Arab League chief announces decision not to seek second term

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Monday 29 Feb 2016 - 19:11 Makkah mean time-20-5-1437 Cairo, (IINA) - Arab League Secretary General Nabil Elaraby announced on Sunday that he would not seek a second term as the chief of the pan-Arab body after his current term ends in July, AFP reported. The 80-year-old took over as Arab League chief from fellow Egyptian diplomat Amr Moussa in 2011. He had served as foreign minister in the Egyptian government that came to power after the ouster of longtime President Hosni Mubarak earlier that year. "I have asked the Egyptian government not to think about renewing my mandate," Elaraby told reporters at the organization's headquarters in Cairo, adding that his present tenure would end in early July. Traditionally, the secretary general of Arab League holds the post for two terms, and Cairo has always insisted that an Egyptian diplomat holds it. Since becoming secretary general, Elaraby has had to manage a number of sensitive issues, including the conflicts in Syria, Iraq and Libya, as well as the rise of the ISIS terrorist group. AG/IINA

Singapore, Iran sign agreement to promote bilateral investments

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Monday 29 Feb 2016 - 19:10 Makkah mean time-20-5-1437 Crossed flag pins Iran-Singapore Tehran (IINA) – Singapore and Iran signed an agreement on reciprocal promotion and protection of investments, also known as a Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) to grow bilateral trade and investment, Xinhua reported quoting Singapore's Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI). The treaty was signed here on Monday by Singapore Minister for Trade and Industry S Iswaran and Iranian Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance Dr Ali Tayyebnia, MTI said. The agreement comes at a time of renewed interest from the business community and underscores the commitment by both governments to grow bilateral trade and investment between Singapore and Iran. It will protect investors' interests from both sides and open up more business and investment opportunities, MTI added. "As part of their internationalization strategy, Singapore companies must venture beyond traditional markets to seize opportunities in new and emerging economies like Iran... With the signing of the Bilateral Investment Treaty, we look forward to strengthening bilateral economic ties with our businesses collaborating on opportunities of mutual interest in Iran and other markets," said Iswaran at the signing ceremony. In 2015, Iran was Singapore's 11th largest trading partner out of 18 countries in the Middle East. And since the lifting of sanctions on Iran, Singapore companies have expressed interest in the oil and gas (offshore), petrochemicals, transport, info-communications technology and professional services sectors. AB/IINA

Sudan to continue serving humanitarian aid to South Sudan

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Monday 29 Feb 2016 - 19:08 Makkah mean time-20-5-1437 Khartoum, (IINA) - Sudan announced on Saturday that its humanitarian aid to South Sudan will be extended to next September, Sudan Tribune reported. “The period for delivering humanitarian assistance to South Sudan has been renewed for another six months”, said Salah Al-Sir, Sudan’s Humanitarian Aid Commissioner. According to the agreement between Khartoum and Juba, five convoys carrying 270 tons of food supplies will be dispatched. The commissioner said the food supplies, including corn and cooking oil, would be delivered by land to Renk town on the border with South Sudan. The two sides signed the agreement on delivering humanitarian aid via Sudanese territory into the South in July 2014. In November 2014, Sudan announced the arrival of the first aid convoys to South Sudan with 700 tons of food, enough to support 45,000 people for one month. South Sudan plunged into violence in December 2013, as fighting erupted between the troops loyal to President Salva Kiir Mayardit, and the defectors led by his former deputy Riek Machar. AG/IINA

Saudi Arabia to take in 1,000 Iraqi orphans

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Monday 29 Feb 2016 - 18:36 Makkah mean time-20-5-1437 (Image from Reuters) Riyadh, (IINA) - Saudi Arabia will take care of 1,000 Iraqi children in Kurdistan who lost their parents due to ISIS crimes, Arab News reported citing local media. Saudi Ambassador Thamer Al-Sabhan said that the step was taken following Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman directives in this regard. This assistance comes as an extension of the humanitarian aid the Kingdom provides to Arabs as per the royal directives, he said. “The assistance to the war-affected is a reflection of the humanitarian role of the Kingdom, which is committed to religious, ethical and humanitarian duties”, said the ambassador. He stressed: “Our brothers in Iraq are facing harsh and severe circumstances because of the crimes being committed by terrorist groups in the country. The humanitarian assistance will include all the children of Iraq”. The Kingdom recently sent urgent aid to those affected by the conflict in Anbar province. Saudi Arabia has also pledged $500 million in humanitarian assistance for Iraq to be disbursed through the UN to those in need regardless of sects or ethnicities. The UN said that militant offensives have displaced hundreds of thousands of Iraqis in the country. An estimated 1.2 million Iraqis have been displaced by fighting, including from Anbar and Ninewa governorates, according to the UN Refugee Agency. The International Organization for Migration has called for the creation of humanitarian corridors, warning that tens of thousands of Iraqis displaced by violence are beyond the reach of aid agencies. AG/IINA

Qatar Development Bank launches "SME Ranking Program"

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Monday 29 Feb 2016 - 18:34 Makkah mean time-20-5-1437 Doha, (IINA) - Qatar Development Bank (QDB) announced on Sunday the launch of its “Qatar’s SME Ranking Program” during a press conference that was organized in cooperation with Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry, QNA reported. The conference aims to shed light on Qatar’s SME Ranking Program and on the advantages it will provide to the private sector. CEO of Qatar Development Bank Abdulaziz Al-Khalifa said: “QDB has always been at the forefront when creating new methods to provide support to the SME sector, a main component of diversifying the local economy. This is part of our realization of Qatar’s National Vision 2030”. He added: “At QDB, we aim through this program at helping Qatari young entrepreneurs make the most of this opportunity, and help them market their products in the local market”. Qatar’s SME Ranking Program will also serve as a platform to exchange ideas and discuss best practices in the SME sector, providing a learning opportunity for all. The program will serve as an important platform for SMEs and entrepreneurs to showcase their successes and excellence in running their businesses. On his part, General Director of Qatar Chamber Saleh Al-Sharki noted that the “main goal behind the launch of Qatar’s SME Ranking Program is to motivate SMEs and unleash their hidden potential in order to maximize operational and financial performances”.  “We also think that we will be able to enhance the quality of products and manufactured items to enable it to compete on local, regional, and international levels”, he added. “It is very crucial to focus and support the SME sector in Qatar, for what it represents in the realization of the Qatar National Vision 2030”. “Our vision has always been to support the interests of the private sector and create a network of communications with different private sector organizations, in addition to providing state-of-the-art services to create the sustainable development we seek”, he noted. AG/IINA

