Thursday, April 18, 2024
Home Blog Page 472

PM Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Australia’s Deputy PM Richard Marles, and several Chief Ministers to watch the Cricket World Cup Final in Ahmedabad

OpIndia Staff
-
0
PM Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Australia’s Deputy PM Richard Marles, and several Chief Ministers to watch the Cricket World Cup Final in Ahmedabad

On Sunday (19th November), Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles will be watching the Cricket World Cup 2023 final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Gujarat government confirmed on Saturday (18th November). 

According to official confirmation, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, a host of other Central Ministers and Chief Ministers, including Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, will also be attending the much-awaited final on Sunday.  

Confirming the same, Gyanendra Singh Malik, Police Commissioner of Ahmedabad said, “Indian PM (Narendra Modi) will come to watch the Cricket World Cup Final between India and Australia (tomorrow).”

The City Commissioner added that the PM will be accompanied by Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Union Home Minister Amit Shah while several Ministers and Chief Ministers will also be in attendance for the finals. 

During the press conference, the commissioner urged cricket fans attending tomorrow’s game between India and Australia to use the Metro for transportation. He added that security measures are being heightened due to the arrival of VIP dignitaries, aiming to prevent traffic congestion. Over 100,000 spectators are anticipated at the venue tomorrow.

Additionally, taking to X, the Gujarat CM posted, “Prime Minister Narendrabhai Modi and Deputy Prime Minister of Australia as well as dignitaries including Central Government Ministers and Chief Ministers of other states are also expected to come to Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium to watch this final match.” 

Meanwhile, the Surya Kiran aerobatic team of the Indian Air Force will showcase a spectacular air show above the stadium ahead of the match. The Indian Air Force team has conducted rehearsals for the past two days. Additionally, various artists will deliver special performances before and during the match.

Seen as cricket diplomacy, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart Australian PM Anthony Albanese were in attendance on the opening day of the fourth Test match between India and Australia in March, this year.

“We will do what happened on October 7th again and again”: Muslim student threatens Jewish students in Ireland’s University College debate on Palestine

OpIndia Staff
-
0
“We will do what happened on October 7th again and again”: Muslim student threatens Jewish students in Ireland’s University College debate on Palestine

On 17th November (Friday), the University College debate in Ireland’s capital Dublin on the ongoing Palestine conflict witnessed chaotic scenes with some Muslim students shouting down Jewish students and reportedly threatening them of large-scale violence. Several videos of the chaotic debate have gone viral on the internet. Many X users while sharing the anti-semitic incident asserted that the pro-Palestine students gave threats that they will repeat the horrific terror attacks of 7th October against Israel again and again while chanting “Allahu Akbar”, as can be heard from the viral videos.

Notably, the incident unfolded during a debate hosted by the University’s Literary & Historical Society. The topic of the debate was “This House believes that the West has failed Palestine.” Initially, it was a three-on-three debate but after hours of confusion it became one-on-one with Richard Boyd Barrett hailing from People Before Profit debating against Natasha Hausdorff of UK Lawyers for Israel. 

Hours before the debate, two people who were supposed to advocate against the motion pulled out of the debate. As a debater supporting Palestine’s cause was Ibrahim Halawa who was supposed to debate alongside Boyd Barrett. Halawa who hails from Firhouse in Dublin, was arrested during a protest in 2013 for supporting the Muslim Brotherhood’s (announced terror outfits by many countries) Mohamed Morsi. Halawa spent more than four years in various Cairo jails before being exonerated by an Egyptian court. 

Meanwhile, pro-Israel commentator Mark Humphrys had to back out to allow the debate to be held in one-on-one format as Natasha Hausdorff refused to debate considering Halawa’s past record. 

In several videos circulating on social media, some people can be heard shouting “get out” while many attendees are seen being escorted out of the Fitzgerald Chamber where the debate was being held.

In these videos, a man can also be heard repeatedly shouting Allahu Akbar and making aggressive gestures, which prompted the security to intervene. In an audio recording with unclear quality, there appears to be a verbal confrontation involving him and another female student. Some individuals, who have shared videos related to the incident, claim that the targeted student is of Jewish descent. However, due to the audio’s ambiguity, the exact verbal exchange could not be established.

