Author: Abdul Majeed al-Huq

Tajikistan officially banned the hijab, imposing hefty fines in its latest move to curb Islamic influence. The Central Asian nation of Tajikistan officially prohibited the wearing of hijabs and other “alien garments” this week, as the country’s parliament passed a new bill regulating Islamic clothing and Eid celebrations. The bill, approved by the upper house of parliament, Majlisi Milli, on June 19, comes after years of an unofficial clampdown on the hijab in the Muslim-majority country. Under the new law, individuals wearing hijabs or other banned religious clothing could face hefty fines of up to 7,920 somonis (approximately $700). Companies…

Egypt’s foreign minister was hosted Saturday (Apr. 20) by his Turkish counterpart. Sameh Shoukry’s visit to Istanbul was part of the preparations for Egpt’s president upcoming visit to Turkey. The war in Gaza and the escalation between Israel and Iran were two issues also high on the agenda. “We have warned, since the beginning, that war in Gaza will lead to the expansion of conflict and tension in the region and we have seen that in the targeting of maritime navigation in the Red Sea and its effect on the international economy and now with this tension and military escalation…

Militant Islamists linked to al-Qaeda have freed a South African paramedic taken hostage in Libya more than six years ago, a charity has said. Gift of the Givers said it had facilitated the “unconditional” release of Gerco van Deventer. The charity described Van Deventer as the longest-held South African hostage. He was seized by an unnamed group in Libya in 2017, sold to militant Islamists in Mali a year later, and released “into” Algeria, it added. A Malian security source confirmed to AFP news agency that Van Deventer, 48, had been freed. It quoted a humanitarian source as saying that…

King Charles has made a plea for religious tolerance and mutual respect, in times of “international turmoil” in Israel and Gaza. In a speech at Mansion House, in the City of London, he spoke of the “heartbreaking loss of life” as the violent conflict continues. The King also spoke about the positive contribution of immigrants to the UK’s national values, like the British “ability to laugh at ourselves”. Source : BBC

On the horror in the Middle East, and in particular whether there should be a ceasefire in Israel’s bombardment of Gaza, the prime minister and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer have the same position. Israel has a right to defend itself, they argue, and neither use the word “ceasefire”. The Scottish National Party has a different position: they do advocate a ceasefire. Sir Keir, alongside the prime minister, is arguing there should be “humanitarian pauses” to allow aid into Gaza and people out. But that is not the same as a ceasefire, even though it would involve the firing ceasing…

The US has expressed its regret at the inability of the UN Security Council to reach a consensus on condemnation of the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, in its emergency, closed meeting. Before the session opened, the US called on all members of the Security Council to condemn the Hamas attack on Israel. “There are a good number of countries that condemned the Hamas attacks, but obviously not all,” said Assistant US Ambassador to the UN Robert Wood after the session. “You could probably figure out one of them without me saying anything.” This was an apparent reference to Russia,…

Kenes Rakishev, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Fincraft Resources, signed a memorandum of understanding, as well as a shareholder agreement with the Indian holding Monnet Group on the establishment of a joint venture in Kazakhstan for the production of ferro-alloys. The company was named TB Alloys Kazakh Limited. It was confirmed by the Fincraft Resources press service. The new plant is planned to be located in the industrial zone of the city of Taraz. The company has already started pre-design work. At the first stage, the planned capacity of the enterprise will be up to 50 thousand tons…

Middle East diesel exports to Europe are climbing again after hitting an eight-month low in July as reduced stockpiles, refinery maintenance and a seasonal upturn in demand the during winter are expected to require more supplies in Europe, as Russia remains off-limits because of the war in Ukraine, ship tracking and analyst comments are signaling. Diesel and gasoil exports from the Middle East to Europe are expected to average 598,000 b/d in the fourth quarter of 2023, compared with 557,000 b/d in the third quarter and 485,000 b/d in the second quarter, according to an S&P Global forecast issued July…

Since the Israeli Occupation of the West Bank in 1967, which is considered by many Zionists as the heartland of the Jewish world, the Israeli occupation authorities started concerted efforts to alter the character of Jerusalem, particularly its cherished Al-Aqsa Mosque. From the early days of the Occupation, the occupying army demolished the Moroccan neighbourhood and its surroundings to make room for what is nowadays known “the Wailing Wall”. Over the years, the Mosque has suffered extensive damage to its furniture, walls, ceiling, carpets, rare decorations as well as the loss of its Quran and other valuable possessions. The restoration…

Syrian regime forces launched a campaign of arrests in the city of Khan Sheikhoun in Idlib’s southern countryside, detaining 47 men wanted for not serving in the military reserves. The military observatory, a site specialised in monitoring developments in the city of Khan Sheikhoun, confirmed that Syrian regime forces arrested the men while others escaped. Dozens of young men have hidden in the city for fear of being arrested, while others are trying to travel to Lebanon, or to opposition-controlled areas in the northwest of the country, it added. The site explained that the military campaign against the city of…