Islamic finance set to grow in Russia with new hub in Tatarstan

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Monday 29 Feb 2016 - 18:31 Makkah mean time-20-5-1437 Image from ifilbd Moscow, (IINA) - Islamic finance is drawing more interest in Russia as the country struggles economically and requires fundamentally new approaches to attract investments from abroad, Albawaba Business online news reported. The sector is just beginning to grow in Russia and its perspectives were discussed during the recent Gaidar’s Forum in Moscow, one of the major annual international conferences on economy in Russia. Implementation of Islamic finance in Russia started through the so-called pilot projects in the predominantly Muslim republic of Tatarstan. It has both existing infrastructure and client base. It also has lots to offer to the potential partners from the Arabian Gulf countries. Russia has a native Muslim population of roughly 20 million. As an example, the UK might be a role model for Russia in Islamic finance, as it has issued Islamic bonds. Islamic banking could account for up to 5 percent of the entire financial market in Russia and it could follow the path of neighbouring Kazakhstan that is expecting Islamic finance to constitute 10 per cent of its financial market by 2020. Russia initially planned to introduce Islamic banking during the crisis of 2008, as it started looking for additional resources. However, because of unfamiliarity with Islamic banking rules the Russian bank VTB did not succeed in issuing a planned sukuk in 2009. The current crisis dictates new realities for Russia that excludes possibilities of a swift recovery similar to the post-2008 period and the Russian approach is more structural this time. Tatarstan has nurtured close relations with the Gulf region for years. Delegations from many Gulf countries regularly participate in the international forum of Islamic business and finances ‘Kazan Summit’ in the capital of Tatarstan, Kazan. Several countries have already bankrolled $760 million into ‘Kazan Smart City’, the Tatarstan’s ambitious business hub, as a part of Tatarstan Gulf Investment Company. In fact, the first Islamic bank in Russia is Ak Bars Bank from Tatarstan. It has already attracted a number of investments from the Gulf, including $60 million in 2011 and $100 million in 2013.  The republic has took its first steps into the world of Islamic finance by issuing a sukuk in 2015 for financing a major business centre in the capital of Kazan. The pioneering status was highlighted by an agreement in April 2015 between a Malaysian-Russia consortium and the Tatarstan government during the Kazan Sukuk Conference. The agreement serves as a roadmap for opening of an Islamic bank or Islamic banking windows in the republic. The establishment of Kazan as a centre of Islamic finance in Russia will help expand the sector to other Muslim and non-Muslim regions of the country. If the Tatarstan’s plan succeeds, more regions will follow. Dagestan is the second region in Russia that is undertaking serious efforts to implement Islamic banking and attract investors. It is lagging behind Tatarstan and does not have a clear roadmap yet. However, the local government is already working on implementing similar framework and will largely follow the Tatarstan’s path. SM/IINA

Emir of Qatar, Nigeria's president discuss ways to bolster bilateral relations

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Monday 29 Feb 2016 - 13:43 Makkah mean time-20-5-1437 (Pic: Qatar News Agency) Doha (IINA) – Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani held here on Sunday wide ranging talks with Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, who was on a visit to Qatar. On the Qatari side, the talks were attended by Deputy Emir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al-Thani and a number of ministers, while on the Nigerian side, members of the delegation accompanying President Buhari participated.  Qatar News Agency (QNA) reported that the talks dealt with bilateral relations between the two countries and means to enhance them, in addition to a number of regional and international issues of mutual concern, especially the latest developments in the region. Both leaders witnessed the signing of an agreement between the governments of Qatar and Nigeria on the avoidance of double taxation and prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income, as well as an agreement in the field of air transport. It is worth mentioning that President Buhari arrived in the Qatari capital Doha after concluding a visit to Saudi Arabia Saturday. AB/IINA

Egyptian lawmaker assaults another over meeting with Israeli ambassador

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Monday 29 Feb 2016 - 13:38 Makkah mean time-20-5-1437 Cairo, (IINA) - An Egyptian lawmaker assaulted a fellow parliamentarian on Sunday over the latter's meeting with the Israeli ambassador to Egypt, ABC News reported. State-run MENA news agency stated that the parliament session was adjourned for 10 minutes as the two lawmakers were kicked out. Tawfiq Okasha, a popular TV talk show host and parliament member, had been engulfed in controversy since Thursday when Israeli ambassador Haim Koren posted a picture on the embassy's Facebook page of the two of them meeting Wednesday evening. The parliament formed a committee to look into parliamentarian Kamal Ahmed's assault against Okasha during Sunday's session, according to the parliament's website. However, Ahmed himself was unrepentant, and some parliamentarians were openly supportive of the attack. "I delivered the Egyptian people's message, and Egyptian martyrs, and the Palestinian people's rights, and our historical symbols such as Gamal Abdel Nasser", Ahmed told the YouTube channel Parlamany, which tracks Egyptian parliamentary affairs. "As a parliamentarian and as an Egyptian citizen, I think that Kamal Ahmed's assault will enter history books, and that it represents the Egyptian people's rejection to normalization with Israel", said MP Osama Sharshar in an interview with Parlamany. Egypt has full diplomatic relations with Israel, but directly dealing with Israelis remains deeply taboo in Egyptian society even after the two countries signed the 1979 U.S-sponsored peace treaty. On his part, Okasha said that he met with Koren to serve Egypt's interests. That included a discussion of Ethiopia's under-construction Grand Renaissance Dam. Cairo fears the dam may cut into Egypt's vital share of the Nile waters. "They (Israel) are the ones building the Renaissance Dam, are we fooling ourselves?" Okasha asked, making reference to a widely-believed conspiracy theory that Israel is supporting Ethiopia's dam in an attempt to harm Egypt's interests. Emmanuel Nahshon, a spokesman for the Israeli Foreign Ministry, said the meeting had taken place at Okasha's invitation. "The importance of the meeting was in the fact that it took place", he said. Koren spoke with Israeli Army Radio on Sunday morning before the assault, saying he would meet again with the Okasha if invited, despite the uproar. AG/IINA

Cairo to benefit from Tokyo's experience in tackling traffic congestion

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Monday 29 Feb 2016 - 13:34 Makkah mean time-20-5-1437 Cairo traffic congestion (Image from Internet) Tokyo (IINA) – Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi is looking forward to take advantage of Tokyo City's unique experience in overcoming the traffic and hygiene problems, as well as the application of sophisticated techniques of transport, urban planning, managing local affairs and crisis management mechanisms. Egyptian Presidential Spokesman Ambassador Alaa Youssef stated that during a meeting held here on Monday, Governor of Tokyo Yoichi Masuzoe briefed President el-Sisi on the action taken by the governorate to reduce traffic congestion in Tokyo by 50 percent. Masuzoe expressed willingness to exchange experience and technology with Cairo governorate, which suffers from similar problem in traffic congestion, in addition to the problems of waste and sewage treatment. It is noteworthy that President el-Sisi started a visit to Japan on Sunday, the first by an Egyptian head of state in 16 years as his country seeks to diversify its ties beyond its traditional Western allies. Ayman Mohammed/AB/IINA

Muslims, Jews and Christians gather to talk about gun violence prevention

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Monday 29 Feb 2016 - 13:29 Makkah mean time-20-5-1437 Image from thedenverchannel Boulder, Colorado, (IINA) - People of dozens of different congregations joined together under one roof on Sunday, not to talk about religion, but another oftentimes controversial issue: gun violence, The Denver Channel news reported. Around 100 people met at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Boulder to hear from a group of panelists including experts on suicide, domestic abuse and mental health. The event was planned by Together Colorado’s Boulder County Interfaith Leaders Caucus and Congregation Bonai Shalom’s Working Group on gun violence prevention. Attendees varied from churches of the Jewish, Muslim, Catholic, Christian and other communities. The meeting comes following the recent rise of shootings against law enforcement around the state. A Park County deputy was shot and killed in the line of duty just this past week while serving an eviction notice. SM/IINA

Ten Muslims among 100 most powerful Indians

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Monday 29 Feb 2016 - 13:24 Makkah mean time-20-5-1437 Image from Muslim Mirror New Delhi, (IINA) - Names of ten Muslims figure in the list of 100 most powerful Indians prepared by Indian Express Power List for the year 2016, Muslim Mirror online news reported. Among the 100 people, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hogs the first spot followed by Mohan Bhagwat the chief of the RSS and Amit Shah, BJP Chief. Ravish Kumar, the popular journalist bags the last spot that is 100th. Among the powerful Muslims, Mehbooba Mufti finds the top slot that is 14th spot followed by Ghulam Nabi Azad 28th, Asaduddin Owaisi 59th, Ahmad Patel 67th, Badreddine Ajmal 68th, Aamir Khan 72nd. Azim Premji 77th, Salman Khan 83rd, Sania Mirza 85th and Shahrukh Khan 97th. These Muslims have found their names in the list of powerful people because they have impacted the Indians in their own way. SM/IINA

