greeniefresh: January 2015

January 31, 2015

One third of Saudi population is expatriates

Recommended article: Chomsky: We Are All – Fill in the Blank.

This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service - if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read the FAQ at http://ift.tt/jcXqJW.

Saturday 31 Jan 2015 - 17:37 Makkah mean time-11-4-1436

Riyadh (IINA) - Saudi Arabia’s population stood at 30.8 million at the end of 2014, a 2.6 percent rise from 2013, according to data released by the Kingdom’s Central Department of Statistics and Information (CDSI).

There were 20.7 million Saudis, making up 67 percent of the population, while the number of foreigners stood at 10.1 million or 33 percent, according to an analysis published by Al-Eqtisadiah newspaper.

The population had grown by 2.7 percent from 2012 to 2013, amounting to 29.2 million people. This consisted of 20.3 million Saudis and 9.7 million foreigners.

The CDSI said that the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) stood at SR2.82 trillion at the end of 2014, while per capita GDP was SR91,700. Per capita GDP had grown by 9 percent over the past 11 years, an annual increase of SR4,900. The highest per capita GDP growth was between 2004 and 2005, when it grew by 23 percent, or from SR43,000 to SR52,800.

According to the analysis, per capita GDP dropped 19 percent between 2008 and 2009, from SR87,600 to SR63,400, as a result of the global financial crisis.

Al-Eqtisadiah had estimated that the Kingdom’s population would reach 37.2 million by the year 2020 based on the average annual growth rate over the past nine years.

HA/IINA

U.N chief backs regional African force to fight Boko Haram

Saturday 31 Jan 2015 - 17:34 Makkah mean time-11-4-1436

Addis Ababa (IINA) - U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Saturday welcomed an African Union proposal to set up a regional five-nation force of 7,500 troops to fight Nigeria's Boko Haram militants, AFP reported.

"I welcome the decision of the AU and regional countries to establish an MJTF (Multinational Joint Task Force) against Boko Haram," he told reporters during an African Union summit being held in the Ethiopian capital. "They have committed unspeakable brutality. Those terrorists should be addressed with a regional and international cooperation," he said. At least 13,000 people have been killed and more than a million made forced from their homes by Boko Haram violence since 2009. The Boko Haram uprising has become a regional crisis, with the four directly affected countries -- Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria -- agreeing along with Benin to form a joint force.

The proposed force was backed by the AU's Peace and Security Council on Friday, and the pan-African body is now seeking U.N. Security Council approval plus a "Trust Fund" to pay for it. Officials at the AU summit said military experts will discuss the force on February 5-7 in Cameroon's capital Yaounde.

HA/IINA

January 29, 2015

Israel to allow 450 truckloads of goods, fuel into Gaza

Thursday 29 Jan 2015 - 14:21 Makkah mean time-9-4-1436

Gaza (IINA) – Raed Fattouh, chairman of the Coordination Committee for the entry of goods into the Gaza Strip, said that the Israeli authorities are to allow 450 truckloads of supplies to enter the enclave through the Kerem Shalom crossing on Thursday.

Fattouh explained that the truckloads of goods scheduled to enter the enclave for commercial, agricultural and transportation sectors, including 150 truckloads would be full of gravel to help rebuild streets as part of the Qatar construction projects. He said truckloads of quantities of fuel will also be allowed to enter the Strip.

Kerem Shalom is the only commercial crossing through which goods and fuel enter the Gaza Strip. The occupation authorities close it every Friday and Saturday.

AB/IINA

Morocco, Niger discuss strengthening cooperation in religious affairs

Thursday 29 Jan 2015 - 14:17 Makkah mean time-9-4-1436

Rabat (IINA) – Nigerien Minister of Religious Affairs Samero Mohammed Sanusi held talks here on Wednesday with Moroccan Minister of Endowments and Islamic Affairs Ahmed Al-Tawfiq on the ways to enhance cooperation between the two countries in religious affairs management.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed issues related to caring for mosques, training of Imams in the field of religious education as well as religious extremism.

The Nigerien minister said in a press statement that he discussed with his Moroccan counterpart the Morocco’s approach in the fight against terrorism in its security and religious aspects, as well as its socio-economic aspects. He added that his country would like to draw inspiration from the experience of moderate Islam in Morocco.

For his part, Al-Tawfiq said that Morocco shared many of the constants with Niger and other West African countries, which have become aware of the need for tapping into the foundations of Islam.

It is noteworthy that Nigerien Minister started on Wednesday a four-day visit to Morocco at the head of a religious delegation, comprising in particular, the head of the Islamic Council of Niger.

AB/IINA

UK Muslims and Jews team up against hate crime

Thursday 29 Jan 2015 - 14:04 Makkah mean time-9-4-1436

London (IINA) - Muslims and Jews living in the same North London neighbourhood are making a stand together against hate crime amid concerns of an increased threat to both communities in the aftermath of the Paris attacks, al Jazeera reported.

Jewish communities in the UK have been on a heightened state of alert since a siege orchestrated by a gunman at a kosher supermarket in the French capital left four hostages dead.

The government also pledged police support for mosques amid reports of an increase in anti-Muslim hate crime following the linked attack by gunmen claiming allegiance to Al-Qaeda terrorist group on the offices of the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo.

"The Jewish community and the Muslim community are facing difficult times at the moment, but it is not a case of them or us. We are all in the same boat," Munaf Zeena, chairman of the North London Muslim Community Centre, told Al Jazeera.

SM/IINA

Police gunfire killed Sydney siege hostage Katrina Dawson

Thursday 29 Jan 2015 - 13:59 Makkah mean time-9-4-1436

Sydney (IINA) - The start of an inquest into the Sydney cafe siege has heard that hostage Katrina Dawson was killed by fragments from a police bullet or bullets, news agencies reported.

Dawson, who is a 38-year-old barrister and mother-of-three, was killed along with cafe manager Tori Johnson, 34, when police stormed the cafe in Sydney's financial district in the early hours of Dec.16 and killed the gunman Haron Monis.

“Dawson was struck by six fragments of a police bullet or bullets which ricocheted from hard surfaces into her body,” counsel assisting the coroner's inquest, Jeremy Gormly, said.

The inquest is seeking to establish exactly how the three died and whether their deaths could have been avoided.

The hearing will also examine whether it was appropriate to treat the siege as a terrorist event and whether the crisis could have been managed better.

Gunman Monis took 18 people hostage at the cafe in Martin Place in Sydney's business district on 15 December, leading to a massive police operation and the shutdown of a large part of the city centre.

