Evening NEWS DIGEST
05 March.2017: 05 Jamadiul Akhir 1438:Vol:8, No:133
INDIA
Now Sikh man shot at in US; attacker yelled 'go back to your own country'
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/nri/us-canada-news/sikh-man-shot-at-in-the-us-attacker-shouter-go-back-to-your-own-country/articleshow/57473102.cms
New York: A 39-year-old Sikh man in US has been shot and wounded outside his home by a partially - masked gunman who shouted "go back to your own country", in a suspected hate crime incident that comes just days after an Indian engineer was killed in Kansas. Sikh man, identified as US national Deep Rai by Indian officials in New Delhi, was working on his vehicle outside his home in Kent,Washington, on Friday when he was approached by a stranger, who walked up to his driveway.Kent police said an argument broke out between the two men, with Rai saying the suspect made statements to the effect of"go back to your own country". The unidentified man then shot him in the arm. The victim described the shooter as a 6-foot-tall white man, wearing a mask covering the lower half of his face. Kent police are looking for the gunman.Kent Police Chief Ken Thomas said while the Sikh man sustained "non life-threatening injuries",they are treating this as a "very serious incident".Authorities are investigating the shooting as a suspected hate crime, according to the Seattle Times.It comes close on the heels of the tragic hate crime shooting in Kansas last month in which 32-year-old Indian engineer Srinivas Kuchibhotla was killed when US Navy veteran Adam Purinton opened fire at him and his friend Alok Madasani, yelling "get out of my country". Earlier this week, Indian-origin convenience store owner Harnish Patel, 43, of Lancaster in South Carolina was found dead of gunshot wounds in his yard. However, police said in Patel's killing his Indian ethnicity does not appear to be a factor.Jasmit Singh, a leader of the Sikh community in Renton, said that men from his community have reported a rise in incidents of verbal abuse, "a kind of prejudice, a kind of xenophobia that is nothing that we've seen in the recent past."He said the number of incidents targeting members of the Sikh religion, are reminiscent of the aftermath of Sept.11 attacks."But at that time, it felt like the (presidential) administration was actively working to allay those fears," Jasmit Singh said, adding that "now it's a very different dimension."PTI
Kuchibhotla murder, racial slurs: ‘Hate crimes’ against Indians in US
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/sikh-man-shot-third-attack-in-two-weeks-hate-crimes-against-indians-in-us/story-3HWqflKF1gsSawg5xVqWPN.html
Jamaat-e-Islami Hind condemns racial killing of Srinivas, vandalism at Jewish cemeteries
http://www.indiatomorrow.net/eng/indias-leading-muslim-body-condemns-racial-killing-of-srinivas-vandalism-at-jewish-cemeteries
New Delhi:Jamaat-e-Islami Hind has strongly condemned the racial killing of Indian engineer Srinivas Kuchibhotla and incidents of vandalism at some Jewish cemeteries in the United States.Top leaders of Jamaat on Saturday expressed their "deep concerns at the rise in hate crimes in the United States which has for long been known as a plural and tolerant society."Addressing their monthly press conference, Jamaat's national president Maulana Syed Jalaluddin Umari linked the sudden rise in racial crimes in America with the hateful speeches of Donald Trump during his presidential election campaign last year."The hate campaign launched by President Donald Trump in his election campaign last year is now resulting in many hate crimes including this fatal attack on Indian engineer Srinivas Kuchibhotla in Kansas City on 22nd Feb," said Maulana Umari who was accompanied by Jamaat's Vice President Nusrat Ali and Secretary General Mohammad Salim Engineer."Jamaat expresses its condolences to the bereaved family and stands with them in this hour of grief. Jamaat also demands that the Indian government should provide all support and assistance to the family of the deceased engineer," said Maulana Umari. He also condemned attacks on Jewish cemeteries."Reports about Jewish cemeteries being vandalized there are also very disturbing. Jamaat-e-Islami Hind demands that the US government must check and put an end to the rising hate crimes and racial attacks in America." Jamaat also denounced Trump's immigration ban order for certain Muslim countries. "Jamaat is of the opinion that the recent executive order of President Trump imposing a blanket ban on immigrants from seven Muslim-majority nations runs contrary to the idea of America itself. It will further increase mutual hatred among communities in the world. The US government must review and roll back their immigration ban order," he said. indiatomorrow
Jamaat condemns "hateful and divisive statements" of PM Modi