Malaysia's PM Najib begins Saudi Arabia visit

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Monday 29 Feb 2016 - 13:21 Makkah mean time-20-5-1437 Malaysian PM Najib (Image from Internet) Kuala Lumpur (IINA) – Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak began Monday a four-day working visit to Saudi Arabia, BERNAMA reported. Malaysia's Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Najib will deliver on Tuesday a keynote address on private public partnership at the Jeddah Economic Forum (JEF), which has become a leading hub for leaders, economists and businessmen from around the world to discuss and exchange views on various global key issues. During the visit, the prime minister is expected to hold meetings with Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, Crown Prince Muhammad bin Naif and Deputy Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman. “These meetings would provide the opportunity for both leaders to discuss bilateral and regional issues of common interests,” the statement said. The foreign ministry said the prime minister is also scheduled to visit the Malaysian Armed Forces base at Hafar Al Batin. Accompanying Najib during his visit to the Kingdom, a high-level delegation, including Defense Minister Hishammuddin Hussein, ministers in the Prime Minister's Department Jamil Khir Bin Baharom and Abdul Wahid Omar and other senior government officials. The working visit augurs well for bilateral relations between Malaysia and Saudi Arabia as it will help boost efforts to further enhance and strengthen existing bilateral relations and cooperation between both countries, the statement said. “Malaysia and Saudi Arabia continue to enjoy close relations in various key areas including politics, economy, defense and Hajj affairs,” it added. It may be mentioned here that Saudi Arabia is one of Malaysia’s largest trading partners in the Middle East with imports worth RM7.53 billion (around $1.8 billion) and exports worth RM3.42 billion. AB/IINA

US Governor of Dayton visits Islamic center after burglary

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Monday 29 Feb 2016 - 13:18 Makkah mean time-20-5-1437 Image from minnesota.cbslocal Minneapolis, (IINA) - Governor Mark Dayton and Lieutenant Governor Tina Smith visited the Umatul Islam Center (USC) in south Minneapolis on Sunday morning, CBS Minnesota news reported. Last Wednesday, the center was burglarized and its doors and windows were broken. Gov. Dayton called the act vicious and cowardly. “This is an assault against your right to choose your place of worship. It’s an assault against the right of every Minnesotan to practice their faith as they chose,” Dayton said. Officials with the USC tell CAIR that a white male apparently in his 50s was caught on surveillance video breaking doors and windows in the mosque and stealing equipment and files. The damage estimate is more than $5,000. Wednesday’s vandalism is reportedly the second such incident in the past month. A man who appears to resemble the most recent suspect was allegedly caught on surveillance video trying unsuccessfully to break into the mosque. SM/IINA

UK-based watchdog: 15 killed on first day of Syria truce deal

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Monday 29 Feb 2016 - 12:53 Makkah mean time-20-5-1437 Aleppo, (IINA) - At least 15 people were killed in Syria on Saturday, the first day of a cessation of hostilities agreement between the Assad regime and opposition forces, Anadolu Agency reported citing a UK-based monitoring group. In a statement issued on Sunday, the Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) said it had documented 14 violations by regime forces on the first day of the deal, noting that 15 people were killed, including 13 opposition fighters. According to the SNHR, regime forces backed by Russian warplanes stepped up attacks in the northern Aleppo province ahead of the truce, which came into effect at midnight Friday local time. The watchdog went on to urge the U.S and Russia, both of which helped broker the agreement, to investigate reported agreement breaches. Syria has remained locked in a vicious civil war since early 2011, when the Assad regime cracked down on pro-democracy protests with unexpected ferocity. Since then, the civil war resulted in more than 470,000 casualties and made the country the world’s single largest source of refugees and displaced persons, according to figures from The Syrian Center for Policy Research. AG/IINA

Around 400 people sign letter in support of Madison area Muslim community

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Monday 29 Feb 2016 - 12:51 Makkah mean time-20-5-1437 Image from WKOW 27 Madison City, Wisconsin (IINA) - A group of leaders from many faiths in Madison City, Wisconsin came together at an Islamic center on Sunday to officially deliver an open letter to Muslims in the area, WKOW 27 News station reported. Around 400 people signed the letter to defend their neighbors, after hearing what they call hateful rhetoric towards those who practice Islam. "We wanted to let our Muslim neighbors know that those voices weren't ours, there were other people," says Rev. Brad Brookins, with Mt. Vernon United Church of Christ. "We were standing with them, supporting them against the hateful rhetoric that was coming out." Muslim leaders say they were overwhelmed with the outpouring of support. "Not only as leaders of your institutions, churches, but you went one step beyond that. You actually started mobilizing your community," Masood Akhtar, a Muslim community leader, told those who gathered on Sunday. The religious leaders say they are planning to work together to organize more community events and forums to come together to talk about cultural differences in our neighborhoods. It was another showing of support and solidarity for the Muslim community in Madison. SM/IINA

Marchers in Myanmar demand Suu Kyi not allowed to become president

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Monday 29 Feb 2016 - 12:47 Makkah mean time-20-5-1437 Yangon, (IINA) - Buddhist nationalists in Myanmar have staged demonstration on Sunday calling on authorities not to amend or postpone an article of the constitution, which bars election victor Aung San Suu Kyi from becoming the country’s next president, Anadolu Agency reported. Many Buddhist monks were among the 600-person Myanmar National Affairs Network demonstration, which marched in the former capital city of Yangon. Most of the marchers wore white T-Shirts emblazoned with a bright red 59, and the slogan: “Section 59 of the Constitution is untouchable. It must be protected from national security angle". Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) won the November 8 election by a landslide, securing the position of choosing the new president who will rule Myanmar for the next five years. However, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate is blocked from taking the post under Article 59(f) of the military-draft constitution that many suspect is aimed solely at her, which bars anyone with foreign relatives from becoming president, Suu Kyi’s two sons are British citizens. NLD lawmakers have said they plan to submit a proposal to suspend article 59 (f) to parliament. One of the demonstration's organizers told Anadolu Agency on Sunday that those attending would fight to stop Suu Kyi taking up the position. “We will constantly oppose any effort to postpone or amend the section 59 of the Constitution for an individual person or for an organization”, said Win Ko Ko Lat. “We believe this section of the constitution protects our country from being influenced by foreign countries... We [the nationalist activists] will never accept such effort." The demonstrators urged parliament, which is dominated by Suu Kyi’s party, not to allow any effort to succeed. The banning clause can be suspended if a two-third majority in the parliament voted to the effect. It is noteworthy that NLD holds around 60 percent of the parliament seats while the military holds around 25 percent. According to the army-run Myawaddy newspaper, the military made it clear that it considers any change unconstitutional. “If NLD makes such effort by force, there is probably a military coup”, demonstration organizer Win Ko Ko Lat told Anadolu Agency. Among Sunday's marchers were around a dozen monks from Buddhist nationalist hardline group ‘Ma Ba Tha’, also known as the Organization for the Protection of Race and Religion. However, not all members were in agreement. “I think postponement of 59 (f) is not a big threat to country”, prominent Ma Ba Tha monk Pamaukkha  told Anadolu Agency by phone on Sunday. “Suu Kyi deserves the post. I think there is a way Suu Kyi can be elected as the country’s next president”, he added. Pamaukkha warned, however, that Ma Ba Tha would never allow Suu Kyi to change a set of controversial laws seen to be aimed at the country’s Muslim population. “I want to warn NLD not to touch the 1982 Citizenship Law and four Race and Religion Laws”, he underlined. Under pressure from the Ma Ba Tha, the outgoing government led by President Thein Sein enacted four controversial Race and Religion Protection Laws. The laws were received with outrage by the international community as they are widely viewed as a tool to suppress the country’s minority groups, in particular around one million Muslim Rohingya interned in camps in western Myanmar’s troubled Rakhine state. AG/IINA