SM/IINA

Gold price held steady near $2190 on Wednesday

Thursday 29 Jan 2015 - 12:27 Makkah mean time-9-4-1436

Singapore (IINA) – Gold traded in a narrow range near $1290 per ounce on Wednesday, while its spot price declined 0.3 percent at $1288.90 an ounce by 7:17 GMT, after trading between $1286.95 and $1293.80 an ounce.

Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported that gold price fell in the U.S. futures contracts 0.3 percent at $1288.20 an ounce.

Among other precious metals, silver slipped 0.22 percent at $17.98 an ounce, while platinum rose 0.09 percent at $1259.85 an ounce, and palladium price rose 0.06 percent at $778.50 an ounce.

AB/IINA

January 28, 2015

Somali PM appoints new cabinet

Wednesday 28 Jan 2015 - 13:25 Makkah mean time-8-4-1436

Mogadishu (IINA) – Somalia’s Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Sharmarke on Tuesday announced formation of a new government comprising 20 ministers, downsizing the number from the 26-member cabinet that was dissolved earlier this month.

Sharmarke said the new cabinet was formed after consultations with President Hassan Sheikh Mahmoud, Speaker of Parliament Mohamed Osman Jawari, as well as the members of the House of Representatives.

In a press statement, Sharmarke said: "Under the constitutional duty to form an effective and powerful government, I have appointed new ministers, who have knowledge, transparency, expertise and ability to deliver the country’s 2016 vision”.

AB/IINA

Skipping breakfast three times a week is a bad sign for weight

Wednesday 28 Jan 2015 - 13:16 Makkah mean time-8-4-1436

London (IINA) - People who skip breakfast three times a week are twice as likely to gorge on an extra 252 calories a day, it was revealed in a new research, Daily Mail reported.

Missing the first meal of the day increases the urge to snack and could cause a person to gain up to 26lb almost two stone a year, if the extra calories are not burned off through exercise.

Dietitian Azmina Govindji, who is an award-winning registered dietitian and nutritionist, known in the UK as well best-selling author said, missing breakfast can cause a person's blood sugar levels to drop, encouraging them to reach for a snack that will provide instant gratification.

The research suggests that those who are missing breakfast are more likely to have unhealthier eating habits during the rest of that morning period, she told MailOnline.

Researchers calculated the potential weight gain, assuming a person eats an extra 252 calories every day - totaling 91,980 calories every year.

Assuming the extra calories are not matched with any physical activity or a reduced total intake over the course of each day, using the assumption that an extra 3,500 calories equate to an extra 1lb in weight, there is the potential for a person to gain 26lbs a year.

Govindji added research shows that eating breakfast can help improve mood, energy and concentration.

Studies have also demonstrated that people who eat breakfast are more likely to be in a healthy weight range than those who do not.

SM/IINA

Rohingya status in Myanmar quasi-genocide, says official

Wednesday 28 Jan 2015 - 13:00 Makkah mean time-8-4-1436

Arakan (IINA) – Former President of Doctors Without Borders (MSF) Rooney Proman said that the status of Muslim minority in Myanmar (formerly Burma) is similar to genocide.

Speaking to Anatolia news agency about the experience and infrastructure that MSF has for delivering necessary life-saving medical services in Myanmar, Proman said: “The Rohingya Muslim minority are subjected to quasi-genocide,” noting that, in February last year, when MSF attempted to give its testimony on this issue, the authorities responded immediately by suspending all the group’s operations in Arakan State”. He also pointed out that the non-governmental organizations (NGOs) do not fully enjoy the right of giving testimonies.

He wondered by saying "Whether we have to sacrifice the lives of tens of thousands of people, or continue to give our testimonies concerning the freedom of speech," adding that the group is renowned for its victory for the freedom of expression.

Proman said that MSF implemented vital medical aid programs in Myanmar, where it offered health care to the victims of HIV/AIDS in Arakan State.

It is noteworthy that Rooney Proman, who had assumed the presidency of Doctors Without Borders (MSF) for more than 10 years, has been well-known for his humanitarian work in conflict zones around the world since the 1980s of the last century.

AB/IINA

Indonesian military stops search and recovery for remains of AirAsia QZ8501

Wednesday 28 Jan 2015 - 12:06 Makkah mean time-8-4-1436

Jakarta, (IINA) - Indonesian military said Tuesday that it was halting its efforts to recover the remains of AirAsia Flight QZ8501 almost a month after the commercial jet crashed into the sea, CNN reported.

The chief of the Indonesian armed forces Gen. Moeldoko ordered on Tuesday the military teams involved in the operation to pull out, said military spokesman Manahan Simorangkir.

Indonesia's search and rescue agency Basarnas will continue its work to try to retrieve bodies from the wreckage site in the Java Sea, a civilian source close to the search and rescue operations told CNN.

The military provided the majority of personnel and hardware involved in the recovery operation, which was hindered by bad weather and technical problems.

"We are really disappointed," Imam Sampurno, whose four family members who were on the plane still haven't been found, according to the military's announcement. "We really hope the evacuation process is still going."

Flight QZ8501 went down on December 28 as it flew from the Indonesian city of Surabaya toward Singapore with 162 people on board.

So far, searchers have managed to recover 70 bodies from the sea, leaving 92 still unaccounted for.

Over the weekend, navy divers tried to lift part of the fuselage of the plane using wire ropes and giant balloons. But the attempts failed after lines attached to the wreckage broke.

An effort to lift a smaller piece of wreckage was also unsuccessful, the military said.

SM/IINA

Belgium detains 3 men with extremist links

Wednesday 28 Jan 2015 - 11:57 Makkah mean time-8-4-1436

Brussels, (IINA) - Belgian police have detained three men in the western Belgian town of Kortrijk with links to “radicalized groups” and seized weapons from their hideouts, prosecutors said on Tuesday, Reuters reported.

Earlier this month, police killed two gunmen in Verviers in eastern Belgium during one of several raids against an extremist group which officials said was about to launch attacks against police.

Confirming the detentions, a spokeswoman for the prosecutors said they were checking whether there was any link between the three men and the extremist group.

The gunmen killed in Verviers are believed to have fought in Syria before returning to Belgium.

SM/IINA

January 27, 2015

Islamic museum founder Moustafa Fahour honored with Medal of the Order of Australia

Islam

Muslim community in Australia

Founder of first Islamic museum in Australia Moustafa Fahour

Medals (OAM) of the Order of Australia

Tuesday 27 Jan 2015 - 14:14 Makkah mean time-7-4-1436

Thornbury, Australia (IINA) - Founder of Australia’s first Islamic Museum Moustafa Fahour has been awarded the Medals (OAM) of the Order of Australia along with others during the Award Ceremony on Australia Day, Australian Muslim Times news (AMT) reported.

