15th May 2020.

Speaking to media, Sultanpur Lodhi Police Station House Officer (SHO) Lakhwinder Singh said Constable Jaspal Singh lost his life while others sustained sword injuries. They were rushed to Civil Hospital for treatment.

Two dead in car explosion at US-Canada border near Niagara Falls, New York Governor denies terrorism angle as FBI terrorism task force investigates

OpIndia Staff
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Two dead in car explosion at US-Canada border near Niagara Falls, New York Governor denies terrorism angle as FBI terrorism task force investigates

On Wednesday, November 22, two people were killed in a “vehicle explosion ” at the US-Canada border crossing near Niagara Falls. Four US-Canada border crossings in the region have been closed as investigators respond to the situation.

A senior US law enforcement official told CBS News that the car was coming from the US side. It hit the customs station and following the collision, the vehicle was charred. A senior administration official described the incident to CBS News as “more than a freak accident, but we don’t yet have details.”

A Canadian visitor to New York said he was walking close by when the incident happened and he noticed the vehicle speeding in the direction of the border crossing. As seen in the video of the incident, the car travelled at a high speed and flew over a fence that was about 8ft high.

Meanwhile, the FBI Buffalo Field Office said in a statement that the incident is being investigated in coordination with local, state and federal law enforcement partners.

“The FBI Buffalo Field Office is investigating a vehicle explosion at the Rainbow Bridge, a border crossing between the US and Canada in Niagara Falls. The FBI is coordinating with our local, state and federal law enforcement partners in this investigation. As this situation is very fluid, that’s all we can say at this time,” their official account posted on X.

The Rainbow Bridge, which links Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada, and Niagara Falls, New York, is a famous tourist destination. The Lewiston-Queenston Bridge, the Whirlpool Rapids Bridge, and the Peace Bridge are the other border crossings in the area.

Following the incident, New York Governor Kathy Hochul said,”At my direction, the New York State Police is actively working with the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force to monitor all points of entry to New York”.

In a statement, Governor Hochul said there was no sign of the incident being a terrorist attack. “At this time, there is no indication of a terrorist attack,” she said. “Let me repeat that: At this time, there is no indication of a terrorist-involved attack here at the Rainbow Bridge in Western New York,” Hochul said.

Taking to X, Governor Kathy Hochul said, “Just came from the scene of this horrible incident at the Rainbow Bridge. No evidence of terrorism indicated at this time. Grateful for our first responders keeping drivers and residents safe on this busy travel day. Will continue to update on any developments.”

The Rainbow Bridge crossing connecting the US and Canada near Niagara Falls has been shut as the federal authorities in Buffalo, New York, have said that an investigation is underway. Meanwhile, the Buffalo Niagara International Airport has also been closed to international flights departing and arriving.

Geert Wilders, among rare public figures who supported Nupur Sharma against the ‘blasphemy’ allegations, wins massive victory in Dutch Parliament elections

OpIndia Staff
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Geert Wilders, among rare public figures who supported Nupur Sharma against the ‘blasphemy’ allegations, wins massive victory in Dutch Parliament elections

On 22nd November (local time), the exit polls in the Netherlands showed that Geert Wilders’ conservative Party for Freedom or Partij voor de Vrijheid (PVV) is set to become the largest party in the Dutch parliament. The results are surprising for the region as Wilders’ party is known for anti-Islamist views. The victory has the potential to have ripple effects across Europe. The party is expected to secure 35 seats, which will be more than double its 2021 tally. However, it is unclear if PVV will be able to form a coalition with a working majority to form a government.

Notably, PVV has called for a ban on mosques, the Quran and Islamic headscarves or Hijab in government buildings. The party is now on the path to becoming the largest party in the 150-seat parliament. Other Right Wing European leaders, including Viktor Orbán, Marine Le Pen, Matteo Salvini, and Germany’s AfD, have congratulated PVV on the win. However, the clouds over the government formation are yet to clear as the heads of the three major Dutch parties expressed unwillingness to join a PVV-led cabinet.

Interestingly, the formation of a government in the Netherlands may not happen before spring. Following the 2021 elections, the 4-party coalition took 271 days to come to an agreement. Experts believe that this time, it may take even longer to get a new Prime Minister for the country. Till that time, the incumbent, Mark Rutte, will act as caretaker PM. The previous coalition was dissolved due to disagreements over migration and other critical issues.

Who is Geert Wilders?

Geert Wilders is a Right Wing Dutch politician who is known for his anti-Islam stand. Wilders, who has been under police protection since 2004, has been surrounded by controversies for his statements like calling Moroccans “scum”.

Wilders has been active in Dutch politics for 25 years without holding any office. Born on 6th September 1963 in Venlo, Netherlands, he served as a member of the Dutch House of Representatives from 1998 and as a leader of the PVV from 2006.

Wilders was born into a middle-class family. He lived in Israel from 1981 to 1983 and travelled across the Middle East. During that period, he started to form anti-Islamist views that became the basis of his political career.