Khartoum to host 24th Conference of Arab Judicial Institutes on Tuesday

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Monday 29 Feb 2016 - 12:38 Makkah mean time-20-5-1437 Khartoum (IINA) – Khartoum will hoston March 1-3 the 24th Conference of the Deans and Directors of Arab Judicial Institutes with the participation of representatives from all Arab countries, SUNA reported. At the Institute of Judicial and Legal Sciences, Chief Justice Prof. Haidar Ahmed Dafa'alla and Minister of Justice Dr Awad Al-Hassan Al-Noor were briefed Sunday on the final preparations for convening the conference. The Chief Justice also listened to a report from the Dean of the Institute and the conference competent committees on what has been done so far. Dafa'alla expressed hope that the conference would come out with visions and recommendations conducive to reactivating the cooperation between the judicial institutes in the Arab states. AB/IINA

ISNA headquarters in Plainfield, US vandalized with racial epithets

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Monday 29 Feb 2016 - 12:34 Makkah mean time-20-5-1437 Image from dome.mit.edu Plainfield, Indiana (IINA) - The headquarters of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) in Plainfield was vandalized last Sunday, a spokesperson from the group informed, according to media reports. They have complained about it to the local law enforcement and the FBI as hate crime. The surveillance cameras caught three of the vandals. ISNA Secretary General Hazem Bata said: “Some of our footage from the surveillance camera caught three, what appears to be three young men, three boys committing vandalism. But we don’t know who they are.” Bata expressed his concern about the act and he said that it made the members of the community very scared. He further stated, “that’s the real fear is that members of our community will change their lifestyle because of things like that.” The suspects spray-painted racial epithets on the brick wall of the group's headquarters, where religious services are also held. Members discovered the graffiti after morning prayers on Sunday. The graffiti referenced suicide bombings and the ISIS group, which ISNA has denounced. Faryal Khatri, a spokeswoman for ISNA, said the group planned to hold a news conference on Monday to address the incident. FBI released a statement, which read, “The Indianapolis office of the FBI is aware of the incident in Plainfield, Indiana and are in regular contact with local authorities. If in the course of the investigation, information comes to light of a potential federal civil rights violation, the FBI is prepared to investigate.” FBI said that violence against all major groups has decreased last year except violence against Muslims, stated Southern Poverty Law Center. Violence against Muslim, on the other hand, rose to 14 percent over the previous year. The rise is the obvious consequence of the Paris attack by ISIS group. SM/IINA

Pakistan Ulema Council to come out against terrorism, sectarian violence

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Monday 29 Feb 2016 - 11:58 Makkah mean time-20-5-1437 Image from tribune Lahore, (IINA) -The Pakistan Ulema Council (PUC) has decided to start countrywide campaign to eradicate extremism, terrorism and sectarian violence, The Nation newspaper reported.   Addressing a meeting of PUC Lahore division office bearers on Sunday, Council Chairman Hafiz Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi said that Ulema conventions and seminars would be arranged all over the country from March 10 to May 15 and ‘Ithead-e-Ummat Conferences’ will also be arranged in different cities of the country including Faisalabad, Lahore, Sialkot and Islamabad. Tahir Ashrafi said the conferences will be attended by all segments of society including representatives of different religions and minorities. SM/IINA

Former Beauty Queen of Czechoslovakia Korinkova reverts to Islam

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Monday 29 Feb 2016 - 11:13 Makkah mean time-20-5-1437 Image from siasat Prague, (IINA) - Former Beauty Queen of Democratic Republic of Czechoslovakia Marketa Korinkova embraced Islam in a public announcement in Dubai, The Siasat Daily news reported. Korinkova said that she has decided to embrace Islam and settled down in Dubai relinquishing her native country. She also changed her name as Maryam. She said that the status given to Muslim women in Islam attracted her to accept this faith. She has been thinking of embracing this faith for the past three years. According to a report published in Arab Journal “Al Quds-al-Arabi”, in London, international fame production designer, super-model and film actress, Korinkova surprised her fans by making this announcement. She was elected Miss Universe in a beauty contest held in Italy, after which she gained international fame. Many multinational companies acquired her services for publicizing their products. Very soon, she became the super model. Hollywood also offered her to perform in their films. She also has an advertising company in Prague. A noted company of Dubai, Ali and Sons Group of Companies appointed her as their sales manager. After getting the position of Miss World, she scaled greater heights but she said that despite having everything she was mentally upset. She tested everything to get rid of her internal restlessness. On the advice of one of her friends, she started studying various religions three years back. As a born Christian, she did not find solace in Christianity, and she started studying Islam. Her eyes were then opened. The status Islam has given to women attracted her and she decided to embrace Islam. After spending some time in UAE, she decided to settle down permanently in Dubai. She said that in her childhood she was told that Islam has not given any status to women. When she studied Islam, the truth was exposed that Islam has given a pious position to women whereas the west is playing with women in the name of freedom. She told that she has decided to settle down in Dubai so that she could get more of Islamic teachings. She expressed her feeling that for a long time there was a burden on her heart and she was restless without any reason. When she recited “Kalima”, her restlessness came to an end. She has given up Western garments and started wearing hijab. When she posted her photographs with Hijab, millions of her fans got surprised. They thought that she has posted these pictures of her taking part in Arab fashion show. When she announced that she has embraced Islam and changed her name, their surprise increased. SM/IINA

Daesh acts inhuman, against Islam: Saudi scholars

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Monday 29 Feb 2016 - 11:05 Makkah mean time-20-5-1437 Council of Senior Scholars (SPA) Riyadh, (IINA) - Terrorists who kill innocent people inside mosques and at public places betray their homeland through inhuman acts, the Council of Saudi Senior Scholars has said, Arab News reported. Saudi Arabia’s highest religious body was referring to the Daesh (the so called Islamic State) group, which has been targeting not only innocent people but also their close relatives without mercy. According to the scholars, such people do not listen to any advice and the only way to get rid of them is through execution as prescribed in the Holy Qur’an. In an official statement, the council said that a similar decree (No. 148), issued 28 years ago, allows execution of hardened criminals. It urged members of the public to cooperate with the authorities to report about individuals wanted by the state as part of cooperation in righteousness and piety that eventually protects society. The religious body stressed that in failure to report such people is “a betrayal of the Muslim Ummah and their leadership”. “The council has reiterated several times that Islam, the religion of humanity and compassion, can never be the cause of destruction,” it said. The council said Islam’s objective is the welfare and happiness of humanity. After all, Islam seeks to free the mind from the shackles of oppression and injustice, it said. The council has confirmed that the Daesh terrorist group is merely a gang with anonymous foundation. “Their leadership and their approach are misleading and unIslamic. It is not a state, but a gang, and not Muslims but those who are steeped in ignorance,” it added. SM/IINA

18 attacks thwarted in Turkey this year: Interior minister

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Monday 29 Feb 2016 - 10:57 Makkah mean time-20-5-1437 Turkish Interior Minister Efkan Ala (Image from Internet) Ankara (IINA) – Turkish Interior Minister Efkan Ala said Sunday that 18 attacks have been thwarted in Turkey since the beginning of this year. “As the Interior Ministry and police department, we had already warned all related units to stay alert against a possible (attack),” he said in a statement carried by Anadolu Agency. “In this way, we have thwarted 18 such incidents.” The minister was referring to security measures taken before the Ankara car bomb attack on February 17, that killed 29 people, mostly members of the military. “We have also captured three out of such four vehicles. A suspect was also nabbed and arrested in Istanbul’s Bosphorus area the previous day," he added referring to the explosives-laden car used in the Ankara attack. AB/IINA