Moustafa, who is of Lebanese descent, opened the museum as a non profit entity, and has received immense support from volunteers and financial backers. He claims that almost a year since its opening more than 8,000 people have visited the museum with 50% of them Muslims while the rest were non-Muslims.

Australia Day is the official national day of Australia, which is celebrated annually on January 26 each year to mark the anniversary of the arrival of British Ships at Port Jackson, New South Wales.

SM/IINA

UN-brokered Libyan political dialogue set to resume in Geneva

Tuesday 27 Jan 2015 - 13:41 Makkah mean time-7-4-1436

Tripoli (IINA) – Head of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) Bernardino Léon said that the Libyan stakeholders will return to Geneva this week for a new round of United Nations-brokered dialogue aimed at resolving the war-torn country’s longstanding political crisis.

Léon said the participants in the second round of talks agreed upon the agenda aimed to reach a political agreement to form a consensual national unity government and confidence-building measures, as well as the venue of the next rounds of talks.

“UNSMIL appeals to all the Libyan parties and invited participants to approach these talks aimed at ending Libya’s political and security crisis in a spirit of openness and reconciliation that is guided by the higher national interest of the Libyan people,” the UN Mission said in a statement issued on Tuesday.

In addition to the main political track established during last week’s dialogue, another meeting later this week will bring together municipal and local council representatives from cities and towns across Libya to discuss confidence building measures and ways to implement them, the statement added.

UNSMIL explained that it planned to convene a number of other tracks at a later stage which would include representatives from Libyan political parties, social and tribal forces, as well as the armed groups.

AB/IINA

Hundreds protest in West Bank calling for boycott of Israeli products

Tuesday 27 Jan 2015 - 13:34 Makkah mean time-7-4-1436

Ma'an image - Ramallah

Ramallah (IINA) – Hundreds of Palestinians across the West Bank on Monday participated in protests organized by the Fatah movement, calling for a boycott of Israeli products and expressing support for Palestinian leaders and officials, Ma’an reported, citing officials.

Hundreds gathered at Al-Manara Square in Ramallah in protest against the Israeli decision to freeze tax funds owed to the Palestinian Authority.

Fatah Central Committee member Jamal Muheisen said that Israel should not be allowed to steal our money and gain profits by selling their products in our shops."

"Despite several boycotting campaigns, there are still Israeli products in our shops," Muheisen said. "Our merchants and officials should not allow this to continue."

Muheisen told Ma'an news agency that the rallies were called for in order to garner support for Palestine's international political actions, referring to UN Security Council resolutions and Palestinian membership of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Mahmoud al-Alul, also Fatah Central Committee member, said that the protests are sending a strong message to the international community that Palestinians are rayllying behind their leaders.

AB/IINA

January 26, 2015

34 die in Bangladesh vote protest violence

Dhaka (IINA) - At least 34 people have died in Bangladesh and scores have been injured, most of them in firebomb attacks, amid rising political unrest fueled by a stand-off between Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the main opposition leader.

The renewed political turmoil could cause a delay in shipments by the country’s $24-billion garment industry, already under pressure after a string of fatal accidents. Begum Khaleda Zia, whose opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) boycotted the election on Jan. 5 last year, has demanded that Hasina and her government step down for a new vote under a caretaker administration. Hasina has refused, instead tightening her grip by arresting key opposition leaders and clamping down on critical media as anti-government protests spread. The violence has worsened sharply since Jan. 5, the first anniversary of the vote.

Police said at least 25 people have died in arson attacks, including two on Friday. Eight more were killed in clashes with police, and one died following injuries from a crude bomb blast, they added. At least 50 people were injured, some critically, after opposition activists firebombed several vehicles in the capital, Dhaka, and surrounding districts, police and witnesses said. In Dhaka, at least 29 people suffered burns after attackers hurled petrol bombs at a bus, police said. “Nine are in critical condition,” said Mohammad Sajjat Khandakar, a doctor at Dhaka Medical College Hospital, which has been struggling to deal with growing numbers of the injured, Reuters reported.

More than 7,000 opposition activists have been detained since the anniversary, Industry Minister Amir Hossain Amu, the head of a government law and order panel, has said. The opposition called for another 36-hour countrywide strike from Sunday morning to protest against the arrests and “oppression” of its leaders during an indefinite transport blockade it launched. Khaleda called the blockade after she was prevented from holding a mass rally in Dhaka on the Jan. 5 anniversary. Legal action could be considered against Khaleda for ordering the killing of innocent people, said Health Minister Mohammed Nasim. “They should immediately stop the killing of innocent people, children, woman, laborers,” he told reporters on Saturday after visiting the burns victims.

BNP leaders were not immediately available to comment on the threat of legal action. Hasina and Khaleda have alternated as prime minister for most of the past two decades in a fierce rivalry marked by periods of widespread political violence. The United States, the European Union and Britain have voiced concern and urged all Bangladeshi parties to engage in dialogue.

HA/IINA

Strategic Nigerian city falls amid fierce battle against Boko Haram

Monday 26 Jan 2015 - 14:18 Makkah mean time-6-4-1436

Kano, Nigeria (IINA) - Hundreds of Boko Haram gunmen on Sunday launched a predawn attack on the Nigerian city of Maiduguri and were locked in a fierce battle with government troops on the outskirts of the city, according to the military, residents and citizen vigilantes, CNN reported.

The militants launched a simultaneous attack on the town of Monguno and were apparently successful in taking control of the town and its military barracks, a Nigerian military officer in Maiduguri told CNN.

"Our soldiers initially repelled the terrorists but they mobilized more fighters and came back in full force. They overwhelmed our troops and forced them to retreat," said the officer, who asked not to be named because he was not authorized to speak to the media.

The attack came a day after President Goodluck Jonathan made a campaign stop in Maiduguri ahead of the February 14 presidential election. He has promised to end the Boko Haram insurgency if re-elected.

On Friday, Boko Haram attacked Kambari village, 5 kilometers from Maiduguri, killing 15 people and burning homes, in what was seen as a prelude to a possible onslaught on the city.

Also on Friday, Boko Haram militants released 192 hostages, mostly women, who had been kidnapped from a village in Yobe state following a deadly raid, according to community leaders, a local politician and a military source.

