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US: Thousands of anti-Israel protesters waving Palestinian flags clash with NYPD after shutting down traffic in Brooklyn, refuse to leave

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US: Thousands of anti-Israel protesters waving Palestinian flags clash with NYPD after shutting down traffic in Brooklyn, refuse to leave

Police and anti-Israel demonstrators clashed in Brooklyn, New York on 21 October night as thousands of people poured into a neighbourhood that is primarily Middle Eastern and Arab. Thousands of the protestors chanted, “Move cops, get out of the way. We know you’re Israeli-trained,” and set small fires in the middle of the roadways as well as blocked traffic in the Bay Ridge area. Furthermore, they refused to leave the Bay Ridge street they had inundated for hours.

As night fell, members of the procession which was advertised online as ‘Flood Brooklyn for Palestine’ began to grapple with New York Police Department (NYPD) officers as their numbers swelled to an estimated 5,000 over the course of the day. The authorities attempted to escort the protestors out of 72nd Street and Fifth Avenue where they had stopped traffic. Notably, NYPD officers prevented pro-Israelis from joining the procession which could have resulted in greater chaos and violence.

Armed with Palestinian flags and placards in hand, much of the group defied police orders. The belligerent people dug their heels into the ground and demanded that the Western power sever its support for its closest Middle Eastern partner after which a number of demonstrators were arrested and brought into jail.

It was unknown whether those apprehended by police were formally arrested or given summonses but the NYPD stated that about twenty people were taken into custody during the unrest. The massive protest had begun a few hours earlier in one of New York City’s largest Arab and Middle Eastern communities.

Officers started pulling people from the overwhelming gathering and from one pick-up vehicle that carried the ralliers in an attempt to put an end to the unruly demonstration. A law enforcement source informed, “It got pretty heated.” Protesters kept chanting and shouting in the streets and also built little barbecue fires on the road while some of them threw eggs at the swarming police officers.

They yelled slogans like, “Say it loud, say it clear, we don’t want no Zionists here,” from within the frenzy which police had mostly contained to the area at 72nd Street and Fifth Avenue. “We will free Palestine within our lifetime,” others cried as they held signs displaying sentiments such as, “We stand with Palestine,” and “Once upon a time there was humanity,” among other things.

Meanwhile, more radical attendees who ranged in age from seniors to preteens brandished signs bearing crude writing declaring, “Zionism is genocide” and “Resistance is justified when people are occupied.” The statements seemed to downplay, if not outright deny, the crimes committed by Hamas since 7 October including the abduction of multiple Americans and Israelis in what appeared to be a declaration of war.

One protester yelled, “We are calling for the full liberation of all of Palestine, to every single inch, from river to sea,” echoing the mantra employed by Hamas terrorists and those who support them in their opposition to the Jewish state.

A woman who was sporting a T-shirt from the radical communist group Within Our Lifetime, one of the event’s organisers, continued, “We are not like other groups simply calling for a cease-fire. We are calling not simply for an end to genocide. We are calling for an end to the siege, an end to the blockade. An end to the occupation.” One participant was observed with a repugnant poster of someone tossing the Israeli flag into the trash.

Thousands of females were part of the march which quickly became violent as dusk approached. In addition to the local Palestinian population, a number of other, primarily Middle Eastern  groups were present for what Within Our Lifetime had billed as an opportunity to ‘stop US-sponsored genocide in Gaza.’

However, as the afternoon wore on, more people arrived and 5th Avenue was essentially closed for several hours. Police had initially been monitoring to make sure the protest remained peaceful, but they had to intervene when people turned aggressive and threw the entire gathering into turmoil.

Signs circulated by the expanding group accused Joe Biden and other US politicians of “killing babies” through the use of the Israeli military before at least a dozen people were taken into custody. A lot of the inscriptions visible in the throng contained profanities and some of them even charged that Americans were “having blood on their hands” for their continued support of Israel in the fight.

There were even a few Jews present at the scheduled demonstration and one of them remarked, “As a Jewish person, I don’t want the Jewish religion to be the reason for this occupation.” Another person gave an explanation for her presence and conveyed, “All we’re asking is just treat the Palestinians as humans. They deserve every human right as any other civilians. Just treat a human as a human. That is all we are requesting.”