UN chief urges all involved in Comoros electoral process to refrain from violence

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Monday 29 Feb 2016 - 10:55 Makkah mean time-20-5-1437 UN chief Ban Ki-moon (UN photo) New York (IINA) – After the release of the provisional results of a state elections in Comoros, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Sunday urged the candidates and all the other actors and institutions involved in the electoral process to play by the rules and refrain from the use of violence. “The Secretary-General is following with concern the developments in Comoros since the publication by the National Independent Electoral Commission (CENI) of the provisional results of the primary elections of the President of the Union of Comoros and the first round of the elections of the Governors of the Islands of Grand Comoros, Anjouan and Mohéli,” said a statement issued by Ban's spokesperson. The UN chief urges the government, the candidates and all the other actors and institutions involved in Comoros electoral process to play by the rules and refrain from the use of violence, the statement added. AB/IINA

Erdogan arrives in Ivory Coast in first leg of West Africa tour

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Monday 29 Feb 2016 - 10:37 Makkah mean time-20-5-1437 Ivorian President Ouattara (R) receives Turkish President Erdogan (Pic: Anadolu Agency) Abidjan (IINA) – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made his first official visit to the Ivory Coast on Sunday, which will give a boost to bilateral ties, Anadolu Agency reported. President Erdogan was received at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Airport in the capital Abidjan by Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara, his wife Dominique Ouattara, Prime Minister Daniel Kablan Duncan and Turkish Ambassador to Ivory Coast Esra Demir. He also greeted 60 other local tribal leaders at the airport. Turkey’s investments in the country reached $150 million in 2015. Both countries now aim to boost trade volume to $1 billion by 2020. Erdogan's ongoing West Africa tour will also include Ghana, Nigeria and Guinea. He toured sub-Saharan Africa with a visit to Senegal last month. AB/IINA

Al-Jubeir: Russia, Assad regime violated ceasefire

Sunday 28 Feb 2016 - 19:33 Makkah mean time-19-5-1437

Riyadh (IINA) - Saudi Arabia on Sunday accused President Bashar al-Assad’s regime and its ally Russia of “ceasefire violations” in Syria.
“There are violations to the ceasefire from Russian and (Syrian) regime aircraft,” Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Jubeir told reporters in Riyadh. “We are discussing this with (the 17-nation) Syria Support Group,” co-chaired by Russia and the United States, said Jubeir, Al Arabiya News reported. The truce in Syria, meanwhile, is mostly holding despite of violations including war planes attacking six towns in the northern Aleppo province early on Sunday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said, a day after a cessation of hostilities agreement took effect. The Syrian opposition accused President Bashar al-Assad’s regime and its allies of breaching the truce 15 times Saturday but said on Sunday that it will stick to the cessation of hostilities.
A spokesman for the High National Committee (HNC) said: “Yesterday was the first day people can really go out and walk in the streets.” But he said HNC will send letters to UN and foreign ministers to complain about the Russian airstrikes around Aleppo and attacks by Hezbollah in Zabadani. The spokesman also said HNC has asked the US for information about how monitoring of truce works but has yet to receive any answer. Meanwhile, the Russian military also said on Sunday that the fragile ceasefire had been breached nine times over the past 24 hours but the truce was mostly holding. “Over the past 24 hours, nine instances of violations of cessation of hostilities have been uncovered,” Lieutenant General Sergei Kuralenko, head of the country’s coordination center in Syria, was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies. “On the whole, the ceasefire regime in Syria is being implemented.”
He said the violations included shelling in the province of Latakia. Earlier, the Observatory which monitors the conflict said the identity of the jets was not clear. “We do not know which planes carried out the strikes and also we are not sure if this is considered a breach to the truce because it is not clear if these towns are included in the truce," the Observatory's director Rami Abdulrahman said. Syria's state media did not mention the strikes. Russia's defense ministry declined to comment.
The cessation of hostilities, agreed as part of a U.S. and Russian plan, does not cover assaults on militants from ISIS or the Nusra Front - an al-Qaeda affiliate that has called for an escalation of attacks on Friday. Abdulrahman said some of the towns which were attacked, including Daret Azza, were controlled by Nusra Front and other Islamist groups. Other attacks hit the villages and towns of Qabtan al-Jabal, Andan, Hreitan, Kfar Hamra and Ma'aret al-Arteek, the Observatory said, all in the west of the province where insurgents from the Free Syrian Army, who are covered by the truce, have operated. Two videos sent by a rebel commander to Reuters shows a strike in another town, Harbnafseh, at 6.30 a.m. (0430 GMT) and another at 07:00 a.m. (0500 GMT) according to the voice in the video. The footage shows plumes of smoke rising into the sky.
Russia said on Saturday that it would suspend all flights over Syria for one day to ensure no targets covered by the truce were hit by mistake.
Guns had mostly fell silent in Syria and Russian air raids stopped on Saturday, the first day of a cessation of hostilities that the United Nations has described as the best hope for peace in five years of civil war. Under the U.S.-Russian accord accepted by President Bashar al-Assad's government and many of his foes, fighting should cease so aid can reach civilians and talks can open to end a war that has killed more than 250,000 people and made 11 million homeless.
Russia, which says it intends to continue strikes against areas held by Islamist fighters that are not covered by the truce, said it would suspend all flights over Syria for the first day to ensure no wrong targets were hit by mistake. The truce seemed largely to be holding, though rebels reported what they described as occasional government violations, and one commander warned that unchecked, the breaches could lead to the agreement's collapse. Jaish al-Nasr, a group affiliated to the Free Syrian Army (FSA) which has backed the truce, said government forces had fired mortars, rockets and machine guns in Hama province and that warplanes had been constantly present in the sky. "Compared to the previous days it is nothing, but we consider that they broke the truce," Mohamed Rasheed, head of the group's media office, told Reuters.
Another FSA-affiliated group, Alwiyat Seif al Sham, said two of its fighters had been killed and four more wounded when government tanks shelled them in rural areas west of Damascus. A Syrian military source denied the army was violating the truce agreement. State media described rocket attacks near Damascus and several deadly attacks by ISIS. But overall the level of violence was far reduced. "Let's pray that this works because frankly this is the best opportunity we can imagine the Syrian people has had for the last five years in order to see something better and hopefully something related to peace," U.N. Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura said at a midnight news conference in Geneva. "I think that the feeling that we have today is that the situation is very different but of course every day has to be monitored," he said.
The agreement is the first of its kind to be attempted in four years and, if it holds, would be the most successful truce of the war so far. De Mistura said he intends to restart peace talks on March 7, provided the halt in fighting largely holds. But there are weak spots in a fragile deal which has not been directly signed by the Syrian warring parties and is less binding than a formal ceasefire. Importantly, it does not cover powerful jihadist groups such as ISIS and the Nusra Front, al Qaeda's branch in Syria. ISIS claimed responsibility for a suicide car bomb in Hama province. Nusra has called for redoubled attacks. Moscow and Damascus say they will continue to fight them, and other rebels say they fear this stance may be used to justify attacks against them too. The truce is the culmination of new diplomatic efforts that reflect a battlefield dramatically changed since Russia joined the war in September with air strikes to prop up Assad. Moscow's intervention effectively destroyed the hope his enemies have maintained for five years -- encouraged by Arab and Western states -- to topple him by force.
HA/IINA

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​Rowhani allies win all Tehran parliament seats