However, an Irish NGO supporting Israel wrote, “Our speaker Natasha Hausdorff managed to give a very informative talk about Israel at a debate last night at University College Dublin before it descended into chaos when a man in the the audience began to shake his fist and shout ‘Alahu Akbar’ at an Israeli student present.”

It added, “These are clearly shocking images. Past the chaos you can clearly hear a man proudly shouting at a Jewish student, ‘we will do what happened on October 7 AGAIN and AGAIN Allah hu akbar!’ ”

However, she responded to the hecklers saying “I have only love for everyone, Jews, Muslim, do you have for me?” 

The Literary & Historical Society stated that the event had been “controlled at all times” but the post-debate Q&A finished early “due to active crowd interjections at the end” because it was difficult for speakers to be heard. “We understand that ‘chaos’ sounds better in a headline, but in reality there were simply some crowd interjections towards the end,” the L&H was quoted saying by Irish media The Journal.

Israel Hamas war

It is important to note that on 7th October thousands of Hamas terrorists attacked southern Israel killing more than 1,200 while maiming thousands and taking more than 250 Israeli and foreign nationals as hostages to Gaza. The scale of brutality was the largest in the Independent history of Jewish nation which coincidentally has triggered a vicious cycle of anti-semitism throughout the world especially in ‘ivy league’ Universities and colleges. 

In its retaliation, Israel has been carrying out ground operation in Northern Gaza in what is has called as an operation to “dismantle” the terror infrastructure of Hamas in the Palestinian enclave.   

‘Congress most corrupt party, responsible for Sikh massacre’: Social worker Jaspreet Kaur refuses to accept Indira Priyadarshini Award given by Youth Congress

OpIndia Staff
-
0
‘Congress most corrupt party, responsible for Sikh massacre’: Social worker Jaspreet Kaur refuses to accept Indira Priyadarshini Award given by Youth Congress

On Friday (17th November), Delhi-based young social worker Jaspreet Kaur refused to take the Indira Priyadarshini Award given by the Indian Youth Congress (IYC) which is the youth wing of the Congress party. She shared this information from her X handle along with the screenshots of the email sent to her by the IYC national president Srinivas BV. Jaspreet Kaur runs an NGO named ‘Tejas for Change Foundation‘ in Delhi. Through her NGO, she works for poor, underprivileged, and disabled children and youth.

Jaspreet Kaur wrote in her X post, “I refuse to take Indira Priyadarshini Award as it’s from Indian Youth Congress, the most corrupt party and of course the ones who are responsible for Sikh massacre!”

The mail she received read, “Dear Awardees. We take this opportunity to inform you that the Indian Youth Congress has called for the “INDIRA PRIYADARSHINI AWARD” on November 18th, 2023 from 11:00 AM onwards at Jawahar Bhawan, New Delhi.. You are kindly requested to spare your valuable time to attend the program and grace the occasion with your presence to guide, inspire and motivate the members of Youth Congress.”

Screenshot of the email received by Jaspreet Kaur. Image Source: X handle of Jaspreet Kaur

In an interaction with OpIndia, Jaspreet Kaur said, “I run my NGO named the ‘Tejas for Change Foundation’ in Delhi. One of my acquaintances also runs an NGO in Delhi. I was connected to him. He had told me that he wished to suggest my name for this Indira Priyadarshini Award. At that time, I did not know that this award was given by the Congress party.”

She further said, “Yesterday (17th November), I received an email at around 9:20 p.m. from a Congress email ID where I knew that the Congress party gives this award. I immediately refused to take this award. In the mail I received, there are approximately 14 to 15 other co-recipients of this award mentioned in the mail list. I do not know them. All they told me was that ‘your work and presence will inspire and motivate Congress workers’. I do not have any idea about this award other than this. I rejected it the moment I read the name Congress.”

Jaspreet Kaur is a graduate in journalism and mass communication. She also teaches the French language. She heads the ‘Tejas for Change Foundation’. It was established in Delhi in December 2022 and started its ground operations in April 2023. This NGO works for disabled children and underprivileged youths through various activities to enhance their participation in sports and to support their education.

Jaspreet Kaur said, “I know of the Congress party looking at the way they committed the genocide of Sikhs in 1984. Had I accepted this award from that party, it would be a disgraceful act towards my entire Sikh community. I don’t want to take anything from Congress at any cost.”

