Thousands march against veil ban in Denmark
Thousands of Muslim women marched against a controversial ban in Denmark on the wearing of face veils in public that came into force on August 1. Demonstrations were held in the capital city of Copenhagen and second largest city of Aarhus against the ban, which was approved on May 31. The protests – organised by Kvinder I Dialog (Women in Dialogue), a group founded by left–wing activists and women wearing the veil – were supported by Muslim migrants and citizens of Denmark.
Demonstrators, who gathered in Nørrebro district of the capital city, covered their faces with veils and masks in support of women being targeted by the ban.
The crowd marched towards the Bellahøj police station and called on police to focus on more important problems rather than fining people who wear veils. Rachid Nekkaz, a French business executive of Algerian origin, has launched a fund against the burqa ban, which he called “illegal”, and has paid over 500 fines of women who defied similar bans in six countries. Nekkaz also announced that he would pay the fines in Denmark.
New government should be given a chance: Sirajul Haq
Pakistan’s Jamaat–i–Islami (JI) chief Sirajul Haq on July 30 said that the new government of the Pakistan Tehreek–i–Insaf (PTI), should be given a chance to play their due role. The JI emir, while addressing a press conference in Lahore, struck a contrasting tone to that of his fellow Muttahida Majlis–i–Amal (MMA) leader Fazalur Rehman, who has rejected the result of the July 25 elections, floated the idea of not taking oath and may even push for fresh polls.
Haq said that the party wants continuation of democracy and supremacy of the parliament. He termed the holding of the elections a welcome sign but rued that some measures (or their lack thereof) dented the entire polling process. Showing his support for the next government, Haq said, “We want to give a chance to the newly elected government for the sake of the continuation of democracy.”
Students Protest Against Reckless Driving Roil Bangladesh
Thousands of students gathered in Uttara Model Town, a northern area of Bangladesh’s capital Dhaka on July 31 to protest reckless driving and a perceptibly unresponsive government in the wake of a bus accident that killed two students. Two students were killed on Airport Road when a bus ran into a group of students on July 29.
Students from across the capital took to the streets the following day, blocking traffic and demanding justice. Roads, flooded with students, became impassable and several buses were reportedly vandalized. Even rail lines were blocked, throwing train operations into disarray. The students returned to the streets the next day, bringing friends and organising to allow ambulance and rickshaw traffic through the streets but halting buses, the target of their ire.
Moro Muslims ask for help in improving education sector
Young Moro Muslims of the Philippines called on the international community, especially Turkey, for educational assistance to aid regional development. The students in the region welcomed the approval of the Bangsamoro Organic Law by President Rodrigo Duterte in late July, calling it a new era of autonomous rule.
The law provides for increasing the legal and economic earnings of the Muslims in the region, giving greater autonomy to those living on the islands around Mindanao, which has a large Muslim population.
Hamira Almuna, student of public administration in Bangsamoro, reportedly said that young people need to contribute to development of the region, therefore education plays an essential role.
Afghanistan sets April 20 for presidential election
Afghanistan on August 1 announced April 20 next year as the date for its presidential election, amid concerns that growing insurgent violence could threaten the poll. Current President Ashraf Ghani is widely expected to stand for another five–year term. The date was announced by Abdul Badi Sayad, chairman of the Independent Election Commission, who said security and other factors had been taken into account.
The commission says nine million voters, including three million women, have registered since the electoral rolls opened in April despite attacks on voter registration centres. Security remains a major concern ahead of the polls.
Over 3,900 settlers stormed Al–Aqsa complex in July
Over 3900 Jewish settlers forced their way into East Jerusalem’s flashpoint Al–Aqsa Mosque compound last month alone, a Palestinian official reportedly said on August 1. “The highest number of incursions [by settlers] was recorded in July,” Firas al–Dibs, a spokesman for Jerusalem’s Jordan–run Religious Endowment Authority, said in a statement. He said around 3908 settlers and Israeli soldiers stormed the flashpoint site last month. “This is a clear indication of the increasing violations by settlers in the holy site,” al–Dibs said.
Israel occupied East Jerusalem and the West Bank during the 1967 Middle East War. It later annexed the holy city in 1980, in a move never recognized by the international community. International law views the West Bank and East Jerusalem as “occupied territories,” considering all Jewish settlement building on the land illegal.
US sanctions against 2 TurkISH MINISTERS FLAYED
On August 1, White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said the U.S. would impose sanctions on Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu, and Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gul for not releasing American Pastor Andrew Craig Brunson, who faces terrorism charges in Turkey. Sanders said the U.S. would block “any property, or interest in property of the two ministers”. Turkish Foreign Ministry on August 1 strongly protested against U.S. Treasury Department’s decision, calling on the U.S. administration to reverse its “wrong decision”.
Brunson has been charged with spying for the PKK – a designated terrorist group in the U.S. and Turkey – and U.S.–based Fetullah Gulen and the Fetullah Terrorist Organisation (FETO), the group behind the defeated July 2016 coup attempt in Turkey which martyred 251 people and injured thousands. Ankara also accuses FETO of being behind a long–running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary. Russian lawmakers have also criticised the U.S. move to impose sanctions on two Turkish Cabinet members as “counterproductive and destructive”.
‘Largest military entity’ against Assad regime formed
Three military factions banded together on August 1 to form a 100,000–strong fighting force billed as the largest military opposition entity against the Assad regime in Syria’s central Hama and northwest Idlib regions, a report said on August 1. The Syrian Liberation Front and the Suqour al–Sham Brigades joined the National Front for the Liberation of Syria affiliated with the Free Syria Army (FSA). The development is aimed at the unification of FSA’s factions in one entity. The National Front of Liberation will continue to operate under Fadlallah al–Haji.
Syria has been locked in a vicious civil war since early 2011 when the Assad regime cracked down on pro–democracy protests with unexpected ferocity. This led to a military conflict between the Syrian opposition groups and the Assad regime over the war–torn country’s territory.
Syrian refugee group returns from Lebanon
Hundreds of Syrian refugees returned to their country from Lebanon on Saturday in a bus convoy arranged by both governments, advancing an effort by Beirut to accelerate returns to areas where fighting has ended. Syrian state television reported that about 1,200 refugees were expected to cross back into the country from Lebanon on July 28 before returning to their homes.
Lebanon’s security chief Abbas Ibrahim said “the coming period will witness the return of hundreds of thousands of refugees from Lebanon” in comments reported by Hezbollah’s al–Manar television channel.
State television in Syria and the private al–Jadeed channel in Lebanon showed buses full of refugees at the crossing point on the frontier.