Jamaat-e-Islami Hind leader criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his "hateful and divisive statements" during the ongoing election campaigns in UP. "Jamaat-e-Islami Hind condemns the hateful and divisive statements given by some political leaders including Prime Minister and his colleagues during the ongoing Assembly elections in 5 states of the country. These polarising statements have damaged our democratic ethos and hurt the dignity of their posts. It has also sullied the image of the country in the world.""In their brazen attempt to divide the electorate along communal lines, issues like Qabristan-Shamshan and Ramazan-Diwali have been invoked with sole intention of reaping political dividends. This is very dangerous for our democratic polity and will take our multi-cultural and pluralist nation to the path of communal hatred and xenophobia," said Jamaat.IndiaTomorrow
Jamaat condemns racial killing, vandalism at Jewish cemeteries in US: the Indian Awaaz
http://theindianawaaz.com/jamaat-condemns-racial-killing-vandalism-at-jewish-cemeteries-in-us/
Centre should talk to US on hate crimes against Indians: Kharge
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/centre-should-talk-to-us-on-hate-crimes-against-indians-mallikarjun-kharge-4555594/
Kalburgi:Centre should immediately talk to US President Donald Trump to stop growing number of alleged hate crime incidents against the Indian community in that country, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said today. “Central government should immediately speak to American President and take steps to stop such things, or else this may lead to international crisis in the days to come,” he told reporters here, when asked about the attack on 39-year-old Sikh-American Deep Rai.PTI
US ignores top Indian officials, puts priority H-1B visas on hold
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/57474361.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst
Washington: Trump administration has temporarily suspended the expedited premium processing of H1B visas as part of its squeeze on what it said is an overloaded guest worker program. The suspension came even as New Delhi pressed, without success, for a fair and rational approach on the matter from a trade and business perspective. By paying an additional $1,225 premium, companies can have an H-1B application processed within 15 days, whereas a standard process takes three to six months. The administration's decision was announced just hours after top Indian mandarins, Foreign Secretary S.Jaishankar and Commerce Secretary Rita Teotia, had urged Trump cabinet officials and lawmakers to view the H1-B visa issue as trade and services matter,and not an immigration one. economictimes
Suspension on expedited H-1B visa to affect IT companies: Nasscom
http://profit.ndtv.com/news/tech-media-telecom/article-suspension-on-expedited-h-1b-visa-to-affect-it-companies-nasscom-1666352
New Delhi: Industry body Nasscom today said that US' decision to temporarily suspend the expedited premium processing of H-1B visas will lead to process delays for Indian IT firms too.However, Nasscom feels that the move will not be a "significant impediment" for the over $110 billion outsourcing industry.PTI
Islamic Banking fails to open account in Kerala
http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/kochi/2017/mar/05/islamic-banking-fails-to-open-account-in-kerala-1577763.html
Kochi: Finance Minister Thomas Isaac had embraced Islamic Banking in a big way in his previous budget. But 8 months later, the interest- free endeavour failed to find a place in his latest financial blueprint for the state. This has left the Cheraman Financial Services in dismay.Non- Banking Financial Company with equity participation of the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC) is yet to play a major role as envisaged in the 2016 budget.The firm also incurred a loss of Rs 56.44 lakh last year. “We expected the Finance Minister to deliver on the announcements about Shariah investment made in the previous budget,” said National Committee on Islamic Banking convener H Abdur Raqeeb.“As a strong proponent of Islamic Banking, we believe he understands its developmental and sustainability aspects. He should have urged Union Govt to introduce iinterest-free finance and banking in the country.” Isaac had put forward the proposal of setting up an interest-free financial institution to enhance investments in 2010 budget.Even though it was formed, it did not make any progress worth mentioning. He tried to revive the project by entrusting Cheraman Financial Services with the modernisation of Kerala State Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Limited (KSDP) worth Rs 250 crore. Company was planned to be transferred to the Industries Department on lease post modernisation. newindianexpress
After Jamia, RSS-backed forum takes nationalism, talaq debate to AMU, Hyderabad varsity: Mail Today
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/rss-triple-talaq-nationalism-hyderabad-university-aligarh-muslim/1/897009.html
