Türkiye marks historic 1071 victory in Battle of Manzikert
Türkiye on August 25 marked the 952nd anniversary of the Battle of Manzikert, a pivotal historic victory for the Turks in Anatolia, in the year 1071. “I congratulate (the nation on) the 952nd anniversary of the Victory at Manzikert, the starting point of the chain of victories that took us to Vienna,” President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on X, formerly known as Twitter, referring to the Battle of Vienna about six centuries later, when the Ottoman Empire reached its territorial height.”
The president added, “I commemorate Sultan Alp Arslan and his army, and all our heroes who made Anatolia our homeland, with mercy and gratitude.” He also remarked, “The truth should never be forgotten that Manzikert was no ordinary battle, no ordinary victory.”
First lady Emine Erdogan also commemorated Alp Arslan, then-sultan of the Seljuk Empire, which achieved the historic victory. “History changed when the gateway to Anatolia was opened to the Turks 952 years ago. The spirit of unity and solidarity of the victory at Manzikert, inherited from our distinguished forebears, will continue to guide future generations,” she said on X.
Iran, Malaysia agree on expediting prisoner swap
Iran’s foreign minister on August 21 announced the acceleration of a prisoner exchange with Malaysia with the cooperation of judicial authorities of the two countries. Addressing a joint news conference with his Malaysian counterpart Zambry Abdul Kadir in Tehran following delegation-level talks, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said the two sides have agreed on the extradition of criminals as well as the exchange of prisoners, starting with female prisoners. In the initial step, he said female prisoners in the two countries would be exchanged in the “near future.”
Amir-Abdollahian, at a joint news conference with Kadir, dubbed the talks between the two sides on bilateral, regional and international issues “important and fruitful.” He said Malaysia holds an important position in the Islamic world and reaffirmed Iran’s commitment to develop ties with the Muslim-majority South Asian country. Iran’s foreign minister also said that the joint economic commission meeting between Iran and Malaysia will be held in Tehran, which will be chaired by Iran’s minister for communications.
Pak Islamic leader calls for constituting national commission on minority affairs
The Ameer (chief) of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Pakistan Sirajul Haq has called for the establishment of a national commission dedicated to minority affairs, a report said on August 25. While speaking to the media after chairing a “Peace Conference” at Mansoorah on August 24, he said that this commission’s primary purpose would be to safeguard the rights of minority religious groups, including Hindus, Christians, Sikhs, and others. JI chief said the JI plans to hold a national convention for minorities in Islamabad this coming September. The goal of this convention, he added, is to formulate comprehensive recommendations concerning the rights of the minorities.
‘There can be no democracy with Jewish supremacy’: Israeli activists
Israeli human rights activists on August 25 protested far-right policies of the Israeli government led by Premier Benjamin Netanyahu. Demonstrating near the house of Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir in Kiryat Arba, an illegal Jewish settlement, in Hebron in the occupied West Bank, protesters held banners that read “National Terrorism Minister” and “Stand Together against occupation.”
With a banner reading “Hebron: Home to Ben Gvir, Apartheid and the Judicial Overhaul,” protesters draw attention to the fact that Hebron is one of the places most affected by Israel’s illegal settlement policies. Israeli human rights organisations Peace Now and Breaking the Silence also joined the protest. The Israeli NGOs said that the main source of damage to democracy, caused by the controversial judicial regulations under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right coalition government, is the occupation of Palestine.
In a written statement about the protest, Peace Now said: “The judicial coup didn’t emerge out of nowhere; it has its origins in the occupied West Bank. There can be no democracy with Jewish supremacy.”
Iraq’s Ezidi MP urges govt. to implement deal on PKK’s ouster from Sinjar
An Iraqi Ezidi community leader and member of parliament on August 25 urged the government to implement an agreement signed almost three years ago to expel the PKK terrorist group from Mosul’s Sinjar district in northwestern Iraq. Mahma Halil said the agreement signed on October 9, 2020, between Erbil, the capital and most populous city in the Kurdistan region, and Baghdad to eliminate the PKK terrorist group in the region has yet to be implemented, which is the locals’ demand as well.
He emphasised that while the Iraqi government had promised to implement the agreement, “it does not fit with the interests of a country from the region and some illegal groups.” Halil also emphasised the importance of better security, public services, and infrastructure in Sinjar.
Pak body flays recent incidents in Jarnawala
Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Pakistan has condemned the recent incidents in Jarnawala, including the burning of the Qur’ān and arson of churches and houses, demanding transparent inquiry into all. Emphasising the gravity of the situation, the JI Chief Sirajul Haq labelled the incident as a deliberate plot aimed at sowing discord and disrupting peace and order. He has demanded to give stringent punishment publicly to the people involved in these crimes. In light of the violence, he also praised the locals who provided shelter to elderly and young members of the Christian community. In a viral video, the JI chief is seen consoling a little Christian girl and telling her that they would rebuild their houses.
The JI chief also revealed that more than 19 churches and 86 houses had been set ablaze. Talking to local media persons after visiting affected areas in Jaranwala, the JI chief said acts of setting places of worship and homes on fire were condemnable and announced that JI under Alkhidmat Foundation would install water filtration plant and build the affected homes. He also announced free of cost education up to intermediate level, sponsorship and free of interest loans to Christian children. The JI’s charitable arm, al-Khidmat Foundation, reportedly pledged to rebuild the damaged houses and contribute to the renovation of the affected churches. Al-khidmat Foundation has reportedly started the relief and rehabilitation work. It has laid the foundation stone of water filtration plant at the Christian locality affected from recent Jaranwala carnage.