Does TMC have something to hide: BJP questions the silence of Trinamool Congress in Lok Sabha MP Mahua Moitra’s case

OpIndia Staff
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Does TMC have something to hide: BJP questions the silence of Trinamool Congress in Lok Sabha MP Mahua Moitra’s case

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has reacted sharply to a Trinamool Congress spokesperson’s statement that the party won’t comment on its member of parliament Mahua Moitra‘s corruption scandal. BJP has questioned if TMC’s lack of response implied that it has “something to hide” or that it acknowledges the grave accusations made against the Lok Sabha MP from Krishnanagar.

BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonwalla took to X (formerly Twitter) to ask if TMC’s official stand meant that it acknowledged that Mahua Moitra committed grave violations, such as providing her login credentials to a competitor corporate entity for use from overseas in exchange for bribes.

“If so, then why is TMC still retaining her rather than sacking her,” he questioned. He also inquired whether TMC is hesitant to take any action against her because it has “something to hide” and added that maybe some in the party knew or approved of it.

Earlier, BJP’s media head and co-in-charge of its Bengal operations Amit Malviya stated that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s “abandonment” of Mahua Moitra was not surprising. “She will defend no one else but Abhishek Banerjee (her nephew), who is no less delinquent. Several TMC leaders are in jail on serious corruption and criminal charges but Mamata Banerjee has maintained radio silence”, he posted.

The TMC leadership has been quiet over the serious allegations levelled against its member Mahua Moitra. Party spokesperson and West Bengal general secretary Kunal Ghosh refused to comment on the issue and stressed, “No comments. Regarding this issue, the All India Trinamool Congress will not say a word. We have nothing to say. The person may explain or answer the issue. We are observing the matter and gathering information, but we don’t want to comment now.”

BJP’s Nishikant Dubey has written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and requested an investigation into the assertions that she traded her parliament login credentials with the businessman for monetary benefit.  However, she has trashed the allegations.

The MP from Gonda has also sought a Lokpal probe against Mahua Moitra. He revealed that he possessed a letter from Supreme Court attorney Jai Anant Dehadrai that contained “disturbing facts with detailed proof.” His complaint pointed out, “In the letter, Mr Dehadrai provides in great detail how, when and where Ms Moitra received bribes from a businessman Shri Darshan Hiranandani.”

Hiranandani also confirmed the same and highlighted that the MP frequently asked him for favours, including pricey luxury goods in an affidavit. He further mentioned that Mahua Moitra provided him with her login credentials for the parliament. He disclosed that she believed that attacking billionaire businessman Gautam Adani and his company, Adani Group would make her famous.

‘My encounter may take place, anything can happen’: Azam Khan while being shifted to Sitapur Jail from Rampur Jail

OpIndia Staff
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‘My encounter may take place, anything can happen’: Azam Khan while being shifted to Sitapur Jail from Rampur Jail

Days after getting a seven-year jail sentence in a fake birth certificate case, Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan expressed his apprehension about getting killed in an encounter. While being shifted from Rampur jail to Sitapur jail on Sunday (22nd October), Azam Khan said “Hamara bhi encounter ho sakta hai (My ‘encounter’ can also happen). Kuch bhi ho sakta hai (Anything can happen).”

At around 5 in the morning, the police began shifting Azam Khan, his wife Tazeen Fatma and son Abdullah Azam from Rampur Jail to different jails in the state amidst heavy police presence. They have been transferred on the directives of the government, according to Additional Superintendent of Police Sansar Singh.

Azam Khan has been transferred to Sitapur Jail in an early morning shift from Rampur Jail. Abdullah Azam, on the other hand, has been transferred from Rampur to Hardoi jail. He was taken to Hardoi jail at about 8:20 AM, and refused to talk to journalists. Azam Khan’s wife Tazeen Fatma will remain lodged in Rampur Jail. All three were kept in Rampur Jail.

Notably, on 18th October 2023, Azam Khan, his son Abdullah Azam, and Azam Khan’s wife Tanzeem Fatima were sentenced to seven years in prison. The MP-MLA court in Rampur has found the three guilty of illegally acquiring a fake birth certificate for Abdullah Khan and awarded the sentence.

They were convicted under Sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property), 467 (forgery of valuable security, will, etc), 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating), and 471 (using as genuine a forged [document or electronic record]) of the Indian Penal Code.