After Delhi's Jamia Millia Islamia found itself in the eye of a social media storm last month over a triple talaq debate with BJP leader and varsity alumnus Shazia Ilmi allegedly barred from speaking,RSS-affiliated organisers are ready to take the contentious issue to UP's Aligarh Muslim University.A top source within the Forum for Awareness of National Security (FANS) that organised the Jamia event said the body has decided to take the debate on nationalism and the instant divorce practice along with other issues of national significance to AMU. The idea seems to be to keep alive a raging nationwide debate on freedom of expression."I welcome this step. Why should an RSS body not discuss triple talaq, or why not at AMU?" Ilmi told Mail Today. Ostensibly an NGO, FANS has senior RSS leader Indresh Kumar as its chief patron and is one of the numerous front organisations through which the Sangh is believed to carry on its propaganda work.Another sensitive campus that the organisation has decided to focus on is the Hyderabad Central University.According to FANS functionaries, the central idea behind organising such debates and seminars is to break the "leftist-secular" dominance from within. "So far the RSS has been represented by such hardliners as the VHP and Bajrang Dal, but we are trying to give this image a makeover. Now we want that secularists and those who swear by the rights of Muslims in India must come forward and clarify their position on triple talaq," said a top functionary of FANS."Those who will help us raise the issue of triple talaq will be doing the nation and women of the country a great service," said Indresh Kumar.
Seminars the casualty in nationalism debate?
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-seminars-the-casualty-in-nationalism-debate-2342762
Seminar continues to be a bad word. Earlier, Ramjas college had witnessed tensions as an invite had been issued to JNU student Umar Khalid to speak at a seminar on campus. The invite, later withdrawn, had led to violence between student groups — AISA and ABVP on Feb 23. And on Saturday, a seminar was again in the news, when student organisers alleged authorities at Delhi University’s Law Faculty had prevented their event from happening.On Saturday, the varsity’s law faculty cancelled another seminar. Following the cancellation, tempers ran high with charges of “intolerance” being hurled at the organisers. “This is another example of intolerance at Delhi University,” said Mohammad Sohail, a student union member and one of the organisers. Ironically, the seminar was entitled ‘Freedom of speech under Constitution of India’.Organisers of the seminar claimed that it was cancelled because the university had a problem with the speakers. “Initially, the dean of the faculty, Vaid Kumari, had an issue with the list of speakers that included BJP’s Subramanian Swamy and Cabinet Minister Captain Abhimanyu. But she did not allow us to hold the seminar even after we changed the list,” he added.On Saturday, Swaraj India’s Yogendra Yadav alleged that the authorities of Delhi College of Arts and Commerce (DCAC) had abruptly postponed a programme he was scheduled to address. dnaindia
DU college postponed event on dissent:Yogendra Yadav
http://www.news18.com/news/politics/du-college-postponed-event-on-dissent-alleges-yogendra-yadav-1356270.html
Abhiyan against Hijab turns violent, ABVP activists assault student for not wearing saffron shawl
http://www.siasat.com/news/abhiyan-hijab-turns-violent-abvp-activists-assault-student-not-wearing-saffron-shawl-1143081/
Bhatkal: ABVP activists assaulted a student for not wearing saffron shawl in the college. The incident occurred in Uttara Kannada district.According to sources when Jayant Naika, a student of BA 4th semester at Government First Grade College in Bhatkal, reached the college on Wednesday, ABVP activists surrounded him and thrashed him for not wearing saffron shawl.It must be noted that ABVP activists have ordered students to wear saffron shawl as part of ‘Kesari Shawl Abhiyan’ against Hijab.Victim lodged a complaint against the ABVP activists. The accused surrendered in the court even before their arrest. They were granted bail. siasat
Vemula’s mother announces Dalit Rath Yatra in Telangana, Andhra
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/rohith-vemula-s-mother-announces-dalit-rath-yatra-in-telangana-andhra/story-9uKlANIBSDUVovfS66U67N.html