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Sunday 28 Feb 2016 - 19:32 Makkah mean time-19-5-1437 Tehran (IINA) - Iranian President Hassan Rowhani's allies have won all of the capital’s 30 seats in parliament, with 90 percent of votes counted from last week’s election, state television reported on Sunday. The pro-Rowhani List of Hope, led by reformist Mohammad Reza Aref, a former vice president, knocked the number one conservative candidate, Gholam-Ali Hadad Adel, into 31st place, sealing a whitewash, according to the preliminary results. The tally showed Hadad Adel more than 6,000 votes behind the candidate in 30th place with the remaining 10 percent of ballots to be counted. The results were based on around 2.6 million votes from a total of 2,900,000 in the capital, a key battleground. Should the results be confirmed, it would also mean that all eight women on the List of Hope would be elected, news agencies reported. A total of 290 seats were up for grabs in Friday's election. In the 260 seats in the provinces, the president's allies fared less well. Out of the 56 constituencies outside the capital, 19 went to the main list of conservatives, nine to the pro-Rouhani list and 14 to independent candidates. Of the independents, six had ties to conservatives, five to reformists and three were undeclared. None of the remaining 14 seats had a clear winner, meaning a second round of voting will be needed, which is not expected until April or May. HA/IINA

​Death toll rises to 24 in Baghdad blast

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Sunday 28 Feb 2016 - 19:31 Makkah mean time-19-5-1437 Baghdad  (IINA) - The death toll from two suicide blasts in Baghdad’s mainly Shiite district of Sadr City rose to 24 with more than 60 others wounded, police and medical sources said on Sunday. Two police sources said the assailants were suicide bombers riding motorcycles through a crowded mobile phone market. They said police had sealed off the area to prevent further attacks. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the blasts, but Islamic State militants regularly claim attacks on Shiite targets in the capital and said they had attacked Iraqi security forces in the western outskirts overnight. HA/IINA

OIC chief condemns terrorist attack on hotel in Mogadishu

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Sunday 28 Feb 2016 - 17:38 Makkah mean time-19-5-1437 OIC Secretary General Iyad Ameen Madani Jeddah, (IINA) - The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) strongly condemned the terrorist attack on Friday on a hotel close to the presidential palace in Mogadishu, the Somali capital. In a statement issued on Sunday, OIC Secretary General Iyad Ameen Madani expressed dismay at the cowardly attack, which claimed the lives of nine innocent people and the five terrorist attackers believed to be Al-Shabab militants. He denounced the act as a negation of all human values with the intent to hold back the progress being witnessed in Somalia. He conveyed his deep sympathy to the families of the deceased as well as the government of Somalia and prayed for the quick recovery of those injured. The secretary general appealed to the militants to abandon their futile approach to impose a reign of terror on Somalia and instead join the peace building process. The chief also reaffirmed the determination of the OIC to continue to support and contribute to the stabilization of the country. SM/IINA

Healthy lifestyle choices can help beat the effects of dementia in later life: Health officials

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Sunday 28 Feb 2016 - 17:35 Makkah mean time-19-5-1437 Wales, (IINA) - Making healthy lifestyle choices now can help beat the effects of dementia in later life, according to senior health officials. The Welsh government has released guidance urging people to undertake six simple steps believed to reduce the risk of developing the disease by up to 60 percent, Mail Online health news reported. It calls on the public to be more active, regularly check their health, avoid smoking, drink sensible amounts of alcohol, watch their weight and try new things to stay mentally alert. The initiative was launched after a new survey revealed that 48 percent of people believe nothing can be done to stave off the risk of developing the disease. But health chiefs say evidence shows that maintaining a healthier lifestyle can reduce the risk. Welsh Health and Social Services Minister Mark Drakeford said: 'The risk of dementia increases with age and as more people are living longer, the number of people developing dementia will grow. 'You are never too young to take some simple steps to improve both your physical and mental health as you age and hopefully reduce your risk of dementia and other diseases.' The Welsh government is investing an extra £30million in mental health for elderly people, which will include new support for dementia. The new survey found that 76 percent of people in Wales are worried about developing dementia later in life, and 60 percent think if someone in their family has dementia, they will develop it too. In addition, half of respondents said they knew less about dementia than other serious conditions such as cancer, heart disease and strokes. It comes after another study suggested that teenagers who stay at school until at least the age of 18 are more likely to stave off the effects of dementia in later life. Keeping the brain active in middle age with crosswords and challenging reading can also reduce the risk of developing disease, according to scientists from the Mayo Clinic, in Rochester, Minnesota. However, this is only true for the 20 percent of Britons who carry the gene, known as APoE4, which increases the chances of Alzheimer's. For the rest of the population, education and lifelong learning appears to have little or no effect on whether an individual will develop the disease. SM/IINA

CAIR holds second “Muslim Day” at Capitol in Oklahoma

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Sunday 28 Feb 2016 - 13:19 Makkah mean time-19-5-1437 Oklahoma Muslims listen to the National Anthem in the rotunda of the State Capitol building in Oklahoma City, during “Muslim Day at the Capitol,” on Friday. Image from The Oklahoman via AP Oklahoma, (IINA) - The Oklahoma chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) held its second Muslim Day at the Capitol, where an estimated 200 Muslims discussed religious policy, law enforcement issues and political advocacy with at least eight lawmakers, The Philadelphia Tribune online news reported. The advocacy group and Oklahoma lawmakers welcomed the group of Muslims at the state Capitol on Friday. “We wanted to bring people to the Capitol here today to show them this is your state Capitol building; this is where government happens,” said Anna Facci, operations and events coordinator for CAIR. The group paused for prayer throughout the day and heard messages from Jewish, Christian and Muslim faith leaders. Outside the Capitol, protesters held signs disparaging Islam and shouted down its supporters. The Interfaith Alliance of Oklahoma and the Oklahoma Conference of Churches drew more than 60 people to welcome Muslims as they passed the protesters. William Tabbernee, executive director for the Oklahoma Conference of Churches, looked on and shook his head. It made him sad, he said, to see the protesters tell Muslims they weren’t welcome to participate in public discourse. “Muslims have the right, as everybody else has the right, to exercise their political and civic duties, and to learn about what the Legislature is doing,” Tabbernee said. Several of the anti-Islam protesters were street preachers who came from out of state, said Jim Gilles, a protester from Evansville, Indiana. A group of them planned to hold anti-Muslim signs outside the Donald Trump presidential rally later that day in Oklahoma City, he said. “It’s sad to see Americans supporting that which would destroy their lives,” Gilles said of Islam as interfaith supporters sang “God Bless America” a few feet away. After a call to prayer, Imam John Ederer of the Islamic Society of Tulsa defended Islam from attacks. “We were intended to be different and that will enable us to learn from each other,” Ederer said. “The more humble we are in recognizing God’s beauty in each other, the more godly we become.” SM/IINA

Islamic society of North America hosts conference on social justice, Islamophobia