Wilders was convicted of discrimination against Moroccans over raising slogans during a campaign rally in 2014. In 2021, the Supreme Court of the Netherlands upheld his conviction. Wilders called it a “witch hunt” against him, resulting from a broken legal system.

Over the time, Wilders toned down some of his views. However, he continued with his strict anti-immigration, Dutch-first approach, which increased his popularity throughout the elections.

In October 2022, Wilders supported former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Nupur Sharma after Islamists hounded her for her remarks during a debate on Times Now.

In a post on X, he wrote, “Nupur Sharma is a hero who spoke nothing but the truth. The whole world should be proud of her. She deserves the Nobel Prize. And India is a Hindu nation, the Indian government is obliged to strongly defend Hindus against Islamic hate and violence.” He also raised the matter of violence against Hindus and urged the Dutch government to clear its stand.

US shared info on nexus between organised criminals, gun runners, and terrorists with Indian govt, India looking into it: MEA

ANI
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US shared info on nexus between organised criminals, gun runners, and terrorists with Indian govt, India looking into it: MEA

India said on Wednesday that the US side shared some inputs pertaining to the nexus between organized criminals, gun runners, terrorists and others during the course of recent discussions on India-US security cooperation and issues in the context are already being examined by relevant departments.

Responding to media queries on reports of discussions between India and the US on security matters, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said India takes such inputs seriously since it impinges on its own security interests as well. He said the inputs are the cause of concern for both countries and necessary follow-up action is being taken.

“During the course of recent discussions on India-US security cooperation, the US side shared some inputs pertaining to nexus between organized criminals, gun runners, terrorists and others. The inputs are a cause of concern for both countries and they decided to take necessary follow up action,” he said.

“On its part, India takes such inputs seriously since it impinges on our own national security interests as well. Issues in the context of US inputs are already being examined by relevant departments,” he added.

US and India held the 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue on November 10. US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken took part in the dialogue along with Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.
The UK-based Financial Times has published a report claiming that the US thwarted a plan to allegedly assassinate India-designated terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on American soil.

According to the Financial Times report, which quoted people familiar with the matter, the US had informed India of concerns regarding the alleged plot to kill Pannun.

US had informed India of concerns regarding the alleged plot to kill Pannun, the Financial Times reported quoting people familiar with the matter. However, the news report fails to elaborate whether the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the US was involved in the thwarting of the plan nor does it mention the specific nature of the communication between the US and India.

The news report citing people familiar with the matter goes on to claim, that US federal prosecutors have filed a sealed indictment against at least one alleged perpetrator of the plot in a New York district court. However, the US Justice Department and the FBI have also not issued any formal statement on such claims. 

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

“Rajesh Pilot no more, Congress punishing his son”: PM Modi slams Gandhi family in Rajasthan over sidelining Sachin Pilot

Paurush Gupta
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“Rajesh Pilot no more, Congress punishing his son”: PM Modi slams Gandhi family in Rajasthan over sidelining Sachin Pilot

On 22nd November (Wednesday), Prime Minister Narendra Modi slammed the Congress party and the Gandhi family over the treatment of Sachin Pilot by the party while addressing multiple election rallies in poll-bound Rajasthan. In a scathing attack on the Gandhi family, PM Modi asserted that those who challenge the family within the party, their career would be as good as finished. 

Addressing an election rally in Jahazpur in Bhilwara district, PM Modi said, “The Congress’s leaders from Delhi are challenging the young people here who have faith in Lord Devnarayan. They are saying that (Ashok) Gehlot will be chief minister again…look at the arrogance of the Congress leaders in Delhi… If anyone dares to speak the truth in Congress which is unpalatable to the family, then rest assured that person’s political career is over.” 

Notably, Lord Devnarayan is the clan deity of the Gurjar community and Sachin Pilot hails from the Gurjar community. The Gurjars predominantly voted for the Congress party in the last elections hoping that a leader from their community, Sachin Pilot would become the Chief Minister. However, after coming to power, Congress made him the deputy of Ashok Gehlot who later went on to make unsparing remarks against him. Additionally, their duel has been out in the open for more than three years. 

However, this is not the first time that PM Modi has taken a dig at the feud between Congress leaders Pilot and Gehlot. Earlier on 18th November, he slammed Congress for pretending that a truce was made after both leaders shook hands for a photo-op. He compared their recurrent reconciliation efforts with the unkept vows of chain smokers to quit smoking.  

Strikingly, the Gurjar community has a significant presence in the seven assembly constituencies in Bhilwara district.

During his rally, PM Modi cited the example of the late Rajesh Pilot and accused the Congress leader of meting out a vendetta against his son Sachin Pilot. He said, “Rajesh Pilot once challenged the Gandhi family for the benefit of the party…he later backed down but the family punished Rajesh Pilot and is also punishing his son… Rajesh Pilot passed away but the Congress party is taking out its anger against his son.”