Bengaluru:Radhika Vemula has announced that she will now lead the movement seeking justice for her son Rohith Vemula, the PhD scholar whose suicide in University of Hyderabad last January triggered a nationwide uprising.Speaking at a rally here on Saturday, Radhika said, “On March 14, Raja (her other son) and I will start the Dalit Swabhiman Rath Yatra. We will travel across Telangana and Andhra for a month and conclude it on Ambedkar Jayanti (April 14). We will try and cover every Dalitwada (Dalit settlement) in these two states.”Among other things, she is seeking the sacking of Hyderabad university vice-chancellor Podile Apparao, his prosecution under the SC/ST Atrocities Act and passage of an anti-discrimination law tailored for campuses called ‘Rohith Act’.Her announcement, which has taken many of her supporters by surprise, comes days after the Andhra government said Rohith was not a Dalit.“In the last one year, I have found that Dalits are scattered across all ideological formations... I have realised that this is what Babasaheb (Ambedkar) had feared when he demanded separate electorates for Dalits. Under the present electoral system, Dalits can only become stooges...” she said. hindustantimes
Telangana:SIO seeks vision document on KG to PG education
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-telangana/sio-seeks-vision-document-on-kg-to-pg-education/article17411423.ece
The Students Islamic Organisation (SIO) Telangana unit has released a book Education in Telangana, a compilation of articles written by various academics on the education scenario in the new State. It was compiled by Dr. Talha Faiyazuddin, heading the Dept of Education in SIO, Telangana. SIO strongly criticised the lack of vision document for KG to PG education even after three years of State’s formation and demanded that a vision document on KG to PG education should be presented in the budget session. It further said small spending in education will not help making big change and demanded increase in budgetary allocation for education. SIO also deplored the pathetic conditions in social welfare hostels and wanted separate fund for their improvement.The SIO also observed that private schools were minting enormous amounts of money and the State government should immediately issue fee regulatory guidelines. the hindu
70% women don’t report workplace sexual harassment, employers show poor compliance
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/70-women-don-t-report-workplace-sexual-harassment-employers-show-poor-compliance/story-40pcb35iu328VSLjjjpotL.html
“2 years ago, I was working as a fellow at a non-profit organisation based in New Delhi. At one point, I felt the need to flag the management about some coordination issues I was facing with my superior. I took my problems to another programme manager.But he started making unwanted overtures the moment I walked into his office.“He suggested that we go to Connaught Place for a chat. I agreed but then he later insisted that I accompany him to his place. Although I resisted, he persuaded me to agree. On the way, he started touching me inappropriately and commented on what I was wearing. When we reached his place, he asked me if I drink and when I said no, he asked me to sleep with him. Despite a clear ‘no’, he continued to force himself on me.“My colleagues encouraged me to file a complaint. I found that although my contract mentioned a committee to investigate sexual harassment, there were no details. There was mention only of a panel that would be constituted in ‘rare instances of sexual harassment’.“I took up the complaint with my superior, who then took it to the human resources (HR) manager and the city director. But my relationship with my boss was already strained — he said it was all my fault. I ended up leaving my fellowship incomplete. Before I left, HR manager sought a written exit interview and even though I mentioned the harassment my complaint was not taken up. The programme manager’s career, however, soared high.” Ridhima Chopra, 25, is among the growing number of Indian women encouraged to complain about harassment at work by Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, promulgated in the wake of 2012 Delhi gangrape. Yet, 70% women said they did not report sexual harassment by superiors because they feared the repercussions, according to a survey conducted by the Indian Bar Association in 2017 of 6,047 respondents.An IndiaSpend analysis of available data and conversations with working women showed there was an increase in reported cases of harassment–to 2015, the year for which latest data are available.Between 2014 and 2015, cases of sexual harassment within office premises more than doubled–from 57 to 119–according to NCRB data. There has also been a 51% rise in sexual harassment cases at other places related to work–from 469 in 2014 to 714 in 2015. hindustantimes
Widow has right over property bought by husband for her: Delhi court
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/widow-has-right-over-property-bought-by-husband-for-her-delhi-court/story-78aXuOhCw7rSDmdM8Rg2tK.html
New Delhi:A widow has a right to enjoy the property purchased by her husband in her name in the manner she wants and her daughter and son-in-law cannot lay claim over it, a Delhi Court has held.The observation was made while deciding the case in favour of a 65-year-old woman who had moved the court against her daughter and son-in-law’s refusal to vacate a portion of the house and challenging the right of the elderly over the property in north west Delhi’s Shastri Nagar.Lajwanti Devi wanted the portion of the property given to her daughter and son-in-law in 1985 for their personal use but they refused to vacate.PTI