She added, “Many people are trolling me for this on social media. They are saying that I rejected the award because I am from the BJP. The fact is that I would never take this award in any case – whether I support a particular party or I do not support it. I am not affiliated with the BJP. But the trollers are picking up my old tweets (posts on X), screenshots of the posts, and photos. I do not belong to any party.”

Detailing more about the reasons for getting trolled, she said, “I attended a program in the campaign ‘Meri Mati Mera Desh’. It was held at the Shivaji College. I was invited there as a guest NGO member. Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga Ji was also present there. He is politically active. I am not. But just because I was seen in a photograph with someone like him, people started claiming that I am from the BJP. I don’t hold any post in the BJP. I support some of their policies – that is true. But I am not a BJP member.”

The Indira Priyadarshini Award is given by the Indian Youth Congress to young individuals who have made contributions to society in various fields such as social work, education, arts, culture, and sports. The award was instituted in 1995 and is given annually. Jaspreet Kaur has called Congress the most corrupt party and held it responsible for the 1984 Sikh massacre while rejecting this award.

Ajit Anjum gets almost manhandled for forcing women voters to give reactions during voting for MP assembly elections, video goes viral

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Ajit Anjum gets almost manhandled for forcing women voters to give reactions during voting for MP assembly elections, video goes viral

On Friday (17th November), Madhya Pradesh underwent voting for the state assembly elections. During this, a video of anti-Modi propagandist Ajit Anjum went viral wherein he was almost manhandled for forcing women voters to give reactions. The incident took place near a polling booth in Dimni in the Muraina district of Madhya Pradesh where Union Minister Narendra Singh Tomar is contesting the assembly election.

In this video, Ajit Anjum is seen forcing the voter women repeatedly to answer his questions like whom they have given their vote, whose government they want in the state, etc. When a woman came out of the polling booth but did not respond to his queries, Ajit Anjum took a brief run to the two other women who left the booth earlier. Ajit Anjum followed the women in a nearby lane and started forcing them to answer to his questions. At this point, a man approached him from behind and angrily asked Ajit Anjum why he was forcing the women to talk when they were not willing to answer him.

Moments before he followed these women, another woman from the polling booth was complaining about some fake voting in the polling booth. However, when Ajit Anjum asked about whom did she vote, the woman said nothing.

Ajit Anjum is known for his anti-Modi and anti-BJP bias. Previously, he has been trolled on social media for incorrectly predicting BJP’s loss in various assembly elections including the 2022 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections where Yogi Adityanath became the chief minister of the biggest state in the country with a clear majority to BJP for the second time in a row.

Even in the current elections, Ajit Anjum roamed around at various places in Madhya Pradesh and made videos in his attempt to establish a narrative that people in the poll-bound states are not willing to vote BJP to power. However, on many such occasions, he has fallen flat on his face. In the current incident, he was almost manhandled for insisting women give answers against their will.

On Friday (17th November), Madhya Pradesh conducted elections to choose representatives for its 230-seat Assembly, while Chhattisgarh held the second and final phase of elections for its 70-seat Assembly. Madhya Pradesh recorded a voter turnout of 71.26% till 5 p.m. while Chhattisgarh saw 68.15% of voters cast their votes in the second phase.

Bengaluru: Former TCS employee, who made hoax bomb threat calls to company after she wasn’t rehired, arrested

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Bengaluru: Former TCS employee, who made hoax bomb threat calls to company after she wasn’t rehired, arrested

On 15th November, a former Tate Consultancy Services (TCS) employee, B Shruthi Shetty, was reportedly taken into custody for allegedly making bomb threats to the company’s Bengaluru office on Hosur Road in Karnataka. The 26-year-old had been employed by the IT giant for a few months before quitting to pursue a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in 2017.

Once Shruthi found out that TCS isn’t going to hire her again, it offended her to such an extent that she resorted to making the fictitious call as a way to exact revenge on the business. She was arrested from her Belagavi residence, located approximately 500 km from Bengaluru, after she made the fake bomb threat on 14th November and warned that a bomb was put in the B Block of Think Campus of TCS.

The former employee of the company called TCS’s transport helpdesk and claimed to have planted a bomb in building 2 on the corporation’s property. She called at 4:59 AM. and stated that a blast would occur in the next five minutes and demanded the evacuation of the building. The call sent the staff into a frenzy and the police were called right away, and every person who was working at the time was evacuated to a secure area.