A military officer confirmed the release of the hostages by Boko Haram.‎

On January 6, dozens of Boko Haram gunmen stormed Katarko, where they killed 25 men and threw the bodies in open wells, burned the entire village and kidnapped the women and children, according to Aisami and local vigilantes.

SM/IINA

Jordanian King congratulates Saudi monarch Salman

Monday 26 Jan 2015 - 12:44 Makkah mean time-6-4-1436

Amman (IINA) – Jordanian King Abdullah II sent on Sunday a cable of congratulations to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman on the occasion of his ascension to the throne, Petra reported.

King Abdullah II hailed Jordanian-Saudi ties and voiced keenness on continuing coordination and consultation with Saudi Arabia on various issues of mutual interest and supporting pan-Arab solidarity.

King Abdullah II also congratulated the new Crown Prince Muqrin, Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Naif and Defense Minister Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

AB/IINA

Bahraini students develop water purification methods

Monday 26 Jan 2015 - 12:38 Makkah mean time-6-4-1436

Manama (IINA) – Two college students from the University of Bahrain have developed two new methods to remove dyes and toxicants from factory’s wastewater, which pollutes the environment, by using micro-channel (microfluidic) systems.

Hussain Shihab and Syed Abdullah al-Mishal said that the project aims at designing two systems of micro-channels similar to micro-filters in order to purify the colored wastewater and to limit environmental pollution. The treated water will become harmless, and it can subsequently be released in the sea without affecting the marine life.

They said the experiment showed a success rate of 96 percent, but it still can be developed and improved, based on the amount of carbon in the water.

They stressed that the project is applicable in the factories and commercially viable, noting that the tests simply required pumping of small amounts of fluids, pencils, and plastic as well as some solid materials.

AB/IINA

January 25, 2015

Albania: Muslims contribute to purchasing medical equipment

Sunday 25 Jan 2015 - 13:28 Makkah mean time-5-4-1436

Surgery

Tirana (IINA) – The Department of Pediatric heart surgery at the “Mother Theresa University Hospital Center" in the Albanian capital of Tirana will soon acquire new set of specialized cardiac-surgery equipment.

The procedures for purchasing the new equipment have already been initiated, thanks to the financial contribution of Muslim communities and the support of Italian physicians, who have been supporting Albania's pediatric cardiology unit for years.

Although the new medical instruments are estimated to cost more than 70.000 euro, the Albanian authorities will have to pay only 1/5 of that amount, thanks to the financial support to be provided by Italian medical team.

It is worth mentioning that the Mother Theresa's surgical heart unit is the only one of its kind in the country that conducts cardiac surgeries on young children. So far, it has successfully conducted more than 200 surgeries.

PB/IINA

Militant attack leaves 80 percent of Pakistan without power

Sunday 25 Jan 2015 - 13:25 Makkah mean time-5-4-1436

Islamabad, (IINA) – Millions of homes in Pakistan have been plunged into darkness following one of the worst blackouts in Pakistan's history, Sky news reported.

More than 140 million people, which makes up nearly 80% of the population, have lost electricity after militants attacked a transmission tower and caused a massive power surge.

Later on only around half of those affected have so far had their power restored.

Pakistan's Energy Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif tweeted: "On the Prime Minister's directive, we are not to sleep until this problem is resolved."

SM/IINA

Palestinians march in protest against Charlie Hebdo cartoon

Sunday 25 Jan 2015 - 12:40 Makkah mean time-5-4-1436

Ramallah (IINA) – Thousands of Palestinians marched Saturday in the West Bank in protest against the latest blasphemous cartoons of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), published by French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, AFP reported.

Answering calls by the Liberation Party, demonstrators rallied in the cities of Ramallah and Hebron, some carrying banners expressing faith in Islam and others wearing black headbands calling for the establishment of a Muslim caliphate, AFP photographers said.

The protests were called in response against a cartoon published by Charlie Hebdo a week after French gunmen attacked the magazine’s office in Paris on January 7, killing 12 people.

The latest cartoons of Prophet Muhammad by the magazine sparked angry protests across the Muslim world, some of which turned deadly.

There were several demonstrations in the Palestinian territories, notably in Gaza City last Monday, where some 200 people tried to storm the French cultural center and burned French flags.

The political and religious authorities in Gaza condemned both the Charlie Hebdo's cartoons and the deadly attack on its office.

AB/IINA

Hundreds rally in Australia over negative portrayal of Islam and Prophet

Sunday 25 Jan 2015 - 12:16 Makkah mean time-5-4-1436

Sydney, Australia (IINA) - Hundreds of Muslims rallied in Sydney to protest against negative media coverage of Islam and French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo’s depiction of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), The independent reported.

Some of the 800 demonstrators in the Lakemba suburb which has a large population of Lebanese Australians held up placards with the slogan “Je suis Muslim” (“I am Muslim”).

Other protesters held up signs saying, “Insult to one prophet is an insult to all prophets and mercy to mankind”.

The slogan was a response to the latest front cover of Charlie Hebdo about the Prophet.

Similar demonstrations have been taking place around the world with one in the Philippines that drew around 1,500 Muslims who burned a mock-up of a Charlie Hebdo cover featuring Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to protest against “Zionist double standards” of the magazine.

SM/IINA

Burqa banned in China's Xinjiang Uighurin region

Sunday 25 Jan 2015 - 12:00 Makkah mean time-5-4-1436

Urumqi Xinjiang, China (IINA) - Legislators in a region of China with a large Muslim population have approved a ban on women wearing the traditional Islamic garment known as burqa in public, state media reported.

Northwest China's Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region approved a regulation banning the wearing of the burqa in the regional capital of Urumqi, The Independent reported.

The ban on the burqa was "considered and approved" by the Urumqi parliament's Standing Committee in December, Reuters reported.

Around 45 percent of the population of Xinjiang is Muslim.

Xinhua quoted the regional People's Congress as saying the legislation will go into effect after being amended.

In August, Karamay, a northwestern city in Xinjiang, banned people with head scarves, veils and long beards from boarding buses.

SM/IINA

January 24, 2015

White House calls Netanyahu's visit to U.S. 'departure from protocol'

Saturday 24 Jan 2015 - 23:37 Makkah mean time-4-4-1436

Washington (IINA) – The White House responded coolly to the news of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to U.S. to address Congress next month, calling it “departure from protocol," adding that "such invitations are usually made leader to leader."

White House Spokesman Earnest told reporters in a daily briefing that the White House has yet to speak with the Prime Minister's Office about the possibility of a U.S. visit and a meeting with President Barack Obama, saying: "We will reserve judgment on the trip until we hear from Israel officially”.