Kashmiri girl blinded by pellets sheds despair, returns to school: hindustantimes
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/kashmiri-girl-blinded-by-pellets-sheds-despair-returns-to-school/story-DaTf30pAdGyN62EkseINyM.html
Shopian (Kashmir): Schools across the Kashmir Valley sprang back to life last week to the gaggle of laughter and unshackled mirth of hundreds of children. But the happiest to be back in the classroom after a gap of 8 months, marked by unprecedented protests and turmoil, was perhaps Insha Mushtaq.Dressed in the traditional Kashmiri pheran and sporting dark goggles, 15-year-old was the quietest of all the students in her New Green Land Educational Institute, Shopian near Srinagar.But she also had widest smile, and hugged her classmates the tightest.“Classroom among friends is where I belong,” chattered Insha, the teenager blinded by pellets fired by security forces in Kashmir’s recent bout of violence, hours after returning from school. “I want to study. I can’t see now, but I am continuing with it in whichever way I can,” she said, sitting amid the warmth of her two-storey family home in Sedow surrounded by mounds of snow. The weather is still cold and bleak in Kashmir,but Insha’s mood has considerably brightened following the school visit after months of despair.
After Ramzan and Qabristan jibes, Prime Minister Modi urges 'Muslim Brothers' to join hands
http://ummid.com/news/2017/March/05.03.2017/modi-reaches-out-to-muslims-in-varanasi.html
Varanasi (UP): After 'Eelectricty during Ramzan and Holi' and 'Land for Qabristan and Shamsan Ghats' jibes used to accuse the Akhilesh Singh government in Uttar Pradesh of favouring Muslims, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday during his roadshow in Varanasi reached out to the second largest community in India after Hindus and sought their votes in the ongoing state elections.PM Modi, facing a tough contest in Uttar Pradesh, stopped in Muslim localities during his over 08-km roadshow on Saturday and called upon his "Muslim brothers" to vote for the BJP candidates. ummid.com
Ram Temple construction ‘within a week’: Togadia
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/decision-on-ram-temple-construction-within-a-week-praveen-togadia-4554472/
Mathura:VHP leader Praveen Togadia Saturday hinted at the Hindutva outfit contemplating some move for the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, claiming a decision on the issue may be taken “within a week”. “Karenge (we shall do something),” VHP International President Togadia replied when asked if VHP would take steps for the construction of Ram Temple owing to indifferent attitude of union govt on the issue.“Decision for the construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya may be taken within a week,” he said when asked why the temple construction has been put in abeyance despite a powerful BJP-led government at the centre. “Decision can be taken within one hour, after calling special session of the Parliament,” he stated adding the process does not require even a week.PTI
Making Aadhaar mandatory for mid-day meals is proof of govt arm-twisting tactics: Radhika Iyengar
http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/web-edits/making-aadhaar-mandatory-for-mid-day-meals-is-proof-of-govt-arm-twisting-tactics-4555494/
A modern day Jallianwala Bagh: Review of Vibhuti Narain Rai’s Hashimpura: Shaikh Mujibur Rehman,HT
http://www.hindustantimes.com/books/a-modern-day-jallianwala-bagh-review-of-vibhuti-narain-rai-s-hashimpura-22-may/story-O5cLXywrNLqrQGxhNmB07H.html
WORLD
More than 100 million at risk of starvation globally, warns UN official: Reuters
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/europe/more-than-100-million-at-risk-of-starvation-globally-un-official/articleshow/57473995.cms
Rome: The number of people facing severe hunger worldwide has surpassed 100 million and will grow if humanitarian aid is not paired with more support for farmers, a senior United Nations official said.Dominique Burgeon, director of the emergency division at UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said latest studies showed 102 million people faced acute malnutrition - meaning they were on the brink of starvation - in 2016, up almost 30 percent from 80 million in 2015.The hike was mainly driven by deepening crises in Yemen, South Sudan, Nigeria and Somalia, where conflict and drought have crippled food production, he said."Humanitarian assistance has kept many people alive so far but their food security situation has continued to deteriorate," Burgeon told the Thomson Reuters Foundation in an interview.More investment is needed to help people feed themselves by farming crops and livestock, he added.