After notifying the Parappana Agrahara officials, a team of bomb disposal unit swiftly reached the campus. Nothing suspicious was found during the thorough check of the facility by the bomb disposal and dog squads. No explosives were discovered despite a thorough search by the police.

Assistant security officer Raju Chetry informed the authorities that the threat was a hoax and the Police submitted a case under Sections 506 (criminal intimidation) and 507 (criminal intimidation by anonymous communication) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) based on his complaint and an investigation was then launched. Police discovered that the numbers used for the calls were active in Belagavi throughout the course of their inquiry after which a police squad was sent to catch the culprit.

The management was given the go-ahead to allow the evacuated staff to return and go on with their regular job once law enforcement verified that the bomb threat was a hoax. During the perpetrator’s questioning, cops learned that the Bachelor of Business Management (BBM) graduate was upset that TCS had rejected her application for rehire after she left the company in 2017 to pursue an MBA. She applied to a number of organisations, but she was unable to secure employment.

Shruthi Shetty, who was apparently drunk at the time, called the company bus driver with whom she had developed a good relationship while working there to convey the threat. It has been revealed that her mother’s cell phone was used to make the hoax call. Shetty has been freed on bond. Her parents disclosed that the reason behind this crime was her struggle with depression.

TV, computers, sofa and other items of govt office in Bhubaneswar seized by court for auction over non-payment of dues to contractor for 42 years

OpIndia Staff
-
0
TV, computers, sofa and other items of govt office in Bhubaneswar seized by court for auction over non-payment of dues to contractor for 42 years

On Friday, November 17, in compliance with Bhubaneswar Senior Division Sub-Judge’s order, the court officials undertook the auction of furniture and articles belonging to the Bhubaneswar Division Chief Engineer Dukhabandu Behara over non-payment of pending bills totalling Rs 18 lakh to a contractor of Construction India Company.

Bhubaneswar Senior Division Sub judge ordered the auction of the property after hearing a plea filed by Construction India contractor Dinesh Pathak.

The construction firm completed the construction of a nine-story building in 1981. However, the Chief Engineer failed to make a payment of Rs 6 lakh, prompting the contractor to file a lawsuit. Previously, on April 29, the Court issued a similar judgement. Behera, on the other hand, had requested time from the Court, and court stayed the auction allowing him more to make the payment. But even after Behera failed to settle the money within the time frame specified, as a result, the Court ordered that the furniture in his office be auctioned off to make the payment.

The items listed for auction in the office include an executive chair, executive table, office chairs, designed sofas, standing AC, Dell-all-in-one-1, HP laserjet printer, plain tables, LG smart TV, keyboards, optical mouse, wall fans, UPS (Microtek), Microtek (Tabular) inverters, and a round glass tea table.

“We had to fight a long battle of more than 40 years. On the court’s order, immovable assets like computers, air-conditioners, iron rakes, chairs and other articles have been seized,” Dinesh Pathak said.

Videos show court employees removing the listed items like a TV, computers, sofas and other items from the office to be auctioned. The court order said that the items would be sold in a public auction, adding that it would be stopped if the payment was made before the auction was held.

The auction, however, was reportedly called off later in the day after the State government paid the contractor in full via online mode. “We were provided allotments from the Chief Engineer (Building) office. As per the Chief Engineer’s instruction, we paid the amount to the Senior Civil Judge, Bhubaneswar,” R&B’s Senior Divisional Accounts Officer, Sambit Kumar Mishra said. However, the items were already taken away from the office for auction, so the office of the Chief Engineer (Building) remained vacant. The employees could work during the day because the computers containing data were seized on court orders.

Construction India had built the Heads of Departments Building, also known as Na Tala, 42 years ago, and was to receive Rs 6 lakh in unpaid bills. Birendra Kumar Pathak, one of Construction India’s managing partners, had moved High Court regarding unpaid invoices. The High Court then appointed an arbitrator, who issued an order in 1982 mandating the state government to pay Rs 6 lakh to Construction India. Later the matter went to the Supreme Court, which had held the order of the arbitrator. However, the payment was not made. 