Earnest added that according to diplomatic protocol, a foreign country's leader should contact the White House before his arrival in the United States.

AB/IINA

January 23, 2015

Thousands bid farewell to King Abdullah

Saturday 24 Jan 2015 - 02:10 Makkah mean time-4-4-1436

Riyadh (IINA) - Thousands gathered in Riyadh on Friday to say farewell to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, who died earlier in the day.

Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jabir Al-Sabah, Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, King Hamad of Bahrain, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Egyptian Premier Ibrahim Mohlib joined other dignitaries for the funeral prayer after Asr prayers at the Imam Turki Bin Abdullah Mosque here.

Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, and Palestine, among others, declared varied days of mourning. British Premier David Cameron is to visit Saudi Arabia to offer condolences, Downing Street said. The burial was a simple, brief ceremony attended by foreign dignitaries, princes, ministers, regional emirs , senior officials and citizens.

After the funeral, the new King Salman Bin Abdulaziz received princes, senior Saudi officials as well as world leaders who all expressed their grief and offered condolences. Funeral prayers in absentia were also offered in the Holy Haram in Makkah, the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah and all other mosques across the Kingdom.

King Abdullah was hospitalized in December suffering from pneumonia and had been breathing with the aid of a respirator. King Abdullah died on early Friday and Crown Prince Salman has been named the new king with Prince Muqrin crown prince, according to a Royal Court statement. King Salman said King Abdullah died at 1 a.m. on Friday. “With deep sorrow we announce the death of King Abdullah,” said the new king in the statement issued by the Royal Court, adding that the funeral prayers would take place after Asr prayer at Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque in Riyadh on Friday.

King Salman and Crown Prince Muqrin will receive the oath of allegiance from the people of Saudi Arabia at his palace in Riyadh. The smooth succession indicates stability in Saudi Arabia, according to observers. Since the death in 1952 of King Abdul Aziz, the founder of Saudi Arabia, the throne has systematically passed down to his sons. King Salman, credited with transforming Riyadh during his half-century as governor, has a reputation for austerity, hard work and discipline. Born on Dec. 31, 1935, King Salman is the 25th son of King Abdul Aziz. He was appointed governor of Riyadh province at the age of 20. He was appointed minister of defense in 2011.

HA/IINA

Japanese Muslims condemn IS terror acts

Islam

Muslim community in Japan

Tokyo Camii, the nation’s largest mosque

Japan

Saturday 24 Jan 2015 - 01:26 Makkah mean time-4-4-1436

Tokyo (IINA) – Muslim community in Japan said the ISIS militant group does not represent them and may further instigate misconceptions about the religion in the country, International Business Times reported.

Japanese Muslim leaders have called the group's capture of two Japanese hostages an “unforgivable act of cruelty,” according to local media sources.

“The Muslims have long been misunderstood in Japan, an incident like this could further breed to misunderstand Islam” said Shigeru Shimoyama, a spokesperson for Tokyo Camii, the nation’s largest mosque, according to Japan Times. He denounced the video as “despicable” and “un-Islamic.”

Shimoyama said the killing of one innocent person is tantamount to killing all of mankind and that the ISIS terrorists, whose acts contradict Islam’s respect for human life, “are not Muslims.” Tokyo Camii has also put out a similar statement on its website, calling for understanding and prayers for the two hostages.

ISIS Terrorist group released a video on Tuesday showing two Japanese hostages in orange jumpsuits as their captor threatened to behead them with a knife if a ransom of $200 million was not paid up within 72 hours.

The estimated Muslim population in Japan is around 100,000, according to studies done by scholars. Roughly, 90 percent of the Muslims in the country are estimated to be resident foreigners and 10 percent are native Japanese. The first recorded Japanese to convert to Islam was in 1909, but the Muslim population in Japan did not take off until in the 1980s. Many of the early Muslims in the country were from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Iran, who came to Japan to work, and the Tokyo Camii, built as early as 1938 and destroyed in 1986, was rebuilt in 2000.

SM/IINA

Darfur: UN humanitarian office reports mass displacement amid ongoing hostilities

Saturday 24 Jan 2015 - 01:21 Makkah mean time-4-4-1436

Darfur (IINA) - The United Nations Office for the Coordination for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is reporting that thousands of people in North Darfur are now confirmed as displaced following ongoing fighting in the region, a UN spokesperson said.

In the El Fasher, Shangil Tobaya, Tawila, and Um Baru areas of North Darfur, the UN humanitarian office said it had “newly verified” the displacement of more than 18,000 people in the latest report from the beleaguered region, United Nations reported.

According to UN estimates, the number of people displaced by conflict has increased to more than 430,000 since the beginning of 2014, with close to 300,000 remaining displaced in addition to more than two million long-term internally displaced persons.

UN spokesperson Farhan Haq said OCHA had reported that in Um Baru over 2,200 of those displaced were sheltering beside the UN-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) base. Moreover, a steady flow of displaced persons continues to arrive at the base seeking shelter and protection.

At the same time, he said, some 200 people have also reached the UNAMID site in Sortony as they reportedly feared attacks on villages in the area. OCHA noted that access to Sortony continued to pose a challenge for humanitarians but that efforts were underway to deliver aid.

SM/IINA

January 21, 2015

Palestinian shot in Tel Aviv after stabbing 13 Israelis

Wednesday 21 Jan 2015 - 23:43 Makkah mean time-1-4-1436

Tel Aviv (IINA) - A Palestinian man has stabbed 13 people on and near a bus in central Tel Aviv, seriously wounding three of them before he was shot and arrested. Israeli police described Wednesday's assault as a "terrorist attack", and the Palestinian group Hamas, which governs the Gaza Strip, praised it.

The man was shot in the leg by a prison security officer travelling in a separate vehicle, who saw the man trying to escape, police said. Tel Aviv police commander BentziSau confirmed 10 people had been injured. He said the assailant was a West Bank resident who stabbed the driver and then attacked passengers shortly after boarding the bus. Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said the Palestinian was a 23-year-old resident of the West Bank town of Tulkarm, Reuters reported.

A doctor at Tel Aviv’s Ichilov hospital told Army Radio that seven people had been admitted for treatment. “Shortly after he boarded the bus, the assailant stabbed the driver several times but there was an excellent response from him as he resisted the attack and in this way the terrorist was stunned,” Sau told reporters at the scene. Sau said a vehicle with prison officers travelling close by saw the attack and officers gave chase. They caught the man in a nearby street and shot him in the leg as he tried to escape.