Abdullah Azam, who won the 2017 Lok Sabha elections from the Swar constituency, was charged with using a counterfeit birth certificate since he hadn’t reached the required age during the election. He was also convicted of possessing two birth certificates. In addition, Azam Khan has been convicted in two cases. In December 2022, he was sentenced to three years in jail by the court, after which he lost his assembly membership. Earlier this year, Akash Saxena won the Rampur by-election and became the first Hindu MLA from the Rampur assembly seat. Azam Khan, Abdullah Azam and Tanzeem Fatima have been sentenced to seven years each on the complaint of Akash Saxena.

UP: 20 years after embezzlement of Rs 170, court sentences 3 retired officials in Pilibhit to 4-year jail terms and Rs 16000 fine

OpIndia Staff
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UP: 20 years after embezzlement of Rs 170, court sentences 3 retired officials in Pilibhit to 4-year jail terms and Rs 16000 fine

On Saturday, 21st October, the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (First), Amit Yadav, delivered a 4-year prison sentence to three former officers involved in an embezzlement case dating back to 2003 under Puranpur Police Station, Pilibhit. The individuals, who had retired prior to the resolution of the case, were found guilty of misappropriating Rs 170.

According to a report by Amar Ujala, the investigation was conducted by the Crime Investigation Department (CID) following government directives, ultimately resulting in a fine of Rs 16,000 imposed on the offenders in addition to imprisonment.

Three officials from the Pilibhit zone have been found guilty of fabricating a payment to a home guard for a two-day period, despite the guard’s absence. Among the convicted individuals is a retired officer from the Puranpur block, along with a company commander and a platoon commander. It is notable that the Home Guard, Suraj, has already passed away.

Suraj Prasad, a Home Guard assigned to night duty at Ghungchai, was reported absent from his duties on 10th September, 2003, by Munshi Rajaram of the outpost in the General Diary (GD). Suraj returned to duty on the 13th of September 2003, and the entry of his return was also noted in the General Diary. Based on these records, it was deduced that Suraj was absent from 10th September to 12th September 2003.

The September muster roll, prepared by Platoon Commander Chuni Lal, indicated the absence of the Home Guard only on September 11, with records showing the guard’s presence on the 10th and 12th of September. Company Commander Abdul Nafees endorsed the muster roll with his signature before submitting it to Puranpur Block Officer Roshan Lal Verma. Subsequently, the document was forwarded to the district commandant for payment.

Consequently, the home guard was paid Rs 2465 for 29 working days. Suraj, the home guard, received Rs 170 for two days, despite his absence on September 10 and 12. In light of these findings, the court found Suraj, Chunni Lal, Abdul Nafees, and Roshan Lal Verma guilty, handing down jail sentences and imposing a fine of Rs 16,000 on each of them. Suraj has already died. The three others will now face the jail term.

Come to Pakistan if you are ashamed to be Indian: Ex-cricketer Danish Kaneria shuts down ‘The Wire’ senior Editor Arfa Khanum Sherwani

OpIndia Staff
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Come to Pakistan if you are ashamed to be Indian: Ex-cricketer Danish Kaneria shuts down ‘The Wire’ senior Editor Arfa Khanum Sherwani

On Sunday (22nd October), former Pakistani cricketer Danish Kaneria shut down ‘journalist’ Arfa Khanum Sherwani and asked her to migrate to Pakistan if she has issues with her Indian identity.

In a tweet (archive), he said, “Come to my country Pakistan if you are feeling ashamed to be an Indian. India doesn’t need people like you. I am sure many people in India will be happy to sponsor this trip”

Danish Kaneria, who happens to be the second Hindu to play for the Pakistan cricket team, did not mince any words while lambasting the Senior Editor of the leftist propaganda outlet ‘The Wire.’

His tweet came hours after Arfa Khanum Sherwani targeted Indian cricket fans for supposedly displaying ‘majoritarianism’ during the ongoing 2023 Cricket World Cup.

She had tweeted on Sunday (22nd October) morning, “Deplorable behaviour of many cricket fans during World Cup matches, makes me feel embarrassed &ashamed as an Indian.”

“This petty, insecure & majoritarian approach towards sports which was meant to bring people together, is symbolic of India Modi-RSS have created in last one decade,” The Wire ‘journalist’ brazened out.