After that, the Civil Judge Senior Division Court in the city directed the state government last year to pay the pending dues along with the interest to Construction India. The court had sent notices to the government to make the payment, but the payment was not cleared. As a result, the court ordered the auction of items in the office of the Chief Engineer (Building) and use the money to make the payment for pending dues along with interest, totalling around Rs 18 lakh.

While Indian Cricket Team prepares for World Cup final, Mamata Banerjee has other concerns, blames BJP for ‘saffronising’ Indian Cricket jersey

OpIndia Staff
-
0
While Indian Cricket Team prepares for World Cup final, Mamata Banerjee has other concerns, blames BJP for ‘saffronising’ Indian Cricket jersey

As the entire country is getting ready for the grand finale of Cricket World Cup 2023 on 19th November in Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium against Australia, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee has some other cricket related concerns. On 17th November, Mamata Banerjee attacked the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and blamed it for the ‘saffronisation’ of Team India.

The West Bengal CM alleged that the ruling party has turned “everything to saffron” and presented the example of the jersey of the Indian cricket team. The All India Trinamool Congress supremo argued, “Now everything is turning saffron. We are proud of our Indian players and I believe they will be the world champions. But even their dress has been turned to saffron when they practice. They used to wear blue earlier.” Mamata Banerjee was speaking during the inauguration of Jagadhatri Puja at Posta Bazar in central Kolkata.

She accused the BJP of “trying to paint the entire country saffron” and added that the party brought in saffron colours in the Indian cricketing side as well. “Our boys now practice in saffron-coloured jerseys. The players put up a fight to wear their blue outfits. The Metro stations have been painted saffron. This is unacceptable.” Notably, the match outfit for Team India is blue in colour and they practice in orange jersey.

Mamata Banerjee further said, “I work. They advertise. After my father and mother passed away, some people approached me. They wanted to name some institutes in my late parents’ name. I refused. I told them that they would have never wanted it.”

“I have never seen anything like this. Have you seen the metro stations that are coming up in Kolkata,” the TMC leader asked and added, “All are coloured saffron. I have seen Mayawati installing statues of herself. Now it is happening everywhere in the name of namaste. This cannot go on.”

The BJP reacted sharply to the statements issued by Mamata Banerjee and termed them as a ‘reflection of a vindictive approach.’ West Bengal BJP leader Rahul Sinha asserted, “After a few days, she might question why our national flag has saffron colour in it. We don’t deem it fit even to react to such statements.”

Notably, Indian cricket team is set to face Australia in the World Cup final on 19th November in Ahmedabad having recorded a perfect 10 out of 10 win record so far in the tournament.

Jama Masjid has a wuzukhana built on a public park, court blasts MCD for failing to free the park from illegal possession

ANI
-
0
Jama Masjid has a wuzukhana built on a public park, court blasts MCD for failing to free the park from illegal possession

The Delhi High Court on Friday showed its displeasure to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) over its failure to take possession of a park near Jama Masjid, which is alleged to be in “illegal possession” of encroachers, and directed the civic authorities to take steps to remove illegal encroachers as per law.

The bench of Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Mini Pushkarna on Friday directed MCD to file a status report in this regard and noted that North & South Park adverting the Jama Masjid, despite being public parks, are not in their possession.

“This court directs MCD to take action according to the law. In case after all, a statutory authority cannot lose possession of public parks. Let the status report be filed within weeks. Have it after 5 weeks. December 21 is the next date of hearing”, said the bench.

During the hearing, the court also expressed shock over the statement of MCD stating that Shaheen Gate at the Jama Masjid, North Park–we aren’t even allowed entry there.

MCD further told the court that we didn’t have entry to the parks near Wazu Khana. As far as South Park is concerned, we demolished certain unauthorised construction. The rest of the parks- we’ve been maintaining.

Noting the submissions, the Court asked, “How have you lost possession of the parks & how can you maintain it? How can MCD lose control over its parks? Public parks can’t be taken over in the 21st century. We will direct the police to take over the park.”

“We are asking for the protection of the environment every day. We can’t breathe, and you are losing possession of the parks? Either this is your park owned by you- you must have possession of the same. You can’t lose possession of it. Please write to the SHO. Public park possession can’t be lost, said the Bench
Court observations came while hearing a Public Internet Litigation (PIL) seeking direction to the Government of NCT Delhi and Municipal Corporation to remove all illegal and unauthorised encroachment from the public parks, including Urdu Park situated around Meena Bazar Market, Jama Masjid, Delhi, and also from other parks situated around the Jama Masjid.