Video aired by Israel's Channel 10 TV showed the attacker running in the street and stabbing a woman as he tried to escape. Police confirmed that Matroukh stabbed a woman as he attempted to flee. Police identified the assailant as Hamza Mohammed Matroukh, a 23-year-old Palestinian resident of the occupied West Bank who had entered Israel illegally. Police said he confessed to the stabbing, saying he carried it out in response to last year's Gaza war and tensions surrounding a Jerusalem site holy to Jews and Muslims.

The stabbing was the latest in a string of incidents in the past few months at a time of heightened tension between Palestinians and Israelis, particularly in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Israel seized the territories in a 1967 war and Palestinians want them for an independent state, along with Gaza.

HA/IINA

Charges framed against four suspects over Paris attacks

Wednesday 21 Jan 2015 - 14:27 Makkah mean time-1-4-1436

Paris (IINA) – Four men suspected of providing logistical support to gunman who killed hostages at kosher supermarket in Paris are the first to be charged in connection with the attacks which happened earlier this month in which at least 20 people killed, including three assailants, Aljazeera news reported.

French prosecutors Francois Molins said on Wednesday that four men aged between 22 and 28 were handed preliminary charges overnight of association with terrorism.

Three of them are suspected of having bought "equipment" for Amedy Coulibaly, who shot a policewoman to death on the outskirts of Paris and then killed four hostages at a kosher supermarket.

The prosecutor said the four charged suspects were jailed until a further investigation.

Three of the four had criminal records and at least one met Coulibaly in prison, Molins said.

SM/IINA

EU to ease visa requirements for Moroccans

Wednesday 21 Jan 2015 - 12:26 Makkah mean time-1-4-1436

Rabat (IINA) – The European Union and Morocco announced on Monday in Brussels the start of discussions to frame two agreements for facilitating the issuance of visas for Moroccans wishing to enter the EU countries, and for future readmission to those countries, Morocco World News reported.

Morocco and the EU have had a ‘Partnership of Mobility’ in place since June 2013, aimed at promoting collaboration between the two sides in managing migration in a comprehensive, balanced, pragmatic and operational way, according to a news release issued by the delegation of EU to Morocco.

The two agreements, one to facilitate mobility and the other to regulate future readmission, come in the context of several cooperation and partnership projects previously signed by Morocco and the EU bloc for achieving mutual benefits for both partners.

AB/IINA

January 20, 2015

Egypt starts reparation of largest encyclopedia of noble morals

Tuesday 20 Jan 2015 - 15:06 Makkah mean time-29-3-1436

Cairo (IINA) – The Egyptian Ministry of Religious Endowments said it has initiated the preparation of the first and largest modern encyclopedia of Noble Morals (Makarimul Akhlaq), starting with excerpts from Sunnah of the Beloved Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in terms of the best morals and ethics.

The ministry said Tuesday, in a statement, that Minister of Endowments Dr. Mohamed Mokhtar Jomaa has assigned the Dawa General Administration, in collaboration with the Central Administration of Al-Siera/Curriculum and Al-Sunnah at the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, to commence the preparation of the encyclopedia.

AB/IINA

Israel Arabs declare nationwide strike after Bedouin deaths

Tuesday 20 Jan 2015 - 14:14 Makkah mean time-29-3-1436

Jerusalem (IINA) - Leaders of Israel’s 1.7 million Arabs declared a general strike throughout the country on Tuesday in protest at the recent deaths of two Bedouin men in confrontations with police.

Former member of parliament Taleb al-Sana, chairman of an umbrella organization of Arab Israeli groups, said that schools and businesses would close from the Galilee in the north to the Negev desert in the south. “The general strike today is to send a strong message that the entire Arab community... strongly protests the murders of two citizens of the state of Israel whose only crime is being Arab,” Sana, who is himself Bedouin, told Israeli army radio. Sami al-Jaar died of a gunshot wound last week during a police drug raid on the Negev Bedouin town of Rahat.

Police have opened an enquiry to determine if the shot was fired by officers or townspeople. During Jaar’s funeral on Sunday, Sami al-Zayadna, 47, died of a heart attack during clashes in which police fired tear gas. Following Zayadna’s burial on Monday, angry protesters -- some of them masked -- hurled stones at the Rahat police station, police said. Police statements said that five suspected stone-throwers were detained and that more arrests were expected. Rahat residents have been on strike since Sunday

HA/IINA

Thousands march for tolerance in Germany

Tuesday 20 Jan 2015 - 14:13 Makkah mean time-29-3-1436

Berlin (IINA) - More than 17,000 anti-racism demonstrators took to the streets in several German cities on Monday to voice opposition to the PEGIDA anti-Islamic movement, whose own weekly rally was cancelled over a terrorism threat.

The counter-protests drew smaller crowds than last week, when some 100,000 people called for tolerance nationwide. In Munich, where anti-PEGIDA mobilization has been strong for several weeks, around 10,000 people -- half the number of protesters as the week before -- gathered, according to police. Around a thousand people demonstrated in the Bavarian cities of Wuerzburg and Nuremberg, the German news agency DPA reported. Protests were also organized in Berlin and Duesseldorf, and around 6,000 people were on the streets in Magdeburg.

On Monday, PEGIDA - "Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamization of the Occident" - vowed it would rally again next week after a march was cancelled over a terrorism threat. Police in Dresden, where the PEGIDA marches began in October, had banned all public open-air gatherings within city limits for Monday, citing the "concrete threat" of an assassination attempt against the group's leaders.

The marches -- which have voiced anger against Islam and "criminal asylum seekers" -- began with several hundred supporters and have since steadily grown. They drew a record 25,000 people last week, in the wake of the attacks by radical Islamists in Paris in which 17 people were killed. The same day saw some 100,000 Germans march in counter demonstrations.

Meanwhile, PEGIDA’s Danish wing staged its first rallies on Monday, drawing several hundred people in the capital and in other cities although marchers were outnumbered by counter-demonstrators. Some 200 PEGIDA supporters turned out in Copenhagen, many carrying torches and signs saying "No to violence and racism". Around 300 people attended a counter-demonstration in Noerrebro, a Copenhagen district popular with immigrants and students.

In Aarhus, Denmark's second largest city, 30 PEGIDA demonstrators were outnumbered by 300 counter-demonstrators. In the western city of Esbjerg, up to 100 people took part in a demonstration held by Stop the Islamization of Denmark (SIAD) while 400 took part in a counter-protest

HA/IINA

EU calls for anti-terror alliance with Arab countries

Tuesday 20 Jan 2015 - 13:52 Makkah mean time-29-3-1436

Brussels (IINA) – The European Union on Monday called for an anti-terror alliance with Arab countries to boost cooperation and information-sharing amid a string of deadly attacks and arrests across Europe, France 24 reported.