Danish Kaneria shuts down pro-Congress troll

Earlier in September, Danish Kaneria slammed a pro-Congress troll after the latter mocked him for wishing Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his birthday.

“From Kabul to Kamrup, from Gilgit to Rameshwaram, we are one. But what can i do if Pidis will not understand,” Kaneria tweeted. He further added, “So, keep your advice at Pappu’s home.”

Screengrab of the tweet by Danish Kaneria

While posting a picture of PM Modi, he wrote, “Birthday greetings to the guardian of Bharat, Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi. PM Modi has proved that India can lead the world. Today, the entire world is talking about “वसुधैव कुटुंबकम्”। I pray to Lord Ram for his good health and success.”

Soon after, he was attacked by Congress trolls on social media. X user ‘Dr Nimo Yadav’ mocked Kaneria for supposedly interfering in the personal matter of India. Kaneria slammed the troll for not understanding the ethos of Bharat and the Sanatan Dharma.

The ex-cricketer emphasised that it is hard for ‘piddis’ and ‘pappu’ fans to comprehend his message.

BJP revokes suspension of firebrand Telangana MLA T Raja Singh

OpIndia Staff
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BJP revokes suspension of firebrand Telangana MLA T Raja Singh

On 22nd October, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) revoked the suspension of Hyderabad MLA T Raja Singh. In a post in Hindi on X (formerly Twitter), Singh thanked party leaders for revoking the suspension. Notably, Telangana Assembly Elections are scheduled for 30th November this year.

In his post, Singh said, “First of all, my heartfelt gratitude to Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji, BJP National President JP Nadda Ji, Home Minister Amit Shah Ji, Organisation Secretary BL Santosh Ji, Telangana BJP President Shri Krishan Reddy Ji, OBC Morcha National President Shri Dr Laxman Ji, former State President Shri Bandi Sanjay Ji, Shri P Muralidhar Rao Ji for revoking my suspension. My gratitude to the entire BJP Family and the people of Goshamahal. Jai BJP, Vijay BJP!”

He added the letter revoking the suspension that read, “Upon suspension, the Central Disciplinary Committee of the party had issued a show cause notice to you. This refers to your reply to the show cause notice. Your reply and explanation offered therein have been considered by the committee. Basis your reply, the committee has decided to revoke your suspension forthwith.”

Suspension of T Raja Singh

On 23rd August 2022, Tiger Raja Singh was suspended by the BJP for an alleged post on Prophet Muhammad. In the letter issued by the Central Disciplinary Committee of the party, it was mentioned that Raja’s views were contrary to the Party’s stand on various matters, and he violated Rule XXV 10(a) of the constitution of the Party that reads, “Breach of discipline includes acting or carrying on propaganda against any program or decision of the Party.”

In May 2023, however, the BJP said that his suspension would definitely be lifted. In an interview with ABN Telugu, Union Minister G Kishan Reddy said that the party will soon revoke Tiger Raja Singh’s suspension and bring him back to the party. He said, “We will definitely lift the suspension. We are talking with the national leadership. They will make a decision at the right time.”

T Raja Singh was arrested for alleged provocative comments against Prophet Mohammed but later released on court’s orders.

Uttar Pradesh: Video of Friday Namaz in a government school in Lucknow goes viral, headmistress suspended

OpIndia Staff
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Uttar Pradesh: Video of Friday Namaz in a government school in Lucknow goes viral, headmistress suspended

On Saturday, (21st October) the headmistress of a school at Npier Road in Lucknow was suspended after some students were found offering namaz inside the prayer area of the school. The action by Lucknow Basic Shiksha Adhikari Arun Kumar came in response to the controversy surrounding a viral video that showed students and a teacher offering namaz during school hours. Operated by the Basic Education Council, the school faced strict repercussions as an assistant teacher and Shiksha Mitra was also reprimanded for their involvement in this incident.

The incident drew significant criticism from Hindu organisations, who expressed their discontent with the situation. The disciplinary action taken by the officer was a direct consequence of the widespread uproar caused by the video’s circulation.

The school has an enrollment of 106 children, with a significant presence of Muslim students among them. On Friday, children from the primary classes, ranging from standard 1 to 5, conducted a group namaz prayer within the school premises.