The petitioner, a local resident, through Advocates Mohammad Ali and Mutiur Rehman, also sought direction to remove all shelter homes (“Rain Basera”) built by DUSIB from the public parks, including Urdu Park situated around Meena Bazar Market, Jama Masjid, Delhi.

The plea alleged that a few people, with the help of the civic body, are illegally operating parking and e-rickshaw charging facilities in the public parks situated around the Jama Masjid.

The residents of the area have no other green places or parks for walking, jogging, or any other recreational activities. The children residing in this area are forced to be locked inside their homes as there are no playgrounds around this area, the plea stated.

The plea submitted that the Old Delhi area, i.e. Chawri Bazar, Choori Walan, Matia Mahal, Jama Masjid, etc., is a thickly populated area, and there are no public parks in the area to access use except these public parks.

“Residents of these areas are deprived of their Fundamental Rights to enjoy a clean and healthy environment. The present problem requires an urgent solution and the public at large should not suffer because of some action or inaction of government entities. The local ward authorities department has shown no zeal or interest to solve this problem and the civic body is not bothered to ensure a clean & healthy environment especially in Old Delhi,” the plea added.

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

Mumbai: Aditya Thackeray booked for the illegal inauguration of a bridge before its completion

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Mumbai: Aditya Thackeray booked for the illegal inauguration of a bridge before its completion

On Friday (17th November), an FIR was filed against Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aditya Thackeray, and other officials of the Thackeray group at Mumbai’s NM Joshi Police Station. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) authorities have initiated this action in connection with the unauthorised inauguration of the Delisle Bridge in the Lower Parel area of Mumbai. Despite the ongoing construction and testing of the bridge, Aditya Thackeray proceeded with its inauguration, leading to the registration of a case against him. This legal action also extends to Sunil Shinde and Sachin Ahir.

The construction of the Lower Parel flyover in Mumbai was in its final phase. One lane of the bridge was finished, while the work on the second lane was about to be completed. There were multiple instances of extending the deadline for completion of this bridge for various reasons in the past. Citing this, an illegal inauguration program for this bridge was held by Aditya Thackeray on Thursday (16th November) which caused significant impediments in government works.

A formal complaint has been lodged with the NM Joshi Police Station by the Roads Department of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. Around 11 p.m., two municipal officers came to the police station to file a case against Aditya Thackeray and other officials of the Shiv Sena (UBT) group. Until around 3 a.m., these officers were present at the police station. The police recorded the statements of these two officials. Subsequently, formal charges were filed against Aditya Thackeray and other officials.

“How was the inauguration done despite the incomplete work on the bridge? We were planning to start this second lane of the bridge within three to four days after completing the construction,” stated the BMC officials. The Municipal Commissioner, Iqbal Chahal, has issued orders to open the bridge within four days. The painting work on the bridge has already begun, and efforts are underway to open the bridge soon.

Ulhas Mahale, deputy municipal commissioner (infrastructure), said, “The asphalt work on the bridge was just completed last week. Currently, painting, marking lanes, making arrangements for traffic signals and street lamps and such works are in the final stage. So we will be able to open the entire bridge in the next 3 to 4 days.”

On July 24, 2018, the Delisle Bridge, a crucial connection uniting Lower Parel, Worli, Prabhadevi, Currey Road, and Byculla, was shut down due to safety concerns raised by the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay.

Escorted to off-site location, detained and interrogated: Saudi Arabia cracks down on Muslims using Mecca and Medina for activism about Palestine and Gaza

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Escorted to off-site location, detained and interrogated: Saudi Arabia cracks down on Muslims using Mecca and Medina for activism about Palestine and Gaza

Amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, Saudi Arabia is actively cracking down on Muslims for political activism in Mecca and Medina.

As per a report by The Middle East Eye, the Kingdom has detained several Muslims for displaying solidarity for Gaza and Palestine in the twin Islamic Holy sites. One of the detainees was a British actor and presenter by the name of Islah Abdur-Rahman.