EU Foreign ministers, who met in Brussels in the wake of the Paris terror-related attacks and a wave of arrests across Europe, agreed upon the need to work with Arab nations, and Turkey in particular, to counter the growing threat.

EU Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini said after the meeting that "probably for the first time there was real deep awareness of the need to work together."

"We are looking at specific projects to launch in the coming weeks with some specific countries to increase the level of cooperation on counter-terrorism, and I would name Turkey, Egypt, Yemen, Algeria and the Gulf countries," she said.

The bloc will post security attaches at its embassies in key Muslim nations to boost cooperation, while Arabic-language capacity would be developed.

“We need an alliance. We need to strengthen our way of cooperating together,” Mogherini added.

In the same context, Arab League Secretary-General Nabil Elaraby said Monday that "every country in the world is suffering from terrorism."

Europe is on high alert after three French gunmen killed 17 people at the Charlie Hebdo office and a Jewish supermarket in Paris earlier this month.

AB/IINA

MWL chief receives Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia

Tuesday 20 Jan 2015 - 13:33 Makkah mean time-29-3-1436

Riyadh (IINA) – Secretary General of the Muslim World League (MWL) Dr. Abdullah Al-Turki received here on Tuesday Sri Lanka's Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Mohammed Hussein.

During the meeting, they discussed aspects of cooperation between MWL and the official Islamic organizations in Sri Lanka for the benefit of Islam and Muslim Ummah, particularly in the areas of Dawa, education and culture. They also reviewed the latest developments in the international arena.

The Ambassador acknowledged the efforts made by Saudi Arabia towards Muslim communities around the globe, particularly the Muslim minorities in Sri Lanka.

He also praised the great role being played by the MWL in serving Muslims in the fields of education, culture and Dawa.

AB/IINA

Hundreds of Muslims face danger in Central African Republic

Muslim minority in Central African Republic

UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR)

Humanitarian

Yaloke

Dalia al

Achi, public information officer for the UNHCR

Tuesday 20 Jan 2015 - 13:31 Makkah mean time-29-3-1436

Yaloke, Central African Republic (IINA) - The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) demanded that at least 470 Muslims from the Peuhl ethnic minority, trapped for several months in the Central African Republic town of Yaloke, around 200km from capital Bangui, need to be relocated as a matter of urgency, Al Jazeera reported.

Dalia al-Achi, public information officer for the UNHCR in Bangui, told Al Jazeera on Tuesday that the group, who had initially fled from a number of towns in February 2014, were growingly desperate as living conditions worsened.

She added, the group required urgent humanitarian assistance and needed to be relocated to another part of the country or perhaps to neighbouring Cameroon or Chad.

"It is quite simple: it is now about life or death. Are we going to watch them die, or are we going to take heed to what they are saying and try to save them," al-Achi said.

Yaloke sits on the central axis to Cameroon, with commercial trucks passing by the city towards the border on a daily basis.

More than 700 Peuhl Muslims escaped the towns of Bouaca, Boboua, Bolemba, Boda last February, after anti-Balaka fighters, mostly made up of Christian vigilantes, started targeting them.

After spending two months on the run, hiding in the bushes as they made their way towards the western half of the country, in the hope of reaching Cameroon, the group arrived in Yaloke in April, where they have been ever since.

While they fled, more than 150 of them were killed by anti-Balaka fighters. Another 42 died in Yaloke from illnesses and injuries. The UNHCR says the remaining 474 residents were facing severe malnutrition and the risk of disease. More than 30 percent was suffering from malaria, while at least six people had tuberculosis.

On Monday, Human Rights Watch released a report saying that hundreds of displaced Muslims were now trapped in camps in the western half of the country, living in abysmal conditions and under constant duress.

SM/IINA

OIC calls for increased intra-trade among member countries

Tuesday 20 Jan 2015 - 11:53 Makkah mean time-29-3-1436

Istanbul (IINA) – The Commission on Economic Affairs and Environment, emanating from the Parliamentary Union of the Member States of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), called for increasing intra-trade, reducing trade barriers and facing the unilateral and multilateral sanctions imposed against the peoples of the OIC countries.

The Commission, on the sidelines of the 10th session of the Union conference held here on Monday, called for Inter-parliamentary cooperation in response to natural disasters, especially through the provision of relief and support to the economic institutions, which are active in the field of development in the Islamic world.

The Commission also called on the OIC countries to focus on the issues of environment, sustainable development and combating desertification, particularly in the coastal countries of Africa. It further called for the conservation of water resources in the member states and the fight against sand and dust storms, as well as scientific and technical cooperation among the Union Member Parliaments, and to strengthen cooperation in the field of environmental protection and the fight against climate change.

AB/IINA

January 19, 2015

Kuwait Red Crescent delivers aid to Syrian refugees in Jordan

Monday 19 Jan 2015 - 12:33 Makkah mean time-28-3-1436

Ajloun (IINA) – Kuwait Red Crescent Society (KRCS) delivered on Sunday relief aid to some 900 Syrian refugee families in the Jordanian town of Ajloun, 76 km north west of the capital Amman, KUNA reported.

Head of the KRCS team Abdullah Al-Nasser told KUNA that the relief aid campaign aimed at assisting Syrian refugees to face the harsh winter season.

The official affirmed that Kuwaitis will continue to aid their Syrian brethren to withstand the continuous suffering they are facing due to the crisis in their country.

A number of Syrian refugees expressed their gratitude for the KRCS's efforts to lessen their plight.

AB/IINA

January 18, 2015

Palestinians throw eggs at Canadian FM for pro-Israel stand

Sunday 18 Jan 2015 - 15:39 Makkah mean time-27-3-1436

Ramallah (IINA) – Palestinian protesters heckled and threw eggs at Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird during a visit to the occupied West Bank on Sunday, denouncing Ottawa’s diplomatic support for Israel, Reuters reported.

Baird was not hit, but one of the eggs smacked onto the roof of his car after a meeting with his Palestinian counterpart at the Foreign Ministry in Ramallah.

Several dozen Palestinian special forces armed with machine guns and riot gear made no effort to confront the egg-throwers among a crowd of about 100 protesters. “You’re not welcome,” the demonstrators shouted at Baird. Canada was among a handful of countries that voted against Palestinians’ successful bid to become a non-member state at the United Nations General Assembly in 2012. This month, Baird called a Palestinian move to join the International Criminal Court “concerning and dangerous.”