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Sunday 28 Feb 2016 - 13:16 Makkah mean time-19-5-1437 Alen Kajtezovic, center, traveled to St. Louis to attend the conference with a group of young people from the Waterloo, Iowa, Islamic center. Image from St. Louis Public Radio St. Louis County, Missouri (IINA) - The Islamic Society of North America hosted on Saturday a conference on social justice with a focus on Islamophobia in west St. Louis County, St. Louis Public Radio reported. Two of the conference sessions focused on ways to deal with anti-Muslim sentiments, known as Islamophobia. Islamic leaders in December said St. Louis had seen a surge in anti-Muslim sentiment.  Ghazala Hayat of the Islamic Foundation of Greater St. Louis said Saturday that it’s too soon to say whether much has changed. “I’m very hopeful that after the election year is over that this will die down but it also depends on the results of the election, where we stand,” Hayat said, adding that many St. Louisans have also shown their support by sending cards and well wishes to her organization. While Donald Trump’s pathway to the Republican nomination for president continues to strengthen, some Muslim Americans in St. Louis say they’re more concerned about the people who support him. “We’re not so much worried about the candidates themselves but it’s the followers who take their lack of education, their words, and put that into action, into harmful acts and could eventually become something like a shooting in one of our Islamic Centers or a convention like this,” said Alen Kajtezovic, who traveled to St. Louis from Waterloo, Iowa, with a group of young people from his Islamic center. Azhar Azeez, president of the Islamic Society of North America, said that while a faction of people is working to demonize Muslims he is optimistic that those efforts can be overcome. He extended that analogy to anti-Muslim rhetoric spoken on the campaign trail. “I personally believe that no one single party, no one single individual can shake the fabric of this nation. Because the values, the ideals of this nation are very deeply rooted,” Azeez said. “I believe our biggest enemy is ignorance. And ignorance leads to prejudice. So if we are going to educate people about who we are then definitely we are going to be able to eliminate this challenge (of anti-Muslim sentiment).” Azeez and local Islamic leaders are encouraging Muslim Americans to get more involved in the political process to make sure their vote and voice is heard. “If we are on the school boards, if we are on the national level committees, they will hear and then if somebody is making some decision which are anti-Muslim or for that purpose any other group anti, we will be able to speak up and say you know this is not acceptable,” said Hayat. The Islamic Society of North America has set a goal of registering a million Muslim Americans to vote this year. The Islamic Foundation of Greater St. Louis estimates that about 100,000 Muslims live in the St. Louis area. SM/IINA

Military veterans in Boston hold rally in support of Muslims

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Sunday 28 Feb 2016 - 13:13 Makkah mean time-19-5-1437 Gilane Shaker, left, of the Islamic Society of Boston Cultural Center served food to US Navy veteran David Bonner during a gathering in Boston on Saturday. Image from The Boston Glob Boston, (IINA) - Local antiwar military veterans gathered outside New England’s largest mosque in Boston on Saturday to show support for Muslims amid growing anti-Muslim sentiments that some believe have been stoked by the inflammatory tone of the presidential race, The Boston Glob news reported. The rally at the Islamic Society of Boston Cultural Center in Roxbury was organized by the Smedley D. Butler Brigade of Veterans for Peace and drew about 200 people. “When you listen to what’s going on in presidential politics there is a lot of misinformation and some people are really misrepresenting what this religion is,” said Bob Funke, a US Army veteran and coordinator for the local veterans group. “They’re using it as a wedge issue and they’re scaring people. It’s the politics of fear.” Members of the mosque said they were touched by the support. “Some of the veterans know Muslims and they saw them as good people,” said Tina Serir Abdallah, 38, of Everett. “There’s 1.7 billion Muslims worldwide and the majority of us live in peace.” SM/IINA

CAIR-Cleveland hosts Muslim community meeting on bias-free policing

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Sunday 28 Feb 2016 - 13:06 Makkah mean time-19-5-1437 Cleveland City, Ohio (IINA) - Dozens of people participated recently in a forum on bias-free policing held in co-coordination with the Bias-Free Policing Work Group of the Cleveland Community Police Commission at the Ohio center of American Civil Liberaties Union. The event was organized jointly by the Cleveland chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Cleveland) and Muslim groups in the locality, CAIR reported. The meeting was intended to give the Muslim community a chance to provide input into the set of recommendations on bias-free policing currently being drafted by the Community Police Commission. The Commission’s final recommendations on bias-free policing are due to be presented to the City of Cleveland by March 7. The Community Police Commission was established as part of the DOJ mandated reforms outlined in a sweeping 105-page long consent decree which was entered into by the City of Cleveland and the Department of Justice in May 2015 to resolve issues stemming from a lengthy investigation by the DOJ into the Cleveland Division of Police after the killing of two unarmed African Americans who were shot 137 times by police after a high speed chase involving more than 60 police cars. The DOJ investigation found that the Cleveland Division of Police has for years engaged in a pattern and practice of unconstitutional policing. “The goal of the meeting was to provide a forum for members of the Muslim community to express their concerns and provide specific recommendations to help improve police-community relations and to ensure the bias-free delivery of police services to all members of the public, including the Muslim community,” said Dr. Ahmad Banna, president of CAIR-Cleveland. The forum, which was facilitated by former Lieutenant Governor of Ohio Lee Fisher, touched on a variety of issues such as the history of policing in the Black community, the marginalization of the Muslim community by law enforcement elites; police misconduct and accountability; issues with the police unions and arbitration; Islamophobia and biased training; racial and religious profiling; unlawful surveillance and ethnic mapping of communities of color; language access issues; civil rights issues related to the hijab (Islamic head covering) for Muslim women; implicit bias and cultural training; community outreach and engagement strategies and other issues. Representatives of area mosques and Muslim groups were present, including: First Cleveland Mosque; Uqbah Mosque Foundation; Masjid Rasoul Allah; Masjid Bilal; Masjid Mumin; the Islamic Center of Cleveland; Peace in the Hood; the Task Force for Community Mobilization; the Greater Cleveland Shura Council and others. Dozens of civil rights activists and police accountability activists also attended in support. SM/IINA

OIC cosponsors CAR intra-Muslim dialogue conference at KAICIID

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Sunday 28 Feb 2016 - 12:45 Makkah mean time-19-5-1437 Jeddah, (IINA) - The General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation cosponsored and supported the Central African Republic intra-Muslim dialogue and capacity building conference, hosted by King Abdullah International Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue (KAICIID) in Vienna on February 25-26. KAICIID, network for religious and traditional peacemakers, OIC and forum for promoting peace in Muslim societies have collaborated in organizing this action-oriented conference to provide a space for the Muslim community of the Central African Republic (CAR)  to unify their voices and find ways to enhance the community’s capacity to fully and equally participate in the processes of national reconciliation and promotion of social cohesion in CAR. The Conference brought together religious leaders as well as women and youth leaders from CAR Muslim community. CAR Minister for National Reconciliation Lydie Florence N'Douba, Ambassador David Saperstein, U.S. ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom Arsalan Suleman, U.S. Special Envoy to the OIC, as well as CAR Christian leaders Archbishop Nzapalainga and Rev. Guerekoyame have attended the event as observers. SM/IINA

Minnesota Muslims voice concern over vandalism at Minneapolis Mosque

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Sunday 28 Feb 2016 - 12:27 Makkah mean time-19-5-1437 Council on American-Islamic Relations Minneapolis City, Minnesota, (IINA) - Members of the Muslim community in Minnesota have deep concern that vandalism targeting a Minneapolis mosque during Wednesday night could be preplanned, the Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MN) said  in a statement on Friday. Officials with the Umatul Islam Center told CAIR that a white man apparently in his 50s was caught on surveillance video breaking doors and windows in the mosque and stealing equipment and files. The damage estimated is more than $5,000. Wednesday’s vandalism is reportedly the second such incident within one month. A man who appears to resemble the most recent suspect was allegedly caught on surveillance video trying unsuccessfully to break into the mosque. "Our community is concerned about the possible motive for this incident,” said CAIR-MN Director Jaylani Hussein. “We urge law enforcement authorities to do their utmost to bring the perpetrator to justice and thereby help alleviate community's concerns.” SM/IINA

Canadian Muslims to host three different open houses in Brampton

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Sunday 28 Feb 2016 - 12:12 Makkah mean time-19-5-1437 Image from ctvnews Brampton, Canada (IINA) - In support of its new national campaign to counter hate crimes against Muslims, the Muslim Jama'at Canada is hosting three different open houses in Brampton next week, Brampton Guardian online news reported. The purpose of the open houses is to condemn terrorist attacks all around the world, denounce activities of extremist group such as ISIS or Taliban and counter all forms of hate crimes against Muslims, the group said. Following terrorist attacks in Paris last November, Muslim Jama'at launched a Canada-wide campaign titled Demystify Islam (#DemystifyIslam). The campaign was geared towards holding 135 open houses at 50 locations across Canada to spread peace, demystify Islam and create religious harmony. Due to positive response, the campaign expanded the number of open houses from 135 to 250. Events in Brampton will take place on March 6 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. SM/IINA