Somalia: At least 110 dead due to famine in 48 hours
http://aa.com.tr/en/africa/somalia-at-least-110-dead-due-to-famine-in-48-hours-/764150
Mogadishu: At least 110 people have died of hunger and water-borne diseases in the last 48 hours in Somalia’s southwestern regions of Bay and Bakol, Somalia's prime minister said on Saturday.In a news conference in Mogadishu, PM Hassan Ali Khaire revealed that at least 110 people had died in the past two days.“I have informed today that at least 110 people, mainly children, have died in the last 48 hours in the Bay and Bakol regions because of hunger and water-borne diseases such as cholera outbreak,” Khaire said. Anadolu Agency
66,000 displaced in recent north Syria fighting: UN
http://www.worldbulletin.net/headlines/185780/66000-displaced-in-recent-north-syria-fighting-un
A total of 66,000 people have been displaced by fighting along two fronts in Syria's fractured north, UN's humanitarian coordination agency (OCHA) said Sunday. Turkey-backed rebels seized Al-Bab from the ISIL group on February 23 after several months of fighting.OCHA said the 39,766 people displaced from the town fled north to areas controlled by other rebel forces, and that the "high contamination" of unexploded bombs and booby traps set by retreating extremists was complicating efforts to return.And since Feb.25, OCHA said, another 26,000 people fled violence east of Al-Bab, where Syrian government forces have also been waging a fierce offensive against IS.Many of those people sought refuge in areas around Manbij, a town controlled by US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces.World Bulletin
North Syria exodus as families flee assault on ISIL
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/03/north-syria-exodus-families-flee-assault-isil-170305101138584.html
'Air strikes kill 11 civilians' in Hama province
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/03/air-strikes-kill-11-civilians-hama-province-170304180411362.html
Air strikes have killed at least 11 civilians and wounded dozens more in an ISIL-held central Syrian village in Hama province, according to a monitor.Rami Abdel Rahman, the head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said the raids targeted a livestock market in the village of Oqayrabat that is held by the ISIL group."They are probably Russian air strikes," he said. British-based Syrian Observatory, which relies on a network of sources inside Syria for its information, says it determines whose planes carry out raids according to type, location, flight patterns and munitions used.Abdel Rahman said the raids on the village were part of "new military operations by the Syrian regime and its Russian ally targeting jihadist positions in Hama province".Syrian and Russian jets on Saturday were heavily bombing ISIL fighters north and east of Palmyra, which has changed hands several times in Syria's nearly 6-year war.Aljazeera
Syria: Regime raids kill 9 in Idlib, Homs
http://www.worldbulletin.net/headlines/185796/syria-regime-raids-kill-9-in-idlib-homs
Erdogan: Turkey killed 13,000 Daesh, PKK terrorists
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170305-erdogan-turkey-killed-13000-daesh-pkk-terrorists/
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has said that Turkey have killed more than 3,000 Daesh and 10,000 PKK militants in the past 18 months.In a rally Saturday promoting constitutional changes – which will be subjected to a referendum on April 16 – in southwestern Tekirdag province, Erdogan said: “In the past year and a half, we have neutralised more than 3,000 Daesh, and 10,000 PKK militants.” middleeastmonitor
UN: Alleged Mosul chemical attack amounts to war crime
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/03/alleged-mosul-chemical-attack-amounts-war-crime-170304132854968.html