The incident PM Modi was indicating took place in 1996 when Narasimha Rao resigned from the post of party president. Sharad Pawar and Rajesh Pilot challenged Sitaram Kesri who had previously served as the party’s treasurer for nearly two decades. However, they lost the elections. Afterward, Sonia Gandhi became active within the party, and simultaneously, Rajesh Pilot lost favours with the party leadership. Later, he died in the year 2000. 

In his election rally, PM Modi asserted that the incumbent Congress Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot would never form the government in Rajasthan again.  

In Rajasthan’s Sagwada rally, he prophesied, “I am making a prediction from this sacred land of Mavji Maharaj who made accurate predictions. I am predicting that not only this time but never again will Ashok Gehlot form the government in Rajasthan. Wherever Congress people are going to seek votes, they are getting only one answer from children, elderly, women, and youth, ‘Gehlot ji, koni mile vote ji’.” 

Stressing that policymaking is crucial for development, PM Modi lambasted Congress, accusing it of having a policy to go soft on terrorists, rioters, and indulge in Corruption. 

He said, “But Congress is such a party that makes anti-people policies and takes anti-national decisions. Congress’s policy is to be soft on terrorists, rioters, and criminals and to indulge in corruption. These policies of Congress made Rajasthan top in crime in the country… Congress misrule did not even spare minor girls, the incident in Kotdi shamed the entire country.” 

The Kotdi incident PM Modi referred to in his rally relates to a minor who was reportedly gang raped and burnt alive in a kiln in Narsinhpur village in Kotdi sub-district in August this year.

Further in his election rally in Rajasthan, PM Modi said, “When ministers give clean chit to rapists in the Assembly, how can our mothers, sisters and daughters remain safe? Congress has left no stone unturned in looting Rajasthan in the last five years.”

Did you know: In 2002, 100 people were killed in Nigeria in riots between Muslim and Christian mobs sparked by a report over Miss World Pageant

OpIndia Staff
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Did you know: In 2002, 100 people were killed in Nigeria in riots between Muslim and Christian mobs sparked by a report over Miss World Pageant

On 22nd November 2002, religious and ethnic tensions erupted in Nigeria following an article published in ThisDay newspaper. The African nation became the centre of global attention as Muslims and Christians clashed over a newspaper article, leading to the death of 100 individuals. The report coincided with the hosting of the Miss World pageant in the country to which Muslims had objected.

Nigeria is known for its diverse population. It houses a significant Muslim and Christian community. Though they coexist peacefully, there have been historical incidents of tensions between the two fuelled by political complexities, religious differences and economic disparities.

In 2002, Nigeria decided to host the Miss World pageant. The decision was met with both excitement and apprehension. While the event promised to showcase the cultural richness of the country to the world, there were challenges posed by the conservative nature of some religious groups, especially the Muslim community. Conservative Muslim groups had alleged that the event promoted sexual promiscuity and indecency.

Amid the preparations for the event, ThisDay newspaper published an article that sparked a controversy. The report, authored by Isioma Daniel, suggested that the Prophet Muhammad might have chosen one of the Miss World contestants as his wife. It read, “What would (the Prophet) Muhammad think? In all honesty, he would probably have chosen a wife from among them (the contestants).” The provocative nature of the article angered the Muslim community, which considered it disrespectful to their faith.

The article was published in a Sunday edition. The next day, the newspaper ran a brief front-page apology. It was followed by a more lengthy retraction on Tuesday, suggesting the offending passage was published by mistake. However, it did not help in calming the situation.

Soon after the article was published, peaceful protests were organised by the Muslim groups demanding an apology from the newspaper. However, the situation escalated quickly, and violence erupted in the country, especially in the northern city of Kaduna. Christians and Muslims clashed, leading to significant loss of life and destruction of public and private property, leading to an atmosphere of fear and distrust. The riots that erupted are often called the “Miss World Riots of 2002”.

Reports suggest that the angry mobs across the city stabbed bystanders. The riots ran for at least three days, resulting in over 100 deaths and a long-lasting scar on the communal harmony in the country.

As the reports of violence reached the international community, there were concerns and condemnation. The Miss World Organisation prioritised the safety of the contestants and the organising team and shifted the venue from Nigeria to London. The step taken by the organisation underscored the sensitivity and severity of the situation on the ground.

Sharia Law in Nigeria

According to the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, out of 36 states, 12 have Sharia Law in Nigeria. In 1999, the country adopted a Constitution that outlined the federal system of government and the hybrid application of religious, customary and civil laws. However, within years, several states re-integrated the country’s Islamic criminal law or Sharia law.

There have been several instances where Sharia Law sentenced individuals to death for blasphemy. In December 2022, an Islamic cleric was sentenced to death by Sharia court for alleged blasphemy as he suggested the Shia sect was better than Sunni.

In August 2020, a Sharia court sentenced a Nigerian singer to death for alleged blasphemy against Prophet Muhammad.

There have been countless reports of Christians being lynched in the country over allegations of blasphemy by Muslim mobs. In May 2022, Muslim students in Sokoto stoned a Christian student to death and burned her corpse after accusing her of blasphemy against the Prophet Mohammad.

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