Syria fighting largely halts as ceasefire begins

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Saturday 27 Feb 2016 - 14:32 Makkah mean time-18-5-1437 Beirut IINA) – Fighting appeared to stop across most areas of western Syria on Saturday after a landmark "cessation of hostilities" came into effect under a U.S.-Russian plan which warring sides in the five-year conflict have accepted, Reuters reported. If the temporary halt in fighting holds, it will mark the first time world powers have been able to negotiate a pause in the civil war. Under the fragile agreement, Syria's government and its enemies are expected to cease fighting so aid can reach civilians and peace talks can resume. A monitoring group and the United Nations reported only isolated fire in western Syria after the temporary ceasefire began at midnight on Saturday. The United Nations said it expected breaches in the temporary truce and urged restraint in curbing any new outbreaks of fighting. “Let's pray that this works because frankly this is the best opportunity we can imagine the Syrian people has had for the last five years in order to see something better and hopefully something related to peace," said U.N. Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura. Damascus and its ally Russia, as well as a range of insurgent groups fighting against them, have said they would take part in the plan. The temporary truce does not apply to ISIS and al-Qaeda affiliate the Nusra Front, and the Syrian government and Moscow have said they will not halt combat against those militants. Other rebels seen as moderates by the West say they fear this will be used to justify attacks on them. Nusra Front, one of Syria's most powerful Islamist rebel groups, on Friday urged insurgents to intensify their attacks on President Bashar al-Assad and his allies, adding to dangers facing the agreement. Fighting raged across much of western Syria right up until the cessation came into effect, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. There was calm in many parts of the country shortly after midnight, it said. "In Damascus and its countryside ... for the first time in years, calm prevails," Observatory director Rami Abdulrahman said. "In Latakia, calm, and at the Hmeimim air base there is no plane activity," he said, referring to the Latakia base where Russia's warplanes operate. Some gunfire had been heard shortly after midnight in the northern city of Aleppo, and there were some blasts heard in northern Homs province, but it was not clear what had caused them, Abdulrahman said. The United Nations unanimously demanded late on Friday that all parties to the conflict comply with terms of the plan as part of efforts to end a war that has killed more than 250,000 people and driven 11 million from their homes. De Mistura said he intends to restart peace talks on March 7, provided the halt in fighting largely holds. On Friday, at least 40 government soldiers and allied fighters and 18 insurgents were killed in battles and air strikes in Latakia province, the Observatory reported. Six people were also killed in an air raid in western Aleppo province in the hours before the halt, it said. Near Damascus, dozens of air raids hit the besieged suburb of Daraya. Rescue workers said at least five people were killed in Douma, northeast of the capital. Russian President Vladimir Putin stressed on Friday that combat actions against ISIS, the Nusra Front and other groups the Syrian government regards as terrorists would continue. The United States said it was time for Russia to show it was serious about halting fighting by honoring a commitment not to strike Syrian groups that are part of the moderate opposition. HA/IINA

Saudi Arabia tightens noose around Hezbollah

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Saturday 27 Feb 2016 - 14:31 Makkah mean time-18-5-1437 Riyadh (IINA) – Saudi Arabia on Friday blacklisted four companies and three Lebanese men for having links to Lebanese Shiite militant group Hezbollah, a close ally of Riyadh’s arch regional adversary Iran. “The Kingdom will continue its fight against the terrorist activities of the so-called Hezbollah with all available means,” the Interior Ministry said in a statement carried by the state news agency SPA. Saudi Arabia last week suspended aid worth $3 billion to the Lebanese army over the Beirut government’s failure to sign up to statements condemning attacks on Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran.The ministry identified the four companies as Vatech SARL, Le-Hua Electronics Field Co. Limited, Aero Skyone Co. Limited and Labico SAL Offshore, and the men as Fadi Hussein Serhan, Adel Mohamad Cherri and Ali Zeaiter.The statement did not elaborate. It was not known what effect Riyadh’s blacklisting had on the companies’ activities or whether they had business in the Kingdom. Last year, the US Treasury Department sanctioned the same firms and men as “Hezbollah procurement agents…responsible for providing material support to enhance the group’s military and terrorist capabilities”. This week, Saudi Arabia called on its citizens not to travel to Lebanon for safety reasons and ordered those staying there to leave. Its Gulf allies Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar predictably followed suit, issuing similar warnings. The United Arab Emirates also banned its citizens from traveling to Lebanon and withdrew a number of diplomats from the country. Lebanon’s political elite is deeply divided between two powerful Saudi and Iran-backed coalitions. The spat has exacerbated divisions among Lebanon’s notoriously fractious politicians, who traded accusations over the billions of dollars lost. Lebanon has been without a president since May 2014 and parliament has failed to elect a new head of state because of lack of a quorum. Concerns have been sparked that further steps could be taken by Saudi Arabia and its neighbors, such as Gulf airlines halting flights to Beirut or the eviction of thousands of Lebanese who work in the oil-rich region, a move that would have a devastating effect on Lebanon’s crumbling economy. There are some half a million Lebanese living in the Gulf. They transfer billions of dollars to their home country in remittances, giving a boost to Lebanon’s economy, which has among the highest debt in the world — currently standing at $70 billion or 145 per cent of GDP. Lebanese economist Louis Hobeika said the eviction of Lebanese migrant workers in the Gulf would be the most damaging move Saudi could make. Yet, he suggested that such retaliation would be mutually harmful. “Lebanese hold key positions in companies and it is not very easy to replace him,” he said. Media reports in Beirut say some worried citizens were changing their accounts in Lebanese pounds to US dollars but officials say people should not worry about the pound since the Central Bank can defend it with its $40 billion foreign currency reserves. Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh told the daily Al-Akhbar that “markets did not show any fears and were very normal this week.” HA/IINA

​Haramain train test run in Jeddah mid-year

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Saturday 27 Feb 2016 - 14:30 Makkah mean time-18-5-1437 Jeddah (IINA) - The Haramain High Speed Train, which is currently undergoing test runs between Madinah and Rabigh, will begin its trial run from the main station in Jeddah mid-year, according to informed sources. The sources said work in the second stage of the project, which is being implemented by 12 Spanish companies, is going on smoothly and has been 90 percent completed. They said the companies are currently installing electricity posts, extending underground cables, making train cushions and laying down rails on the suspended bridges which are 24 meters high and have combined lengths of 2,500 meters. There are two bridges connecting the train’s station at King Abdulaziz International Airport with the railway track coming from Madinah and going to Al-Sulaimania station in Jeddah. On its way from Jeddah to Makkah, the train will pass through a bridge which is 1,500 meters long and 15 meters high. A new bridge, which is 70 meters wide, is currently being built. It will be the widest train bridge in the world. The 447-meter track passes through a number of cities and towns. The train runs between Makkah and Madinah, passing through Jeddah and Rabigh crossing wide suburban areas and farms. With the end of the first phase of the project, 429 km of rails have been built and handed over to the contractor who began the second stage extending from Madinah to the crossing on the Expressway leading to the Haj terminal in Jeddah. The train is expected to be fully operational in 2017. When it enters service, the number of buses transporting pilgrims will be remarkably reduced. They will only be used to take pilgrims from railway stations in Makkah and Madinah to their accommodation. The High Speed Train will be linked to the Makkah metro to provide pilgrims with easy and fast transportation to the Holy Sites. As many as 12 carriages are being used now in the ongoing test runs between Madinah and King Abdullah Economic City in Rabigh. A number of young Saudi men who were trained in Spain will be operating the train. HA/IINA