3 PALESTINIANS KILLED, DOZENS INJURED BY ISRAELIS
Three Palestinians were killed and dozens injured in clashes with Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian Health Ministry said. The soldiers killed a child, Qussai Fuad Hamamra, 14, in Husan village, west of Bethlehem, in the occupied West Bank. The Palestinian Health Ministry has confirmed that the soldiers shot him with a live round in the head and left him bleeding without first aid, especially after the army prevented the Palestinian medics from reaching him. The child was walking home after performing evening prayers at the local mosque; the soldiers also surrounded the mosque after killing the child and refused to allow the Palestinians to leave. The army made several allegations, including claiming that the child was throwing stones at the soldiers or that he was throwing a Molotov cocktail.
MALAYSIA RANKS AS TOP ISLAMIC ECONOMY FOR 9TH STRAIGHT YEAR
Malaysia ranked first among 81 countries and regions in the Global Islamic Economy Indicator for the ninth straight year, thanks to its thriving market for Islamic finance and a range of halal products and services. The indicator, published in the annual State of the Global Islamic Economy Report by U.S.-based DinarStandard, compares economies worldwide in terms of market size, innovation and their regulatory landscape as it pertains to Islamic law. Malaysia led decisively over second-ranked Saudi Arabia, earning top scores in terms of halal foods, Islamic finance, Muslim-friendly travel and media as well as recreation. The Southeast Asian country also stood in the top 10 for pharmaceuticals and modest fashion and cosmetics.
MUSLIM COUNTRIES MAINTAIN NEUTRALITY OVER UKRAIN
The Russian invasion of neighbour Ukraine has triggered a political divide on global response with Western nations imposing sanctions while many Muslim countries, governments and businesses adopting a neutrality towards the world superpower. Malaysia is a case in point – its close relations with European, North American and Asian countries, including Japan and South Korea, means it is unwilling to breach those trading partners’ sanctions on Russia. In March a Russian-registered vessel was declined entry into Malaysian ports with the country’s transport ministry confirming the action was in accordance with international sanctions. Similar is the case of neutrality adopted by Bangladesh which is reluctant to take sides. Despite the unprecedented sanctions against Russia by key Western business partners, Bangladesh is likely to continue doing business with the superpower.
UYGHURS IN JAPAN LAMBAST PAKISTAN FOR SUPPORTING GENOCIDE
Uyghurs living in Japan held demonstrations in Tokyo to urge Pakistan to stop its support of the ‘genocide’ of Uyghur Muslims by China. Turmuhamet Hashim, president of Japan Uyghur Union, in a letter to the Pakistani government, wrote, “Today, in the holy Ramadan period, we, the Uyghurs living in Japan, are making this kind of demonstration, to ask the government of Islamic Republic of Pakistan to stop supporting the genocide of Uyghur Muslims by China immediately!” Slamming Pakistan, the President of Japan Uyghur Union said, “As an Islamic country, it would be unconscionable and in clear disregard for your own moral values and principles to close your eyes to the terrible fate of millions of your Muslim brothers and sisters.”
CHINA HARVESTED ORGANS FROM PRISONERS, DETAINED UYGHURS
Scientists say organs have been harvested from patients who were not yet brain-dead, most likely prisoners. Mathew Robertson, a doctoral student in politics and international relations at the Australian National University in Canberra, and Prof. Jacob Lavee, who served as president of the Israeli Transplantation Society, analysed 2,800 scientific articles in Chinese dealing with heart and lung transplants. The researchers found evidence that in an alarmingly high number of cases, organs had been harvested from living persons. “In 71 papers, we found clear and unequivocal proof that brain death was not determined before the organ harvesting operation commenced,” Lavee said. This meant that the organ removal was “the proximate cause” of the patients’ death. China said in 2014 it would stop harvesting organs from detainees, years after officially admitting that executed prisoners provided at least two-thirds of organs used for transplantation in China.
FRANCE CLOSES 2 MORE MOSQUES CITING ‘SAFETY’ REASONS
Two mosques in northern France have been closed allegedly on grounds that the mosque buildings were not safe for hosting the prayer congregation, local media reported. The mosques were closed by the Tourcoing city administration. A security commission inspected the buildings of the Salman al-Farisi Mosque and the Clinquet Mosque belonging to the Read in the Name of Your Lord Foundation and issued a report noting that the two mosques were not suitable for hosting the congregation. Eric Denoeud, deputy mayor of Tourcoing and in-charge of security affairs in the municipality, claimed that during the checks carried out in the mosques, some deficiencies in terms of security were detected in the buildings. The decision was taken despite the insistence of the local Muslim community that it would not be appropriate to close mosques during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
Image with caption: A mesmerising, interactive light installation inspired by the medieval Islamic philosophy of illumination opened at Islamic Museum of Australia on 24 March 2022
ILLUMINATED INSTALLATION AT ISLAMIC MUSEUM
A mesmerising, interactive light installation inspired by the medieval Islamic philosophy of illumination opened at Melbourne’s Islamic Museum of Australia on 24 March 2022. Hayakal al Noor, Bodies of Light is the work of Sydney-based media installation artist, Narjis Mirza. The setting of the space in Hayakal al Noor is complete darkness, illuminated by a vivid projection of animated Arabic letters, falling on translucent chiffon silk. Hayakal al Noor is on display at the Museum from 24 March – 9 July 2022. The Islamic Museum of Australia is located in Thornbury, in Melbourne’s north. The Museum is open 10am – 4pm, Monday to Saturday.