He had travelled to Mecca with his family in late October and wore a Palestinian keffiyeh (square scarf) at the Islamic site to make a political statement. He was soon detained by Saudi soldiers.

While speaking about the matter, Islah Abdur-Rahman remarked, “I was stopped by four soldiers for wearing a white keffiyeh around my head and a Palestinian-coloured tasbih (rosary beads) around my wrist. I was escorted to an off-site location where they detained people for possible crimes or offences.”

“Once I was detained, there were other soldiers who interrogated me and asked me about my nationality, why I’m here, where I travelled from, how long I’m here for…It was evident that the scarf was the issue. They were talking in Arabic but they kept saying ‘Palestinian keffiyeh’ and looking at the scarf.”

According to the British actor, a Saudi soldier reprimanded him for raking up the issue of ‘Israel-Palestine’ in Mecca by wearing the keffiyeh. He was eventually freed after handing over his fingerprints and the contentious scarf.

Islah Abdur-Rahman laments Saudi Arabia’s crackdown on pro-Palestinians

“At first, I was really scared, because I was in a country that’s not mine, I have no rights and they could do anything to me and I would not have a say, so I was afraid…Then, my fear turned into heartbreak… the heartbreak got worse when I realised that this is just an ounce of what Palestinians must go through,” he complained to The Middle East Eye.

An ‘upset’ Islah Abdur-Ragman claimed, “It made me realise how Palestinians in Gaza and in their country must feel being treated by the Israeli government, and the abuse they get just for being Palestinian. If anything it broadened my empathy even further than it already is.” He later had a prolonged meltdown on Instagram.

Despite being reminded by Saudi Arabians online that political symbolism was not allowed at the Holy sites in the Kingdom, the British actor alleged, “There is a universal Muslim understanding that this is not a random country and that Al-Aqsa in Palestine is one of the holiest sites in Islam…so I thought it would be OK.”

According to the Middle East Eye, an Algerian man was also detained by the Kingdom for 6 hours on 10th November this year for pro-Palestinian activism in Medina.

“In Medina, I did my prayers and I took the opportunity to supplicate for the children and victims in Palestine…Is it a crime to pray for the oppressed? I did not know that this was forbidden in the holy sites,” he brazened out.

The Muslim man claimed, “I had not even finished my prayers before soldiers came and took my phone and they made me delete a video where I was praying for people in Gaza.”

He alleged that he was escorted to different police stations and treated like a criminal. The Algerian man claimed that an Indonesian woman was similarly detained for wearing Palestinian flag on her hijab.

“I have high blood pressure and I’m diabetic, but was held for six hours. I was treated like a criminal and told that I was detained for ‘sympathising and praying for Palestine’ and my fingerprints were taken,” he informed.

Saudi Arabia turns down resolution to impose restrictions on Israel

On 11th November, Saudi Arabia turned down a desperate bid by some Muslim countries to economically and militarily isolate Israel during the emergency Arab-Islamic summit in Riyadh.

As per a report by Channel 12, several Islamic nations met in Saudi Arabia’s capital city to discuss the Israel-Hamas war and wanted to impose 5 measures against Israel.

The measures included the prevention of the transfer of military equipment to Israel from US bases in the Middle East, suspension of all economic and diplomatic ties with the Jewish State, cutting down on oil sales to the US over its support to Israel, and stopping Israeli air traffic over Gulf skies.

The resolution also called for sending a joint delegation to Russia, the US and Europe to ensure a ceasefire. Saudi Arabia along with Jordan, Egypt, Mauritania, Djibouti, Sudan, Morocco, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) blocked the controversial resolution.

The OIC nations also turned down Iran’s demand to label the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) as a ‘terror organisation.’ An Arab-Islamic summit was hosted by Saudi Arabia on Saturday (11th October) to call for the end of the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, which started after the Islamic terror outfit launched a terror attack on the Jewish State, killing 1400 Israelis in the process.

Initially, only the 22 member nations of the Arab League were scheduled to participate in the event. Later, the summit was expanded to include all 57 members of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

1...471472473...6,497Page 472 of 6,497

Connect with us

255,564FansLike
665,518FollowersFollow
41,700SubscribersSubscribe

Contact: [email protected]

About us

News and opinion website that brings you reports and narrative from a perspective often ignored or suppressed by the mainstream media of India.

Follow us

© OpIndia.com