Amid bouts of failed peace talks with Israel, Palestinians have opted to confront Israel in international bodies and the conservative government of Prime Minister Stephen Harper has become one of the most outspoken critics of the strategy. In a statement on Sunday, top Palestinian peace negotiator Saeb Erekat demanded an apology from Baird for visiting Israeli officials in occupied East Jerusalem last year. Palestinians seek East Jerusalem, which Israel captured along with the West Bank and Gaza Strip in a 1967 war, as the capital of a future state. Israel regards all of Jerusalem as its capital, a claim that has not won international recognition. “We regret the Canadian government’s decision to stand on the wrong side of history by blindly supporting the Israeli occupation and its apartheid policies,” Erekat said. Most countries deem Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem as illegal. Israel pulled troops and settlers out of the Gaza Strip in 2005.

HA/IINA

Egypt to reopen Rafah crossing for 3 days

Sunday 18 Jan 2015 - 15:05 Makkah mean time-27-3-1436

Cairo (IINA) – The Palestinian Embassy in Cairo announced Sunday that Egypt agreed to reopen the Rafah border crossing with the Gaza Strip for three days, in response to a request by President Mahmoud Abbas, after his recent visit to Egypt.

The Embassy said the Egyptian authorities decided to reopen the crossing, starting from Tuesday to Thursday on both sides for the movement of students and delivery of humanitarian supplies.

In a statement on Sunday, the Embassy expressed sincere appreciation for Egypt’s relentless pursuit to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip.

AB/IINA

ISESCO Director General praises Pope Francis’ stance on denigration of faith

Sunday 18 Jan 2015 - 11:45 Makkah mean time-27-3-1436

Rabat (IINA) - The Director General of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) Dr Abdulaziz Othman Altwaijri, applauded Pope Francis’ stance regarding the denigration of religious beliefs.

Dr Altwaijri noted that Pope Francis’ comments confirm what Muslims always say in this regard that the freedom of expression must be exercised with due respect for the beliefs and dignity of peoples.

At the same time, Dr Altwaijri invited the United Nations to activate the resolution on combating defamation of religions, adopted by the General Assembly in April 2011, in such a way as to maintain international peace and security and prevent provocation and humiliation of believers.

SM/IINA

January 17, 2015

Pope criticizes insulting faith of others

Saturday 17 Jan 2015 - 16:33 Makkah mean time-26-3-1436

Rome (IINA) – Pope Francis said Thursday there are limits to freedom of expression, especially when it insults or ridicules someone's faith.

Francis spoke about the Paris terror attacks while en route to the Philippines, defending free speech as not only a fundamental human right but a duty to speak one's mind for the sake of the common good. But he said there were limits. By way of example, he referred to Alberto Gasparri, who organizes papal trips and was standing by his side aboard the papal plane. "If my good friend Dr. Gasparri says a curse word against my mother, he can expect a punch," Francis said, throwing a pretend punch his way. "It's normal. You cannot provoke. You cannot insult the faith of others. You cannot make fun of the faith of others."

Many people around the world have defended the right of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo to publish inflammatory cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in the wake of the massacre by Al-Qaeda extremists at its Paris offices and subsequent attack on a kosher supermarket in which three gunmen killed 17 people. But recently the Vatican and four prominent French imams issued a joint declaration that denounced the attacks but also urged the media to treat religions with respect. Francis, who has urged Muslim leaders in particular to speak out against Islamic extremism, went a step further when asked by a French journalist about whether there were limits when freedom of expression meets freedom of religion.

Francis insisted that it was an "aberration" to kill in the name of God and said religion can never be used to justify violence. But he said there was a limit to free speech when it concerned offending someone's religious beliefs. "There are so many people who speak badly about religions or other religions, who make fun of them, who make a game out of the religions of others," he said. "They are provocateurs. And what happens to them is what would happen to Dr. Gasparri if he says a curse word against my mother. There is a limit." In the wake of the Paris attacks, the Vatican has sought to downplay reports that it is a potential target for Islamic extremists, saying it is being vigilant but has received no specific threat.

Francis said he was concerned primarily for the faithful, and said he had spoken to Vatican security officials who are taking "prudent and secure measures." "I am worried, but you know I have a defect: a good dose of carelessness. I'm careless about these things," he said. But he admitted that in his prayers, he had asked that if something were to happen to him that "it doesn't hurt, because I'm not very courageous when it comes to pain. I'm very timid." He added, "I'm in God's hands."

HA/IINA

Proposal for Second Makkah Reconciliation Conference on Iraq

Saturday 17 Jan 2015 - 16:29 Makkah mean time-26-3-1436

Baghdad (IINA) – Top Iraqi leaders, including President Fuad Masum, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and Vice President of Osama Nojaifi have welcomed the efforts of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to help reconcile various factions in the country based on the Makkah reconciliation document signed in 2006. During the talks with OIC Secretary General Iyad Madani, they also hailed a proposal to have another meeting in Makkah of various factions to iron out differences and ensure lasting peace in the war-torn country.

Madani met the Iraqi leaders at Salam Palace in Baghdad in the last day of his three-day visit to Iraq on Thursday. Masum said Madani’s visit comes at a time when Iraq is facing attacks by extremists groups. He urged the OIC to seek the help of member countries to tackle the situation, and create an atmosphere of consensus among scholars of different sects. Masum said the OIC can also play an important role in reviewing Iraq’s education system, to ensure that it promotes tolerance and moderation among the country’s youth. Madani promised the OIC would support Iraq. “This visit is aimed at getting the views of the Iraqi leadership on possible solutions to the challenges faced by the Islamic world, including extremism, fundamentalism, sectarian conflicts, and the phenomenon of Islamophobia,” Madani said.

During his visit, Madani met with Iraqi leaders, deputies, religious leaders and prominent provincial leaders. They included Foreign Minister Ibrahim Al-Jaafari, President of Kurdistan Region Masoud Barazani, Parliament Speaker Saleem Al-Jabouri, and top Shiite cleric Ayatollah Ali Sistani. During his meeting with Sistani in Najaf, Madani emphasized that the Muslim world is facing major challenges in the form of inter-sectarian fighting, enthronement of sectarian identities, extremist and fanatical narratives and Islamophobia. These challenges, he said, required a united stand by all Muslims. Sistani underscored the importance of mutual understanding, coexistence and unity among all sections of Iraqi people. He stressed that efforts must be made in this direction and that the OIC had a role to play in bringing about convergence of views among the various constituents of Iraq.

HA/IINA