PALESTINE ON SOCIAL MEDIA: FACEBOOK BIAS EXPOSED
During Israel’s recent attacks on Palestinians, Facebook attempted to silence the avalanche of voices by establishing a special operations unit to censor, filter, block and remove any content that exposed the truth about the human rights abuses and ethnic cleansing of Palestinians. In the fortnight during the latest attacks by Israel, targeting Palestinian civilians, media centres, hospitals, kindergartens and places of workshop, Facebook established the special operations unit to censor humanitarian voices from around the world. This attempt to silence the masses that were outraged by the blatant human rights abuses backfired when tens of thousands of social media users responded by leaving a 1 star rating for Facebook, causing them to drop from a 4.5 average to a 2.0 average rating in less than a fortnight.
MAHATHIR URGES WEALTHY MUSLIM NATIONS TO PRESSURE ISRAEL
Muslim nations should use their strengths and realise their weaknesses in formulating strategies against the Israeli oppression in Palestine, says former prime minister of Malaysia Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. Speaking via a Skype call on the Dialog Tiga Penjuru programme broadcast by Astro Awani, he said Muslim countries needed to realise that they did not have the military might to face Israel. “What we (Muslim countries) have is financial strength. Muslim nations control oil. The world supply of oil. So, fight (Israel) using what is available (to us). Do not make more enemies by detonating bombs in European countries. That makes people angry,” he said. Dr Mahathir said Muslims should stop thinking of taking revenge on Israeli actions against the Palestinian people, but instead use the raw materials they had to put pressure on Israel.
MUSLIM-MAJORITY SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS CONDEMN ISRAEL
The Muslim-majority nations of Southeast Asia have issued a rare joint statement condemning Israel’s assault on Occupied Palestinian Territory. In a statement issued Indonesian President Joko Widodo, Malaysia’s Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, and the Sultan of Brunei attacked Israel’s air strikes on Gaza and what they described as its “inhumane, colonial, and apartheid” policy toward the Palestinian people. “We condemn in the strongest term the repeated blatant violations and aggressions, carried out by the Israelis, targeting civilians throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory, particularly in East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip, which has killed, injured and caused suffering to many, including women and children,” the statement read. “We reiterate our solidarity with, and commitment to the Palestinian people, including their rights to self-determination, and the creation of an independent and sovereign State of Palestine,” it added.
MUSLIMS TO SUE AUSTRIAN GOVT OVER CONTROVERSIAL ‘ISLAM MAP’
A prominent Muslim group in Austria, The Muslim Youth of Austria, has planned to sue the government for unveiling a controversial “Islam map”. The organisation has severely criticised the government for publishing a “political Islam map” that identifies the location of mosques and Muslim associations around the country. Last week, Integration Minister Susanne Raab launched a website called the “National Map of Islam” with the names and locations of more than 620 mosques, associations and officials and their possible connections abroad. The Islamic Religious Community in Austria (IGGOE), which represents the interests of Muslims in Austria, warned against stigmatising all Muslims living in Austria “as a potential danger to society and the democratic legal order in the country.” This campaign is stoking racism and “exposes Muslim citizens to a massive security risk,” it added.
INDONESIA SUSPENDS ASTRAZENECA AMID FEARS OF COVIDS
Indonesia’s health ministry has suspended almost half a million doses of an AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine batch, as authorities warn of a spike in Covid-19 cases. Indonesian authorities are undertaking tests for sterility and toxicity on a vaccine batch after a 22-year-old man died the day after getting the jab. Distribution of 448,480 AstraZeneca doses from the CTMAV547 batch – which arrived in Indonesia last month under the World Health Organisation’s COVAX scheme – has been stopped temporarily after the death of Trio Fauqi Firdaus reportedly developed fever symptoms after receiving his vaccination on May 5 and died in hospital the next day. Mr Firdaus’s family told the state news agency Antara that he had no known medical conditions.
PAKISTAN CALLS FOR PEACEKEEPING FORCE IN PALESTINE
An international peacekeeping force must be deployed in the occupied Palestinian territories to protect civilians from repeated Israeli aggression, Pakistan’s Minister of Information Chaudhry Fawad Hussain demanded on May 27. “If international peacekeeping troops can be deployed in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Far East, then why can Palestine be an exception?” Hussain asked journalists. The Pakistani official urged the UN Security council “to fulfil its primary responsibility” to ensure peace. “The time has come to rise up to create a collective resistance against the torture, trauma and tyranny inflicted upon Palestinians,” added the minister.
BANGLADESH WARNS CITIZENS AGAINST TRAVELING TO ISRAEL
The Bangladeshi foreign minister warned the country’s citizens against traveling to Israel. Speaking to journalists after handing over medical supplies worth 4 million Bangladeshi taka (approx. $47,000) to Palestinian envoy Yousef SY Ramadan as humanitarian aid to Palestine, A. K. Abdul Momen reiterated Bangladesh’s stance of not developing any diplomatic ties with Israel. The medical supplies will be sent to Palestine through Jordan, a Foreign Ministry statement said, adding that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will also donate $50,000 for the Palestinian people. Underlining that Bangladesh has not changed its position on Israel and Palestine, Momen said that if any Bangladeshi citizen tries to visit Israel, “action will be taken as per immigration law,” said the statement.
ERDOGAN SAID, ISLAMOPHOBIA IS LIKE CANCER SPREADING RAPIDLY
Countries exposed to Islamophobia should establish a strong communication network in the international arena, Turkey’s president said. Efforts to prevent Islamophobia, which plays an important role in peace and security for humanity, should be carried out through common sense mechanisms that will be set up, said Erdogan. He added that when the Islamic world establishes unity among itself, it is possible to make progress in the struggle against Islamophobia in a short time. Erdogan stressed that Islamophobia is like cancer spreading rapidly in many parts of the world, especially in the West.
TURKEY FIRST LADY HELPS RAISE FUNDS FOR PALESTINIAN KIDS
Turkish first lady Emine Erdogan visited a recycling bazaar organized by a Turkish NGO in order to raise funds for Palestinian children living in East Jerusalem under Israeli occupation. The event, which was organised by Social Development Centre Education and Social Solidarity Association (TOGEM-DER) in Baglarbasi Congress and Culture Centre in Istanbul, aimed at “utilising unused items to support Zero Waste Project.” Thousands of products donated by philanthropists, varying from toys to clothing, furniture to antiques, were offered for sale in the bazaar. The first lady bought products made by students with special needs. Erdogan said Turkey will be in solidarity with the Palestinian people, who have suffered from the Israeli onslaught in recent days, and will never leave them to their own fate.
TUNISIA CAPABLE OF HELPING REBUILD LIBYA: GHANNOUCHI
According to Speaker of Tunisia’s Parliament Rached Ghannouchi, Tunisia is most capable of assisting Libya in its reconstruction process. “Libya is in need of extensive rebuilding and Tunisians are the most qualified to assist in this process,” Ghannouchi conveyed at the Djerba International Business Forum. “Tunisians and Libyans are one people in two countries. We are determined to remove all legislative, security, and administrative obstacles to boost cooperation between our two countries.” More than 500 participants, including businesspeople from Tunisia and Libya, attended the event on the Tunisian island of Djerba on May 24. The two countries signed several agreements in the fields of air, ground and sea transport, as well as the facilitation of movement of individuals and goods.