IRAN THWARTS US ATTEMPT TO STEAL OIL IN SEA OF OMAN
Iran claimed to have thwarted what it terms a US attempt to “steal” an oil tanker in the strategic Sea of Oman amid heightening tensions between the two countries. A US military vessel reportedly confiscated an Iranian oil tanker and diverted the oil to another tanker headed to an undisclosed location, state media said. Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps naval forces reportedly landed on the deck of the second tanker and moved it back to Iran’s territorial waters. The US forces, the report said, tried to chase the tanker with warships and helicopters but failed to gain control over it. They reportedly tried a second time to block the tanker from entering Iranian waters, but again failed. The tanker is currently docked in Iranian territorial waters, Iran’s state media said. Later, Iran’s state television released footage of the incident, which showed the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps conducting an operation against an oil tanker.
FRANCE BARS CAMPAIGN AGAINST ANTI-MUSLIM HATE SPEECH
France has barred a campaign launched by the Council of Europe against anti-Muslim hate speech. Speaking to LCI TV, Sarah El Hairy, the minister of state for youth and engagement attached to the minister of national education, youth and sport, said the campaign by the council’s Inclusion and Anti-Discrimination Division shocked her as it is against the values of France. “Wearing a headscarf is encouraged in the campaign’s video. We condemn this.” The Council of Europe launched the campaign against the discrimination of women wearing headscarves. Images of women wearing headscarves were shared on the Twitter account of the Inclusion and Anti-Discrimination Division with the slogans “Freedom is in the headscarf,” “Bring joy & accept hijabs” and “Beauty is in diversity as freedom is in the hijab.”
TURKEY, AZERBAIJAN MULL NEW PROJECTS IN REGION
Turkey and Azerbaijan are thinking about new projects in the region, former Prime Minister of Turkey, former Speaker of the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM), MP Binali Yildirim said at the VIII Global Baku Forum – “The World after COVID-19.” He said Turkey attaches more importance to cooperation and looks forward to Armenia’s joining this process. “The UN was unable to solve the Karabakh issue, the efforts were unsuccessful. If the issue had been resolved through negotiations, there would be no war. Therefore, the UN should carry out reforms,” he stressed. Under the auspices of the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and with the organisation of the Nizami Ganjavi International Centre, the VIII Global Baku Forum titled “The World after COVID-19” will work in the capital of Azerbaijan.
KAZAKHSTAN, TAJIKISTAN INK GREEN BRIDGE PARTNERSHIP
Kazakhstan and Tajikistan signed the Charter of the Green Bridge Partnership Programme at the Central Asian pavilion as part of the 26th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP26) in Glasgow on November 2. The Central Asian pavilion hosted the event titled Regional Unity to Combat Climate Change at COP26. The partnership programme serves as a platform for developing collective approaches to address the climate challenges of the region. The Central Asian climate hub will develop a single regional environmental agenda reflecting the mutually beneficial goals of achieving sustainable development in Central Asia. Kazakhstan initiated the Green Bridge partnership programme for Central Asian countries to preserve the environment in the region in 2010. The idea belongs to Kazakhstan’s First President Nursultan Nazarbayev.
CRYPTO IS ‘HARAM’, SAYS INDONESIAN ISLAMIC ORGANISATION
Despite a booming crypto industry, the East Java branch of the Indonesian Islamic organisation Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) has declared cryptocurrency ‘haram’, or forbidden under Islamic law. The decision was reached through a ‘bahtsul masail’ which means a discussion in Javanese where members of the NU as well as representatives of Islamic boarding schools were involved in the deliberation. The issue of fraud as well as the volatility of cryptocurrency means it can’t be classed as a legitimate investment which has led the group to forbid cryptocurrency. Kiai Azizi Chasbullah, chairman of the East Java Nahdlatul Ulama branch, was quoted in a statement published on their website. “The participants of the bahtsul masail have the view that although the government recognises cryptocurrency as a commodity, it cannot be legalised under Islamic sharia law,” he said.
PAS YOUTH SEEKS CLOSER TIES WITH TALIBAN-LED AFGHANISTAN
The Youth wing of Islamist party PAS hopes the Malaysian government will not only re-establish but strengthen bilateral relationships with the Taliban administration of Afghanistan. PAS Youth chief Khairil Nizam Khirudin said Malaysia should make use of its Islamic ties and good track record in international relations and diplomacy to help the international community accept the current Taliban-led Afghanistan. “China is channelling billions of ringgit in funds to strengthen the Belt and Road Initiative in Afghanistan. “If communist China can lend a hand to Afghanistan under the Taliban, why can’t we as Muslim brothers?” he was quoted as saying.
FACEBOOK GIVES KAZAKHSTAN GOVERNMENT DIRECT ACCESS
Facebook parent company Meta has granted the Kazakhstan government direct access to its content reporting system, as part of a joint agreement to work on removing content that is deemed harmful on social network platforms like Facebook and Instagram, zdnet.com reports. In a joint statement, the Ministry of Information and Social Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the social media giant said the agreement, which is the first of its kind in Central Asia, would help increase the efficiency and effectiveness to counter the spread of illegal content. It will allow the government to report content that may violate Facebook’s global content policy and local content laws in Kazakhstan.
JMI ALUMNI IN AUSTRALIA CELEBRATES FOUNDATION DAY
Members of Jamia Millia Islamia Alumni held a virtual celebration on October 30 to commemorate the post-centennial first anniversary of Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi. The Zoom event hosted by JMI Alumni Association, Victoria, Australia was attended by around 30 participants from Australia and India including members of the Victorian AMU Alumni community. The session opened with the recitation of the Qur’ān by master Ismaeel after Dr Vikrant Kishore, Vice-President of the association and MC for the event had welcomed the participants, including the three invited guests. A minute silence was observed in memory of those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.