However, this activity faced opposition from other students who objected to the practice of offering namaz at the school. Subsequently, a video capturing the incident garnered widespread attention as it went viral. The incident was confirmed on Saturday.

Block Education Officer Zone-IV had recommended departmental action against principal Meera Yadav, assistant teacher Tehzeeb Fatima and Shiksha Mitra Mamta Mishra.

Following the incident, Basic Education Officer Arun Kumar suspended headmistress Meera Yadav on Saturday. Teacher Tehzeeb Fatima and Shiksha Mitra Mamta Mishra have been given a stern warning. Block Education Officer Rajesh Kumar Singh has been appointed to investigate the whole matter. He is expected to submit the investigation report within 15 days.

In a media interaction, Basic Education Officer Arun Kumar said, “Some seven to eight students were doing some activities that shouldn’t have happened on the school premises. It was found that namaz was being offered for a while at the school. We have suspended headmistress (in charge) Meera Yadav in connection with the issue.”

Veteran Bollywood actor Dalip Tahil sent to 2 months in jail in 5-year-old hit-and-run case

OpIndia Staff
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Veteran Bollywood actor Dalip Tahil sent to 2 months in jail in 5-year-old hit-and-run case

On 21st October, a magistrate court in Mumbai sentenced veteran Bollywood actor Dalip Tahil to two months in prison in a 5-year-old hit-and-run case. As per the reports, Tahil has been sent to prison for driving a vehicle under the influence of alcohol and causing an accident resulting in injuries to the passengers of an autorickshaw. The said incident took place in September 2018.

Reports suggest that Dalip Tahil tried to flee the scene following the accident but got caught in a traffic jam during Ganeshotsav. He was subsequently arrested and granted bail. Photographs of him sitting in the police station were shared in media during that time.

The accident occurred on 25th September 2018 at around 9 PM in Khar. His car hit an autorickshaw, injuring two passengers, 21-year-old Jenita Gandhi and 22-year-old Gaurav Chugh. Reports suggest that the impact resulted in a severe jolt to Gandhi and Chugh’s back. They got off the autorickshaw and saw Tahil’s car fleeing towards Santacruz. He was caught by the public and got into a fight while trying to get away.

After Tahil failed to flee the scene, he was taken to the police station, where he was booked for causing injury due to rash driving and negligent driving. He was booked under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Motor Vehicle Act for driving under the influence. At the Khar Police Station, Dalip Tahil reportedly refused to give a blood sample for an alcohol test and was later let go on bail due to lack of evidence.

While sentencing the actor for two months, the magistrate relied on the medical officer’s statement, who checked Tahil after the accident. In his report, the medical officer noted that there was the smell of alcohol, an unsteady gait, dilated pupils and incoherent speech.

MahuaGate: Faced coercion, concerned over safety; Jai Anant Dehadrai writes letter to Police Commissioner

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MahuaGate: Faced coercion, concerned over safety; Jai Anant Dehadrai writes letter to Police Commissioner

On 21st October, it came to light that Supreme Court lawyer Jai Anant Dehadrai had voiced concerns about his safety in a letter to Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora. In his letter, he expressed his apprehensions over his safety following the allegations he levelled against Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra.

In his letter to the Police Commissioner, Dehadrai said he faced several attempts to coerce him into withdrawing his complaint on 19th October. He further stated there were threats to his reputation if he did not comply with the demands of taking back the complaint. Emphasising the sensitivity of the evidence and materials related to the case, Dehadrai expressed concerns that the other party might attempt to obtain or destroy the material through threats of bodily harm. He further requested the Delhi Police Commissioner to assess the threats and provide him with appropriate protection.

Initially, Dehadrai accused Moitra of taking expensive gifts and cash from businessman Darshan Hiranandani in exchange for asking favourable questions in Lok Sabha. In response to his allegations, Moitra has denied the bribery charges and sent a legal notice to Dehadrai and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Nishikant Dubey, who sided with Dehadrai and demanded a Parliamentary inquiry against Moitra.

In his complaint, Dehadrai pointed towards strange occurrences, including deleted messages and unknown phone calls, leading to his belief that his life could be in danger. The lawyer also alleged that an attempt to barge into his private residence escalated his concerns.