12 people, including women and children, are being treated for possible exposure to chemical weapons agents in Mosul, where ISIL is fighting off an offensive by US-backed Iraqi forces, according to UN. UN's World Health Organization said in a statement on Saturday that with partners and local health authorities it activated "an emergency response plan to safely treat men, women and children who may be exposed to the highly toxic chemical". Lise Grande, UN humanitarian coordinator in Iraq, called for an investigation."This is horrible. If the alleged use of chemical weapons is confirmed, this is a serious violation of international humanitarian law and a war crime, regardless of who the targets or the victims of the attacks are," she said. UN said all 12 patients had been received since March 1 for treatment which they are undergoing in Erbil, the capital of Iraq's Kurdish region, east of Mosul.Reporting from Erbil, Al Jazeera's Stefanie Dekker, who visited the hospital where the patients were being treated, said: "I saw a young boy, about eight or nine years old, and his entire body had burn marks, black and brown marks, all across his body."The manager of the hospital told us when these patients came in, the emanated a very strong odour, which is one of the side effects of being affected by these chemical gases."The hospital manager was "certain that some form of chemical gas has been used", our correspondent said.More than 50,000 people have fled the city's west since the push to retake it was launched on Feb.19,according to Jassem M. al-Jaff, Iraq's minister of displacement and migration. Aljazeera
16 killed as Iraqi forces push deep into W. Mosul
http://aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/16-killed-as-iraqi-forces-push-deep-into-w-mosul/764494
Nineveh: At least 16 people were killed Sunday in deadly clashes between Iraqi forces and Daesh militants in western Mosul, according to a local activist.The violence broke out when Iraqi forces attempted to storm into the Daesh-held Nabi Sheth area in western Mosul, Luqman Omar al-Taei told Anadolu Agency. “Scores of people were injured in deadly confrontations and airstrikes in the area,” he said. Federal police officer Sabhan al-Shuweili, for his part, said Iraqi forces were attempting to advance into the Nabi Sheth and al-Dandan districts in Mosul’s western side.
8,000 Iraqi civilians evacuated from western Mosul
http://aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/8-000-iraqi-civilians-evacuated-from-western-mosul/763956
Baghdad: Iraqi forces have evacuated around 8,000 civilians from western Mosul in the past 24 hours amid an ongoing offensive to drive Daesh militants from the area, according to a local military officer. “The civilians were transferred from districts where forces are engaged in fighting against Daesh,” Army Captain Jabbar Hassan said on Saturday. He said the evacuees were moved to temporary refugee camps before being relocated to east of Mosul. Iraqi authorities announced Friday around 14,000 civilians fled western Mosul in one day, in one of the biggest displacement waves since army launched fresh operations to recapture western Mosul last month. Federal police officer Karim Thiyab, for his part, described process of hosting refugees as “disorganized”. Last week, Iraqi authorities opened the Hammam al-Alil camp for service in southeastern Mosul with a capacity of 4,000 families from western Mosul. Anadolu Agency
Muslim students tried to meet with a lawmaker. They were first asked: ‘Do you beat your wife?’
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2017/03/05/muslim-students-tried-to-meet-with-a-lawmaker-they-were-first-asked-do-you-beat-your-wife/?utm_term=.171925367b94
3 Muslim students who tried to visit an Oklahoma lawmaker Thursday at the State Capitol in Oklahoma City were surprised when they were instead handed a questionnaire at his office. They would have to fill out the survey first, an office assistant told them, before they could make an appointment to see state Rep. John Bennett. Among the 9 questions on the form were lengthy paragraphs that “intentionally misinterpreted ideas [from the Koran] to try to slander Muslims,” said Anna Facci, an officer with the Oklahoma chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR).“The sunna of Mohammed says that Muslims must be punished for leaving Islam,” one question read. “Do you agree with this?” Another asked: “The Koran, the sunna of Mohammed and Sharia Law of all schools say that the husband can beat his wife. Do you beat your wife?” washingtonpost
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 7:47 PM)
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