Dehadrai accused Moitra of using her political influence to intimidate the opponents. He said that she attempted to take away his pet dog, Henry (Rottweiler), from him by filing false police complaints and pressurising the Station House Officer to force him to give up his pet. The battle over the dog’s custody has turned into legal disputes and complaints against each other. Moitra has described Dehadrai as a “jilted ex” with a vendetta against her.

In his complaint to the commissioner, Dehadrai said, “Based on these two fake complaints, she pressurised Mahavir Singh, SHO of the Barakhamba Road Police Station, who then acted under her direct pressure to somehow or the other browbeat me into giving up the lawful ownership of Henry over to Moitra.” He added that Singh pressured him with eight phone calls and threatened that he had to give up Henry or face prosecution in the complaints filed by Moitra.

He added, “I refused. It is crucial to mention that acting under Moitra’s pressure, he (SHO) deliberately ignored the evidence I provided to him which unequivocally established my legitimate claim over my pet Henry and instead, he forwarded me Moitra’s one-sided agreement.” Furthermore, he said the Barakhamba Road Police Station SHO knows the truth and he must come clean on his role in the matter.

In a recent post on X (formerly Twitter), he said, “A well-wisher has told me that Henry is being kept deliberately locked up inside the Telegraph Lane residence to deter CBI from entering. Henry is a large Rottweiler, and although gentle, but he does possess a strong protective instinct. I am now truly fearful for HIS safety.”

Trinamool Congress stays away from the controversy

Mahua Moitra, who is the firebrand face of the Trinamool Congress (TMC), is facing another challenge as the party has categorically refused to comment on the matter. Distancing from the controversy, a TMC spokesperson said the parties involved were the right persons to comment on the matter.

MahuaGate

On 14th October, the Indian political scene experienced a major tremor as BJP MP Nishkant Dubey wrote to the ethics committee seeking an inquiry against TMC MP Mahua Moitra in the ‘Cash for Query’ matter. He based his complaint on the letter written by Supreme Court lawyer Anant Dehadrai, who alleged that most of the questions asked by the TMC MP in Lok Sabha directly or indirectly benefit businessman Darshan Hiranandani.

Moitra filed a case against Dubey and Dehadrai but never denied accepting gifts. Interestingly, she has also been accused of sharing her Lok Sabha credentials with Hiranandani so he can post questions independently. Hiranandani has reportedly turned approver in the case and submitted an affidavit suggesting the allegations against Moitra are true. Dehadrai and Dubey were called to submit evidence of Moitra’s alleged wrongdoings in front of the ethics committee on 26th October.

Sweden: Activist Salwan Momika, who had earlier burnt Quran, now steps on Quran and waves Israeli flag in front of Islamists

OpIndia Staff
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Sweden: Activist Salwan Momika, who had earlier burnt Quran, now steps on Quran and waves Israeli flag in front of Islamists

Amidst the ongoing war between the State of Israel and Hamas, activist Salwan Momika expressed his solidarity with the Jewish nation by stepping on the Quran and waving the Israeli flag.

The incident took place in the Swedish capital of Stockholm on Saturday (21st October). Salwan Momika, an Iraqi refugee living in Sweden, was also seen kissing the Israeli flag and trampling a copy of the Quran with his foot.

A video of the incident has now gone viral on social media.

A day earlier on Friday (20th October), Salwan Momika announced, “Tomorrow I will raise the Israeli flag, declare my solidarity with Israel and burn the Quran and the Palestinian flag in Stockholm.”

On June 28 this year, the Swedish Police gave the Iraqi refugee permission to burn the Quran at a demonstration outside the largest mosque in Stockholm. The development came ahead of Eid-al-Adha after a Swedish court struck down the police’s ban on Quran-burning demonstrations.

As a result, the Houthi movement in Yemen banned imports from Sweden. Houthi-run TV channel Al Masirah quoted the trade Minister as saying, “Yemen is the first Islamic country to ban imports of Swedish goods after its violations and desecration of Muslims’ holiest.”

He called upon other Islamic nations to ban imports from the Scandinavian country. The Houthi trade Minister also said that imports from Sweden were limited and that the ban had a symbolic value. He also said that it was the least thing that they could do to protest against the burning of the Quran.

Earlier in January 2023, Danish politician Rasmus Paludan burnt a copy of the Quran next to the Turkish embassy in the country’s capital prompting Turkey to halt discussions with Sweden about its NATO membership.

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