‘CREDIBLE CASE’ CHINA CARRYING OUT GENOCIDE: UIGHURS
There is a “very credible case” that the Chinese government is carrying out the crime of genocide against the Uighur people, according to a formal legal opinion newly published in the UK, BBC reported on February 8. It concludes there is evidence of state-mandated behaviour showing an intent to destroy the largely Muslim minority in north-western China. This includes the deliberate infliction of harm on Uighurs in detention, measures to prevent women giving birth – including sterilisation and abortion – and the forcible transfer of Uighur children out of their community. And, significantly, it says there is a credible case that Chinese President Xi Jinping is himself responsible for these crimes against humanity. It states “the close involvement of Xi Jinping” in the targeting of Uighurs would support a “plausible” case of genocide against him.
#AFRICA4PALESTINE WARNS ISRAELI LOBBY TO LAY OFF CHIKANE
The human rights and Palestine solidarity organisation #Africa4Palestine (formerly BDS SA) is warning the Israeli lobby in South Africa to lay off the anti-apartheid icon, Reverend Frank Chikane, and to stop interfering with our support for the Palestinian people. This past week Reverend Chikane, for his support of Palestine, has been condemned in the pro-Israeli online news website “The Algemeiner” and the “SA Jewish Report” by, among others, the Chief Rabbi of South Africa, the South African Zionist Federation, the Simon Wiesenthal Center and CAMERA. The Israeli lobby supports young white Jewish South Africans in travelling to Israel to join the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) who oppress the Palestinians masses. “We are fed-up with the hypocrisy of the Israeli lobby who, on the one hand, support an army accused of war crimes and then, on the other hand, condemn our anti-apartheid icons who support the Palestinian people.”
PAK DUBS FRANCE’S ANTI-MUSLIM BILL DISCRIMINATORY
Pakistan’s President Arif Alvi urged France on February 20 to desist from entrenching “discriminatory attitudes” against Muslims into laws aimed at fighting so-called extremism. Paris needs to bring people together instead of stamping Islam in a certain manner to create “disharmony and bias,” said Alvi, according to state-run Radio Pakistan. Alvi was referring to a controversial bill introduced by French President Emmanuel Macron last year to fight so-called “Islamist separatism.” Addressing a seminar on religious freedom and minorities’ rights in Islamabad, he said Pakistan communicated to the West that blasphemy of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ in the name of so-called freedom of expression is considered an insult to the entire Muslim community. The bill is being criticised because it targets the Muslim community and imposes restrictions on almost every aspect of their lives.
BIDEN ADMIN. TO RELEASE REPORT ON KHASHOGGI ASSASSINATION
The Washington Post on February 19 reported on Friday that the US administration intends to release an intelligence report revealing the implication of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman in the assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, at his country’s consulate in Turkey in 2018. The newspaper quoted informed sources stating that the report, which is an unclassified summary of the findings published by the office of Director of National Intelligence, will be released early next week. The report concluded, according to the newspaper, that Bin Salman “ordered Khashoggi’s assassination.” The newspaper pointed out that a senior Saudi Foreign Ministry official had refused to comment on the timing or content of the US report.
SUDAN’S CENTRAL BANK FLOATS CURRENCY
Sudan’s Central Bank on February 21 said it had partially floated the currency and announced a new regime to unify the official and black market exchange rates. In a statement, the bank said the “decision aims to unify and stabilise the exchange rate, transfer resources from the parallel market to the official market, and attract remittances from Sudanese working abroad through formal channels.” The decision is intended to grant the Central Bank full powers to intervene to stabilise the exchange rate if the limits it sets are exceeded. The bank said the move aims to attract foreign investments and normalize relations with regional and international financing institutions in order to attract grants and loans and encourage producers, exporters, and the private sector with a suitable exchange rate.
MYANMAR PROTESTS CONTINUE DAY AFTER KILLINGS
Massive protests erupted in major cities and towns in Myanmar on February 21 to condemn the killing of two protesters at the hands of security forces, and to demonstrate their outrage against the Feb. 1 military coup. Police and security forces opened fire on demonstrators in Mandalay, the country’s second-largest city, on February 20, killing two protesters, including a teenage boy who volunteered to help the injured. A volunteer medic said that tens of thousands of people have joined a protest sit-in, blocking major intersections in Mandalay. “It is like a sea of people,” he said on the condition of anonymity. Activist Than Myat Soe alleged that the security forces had “used live rounds of ammunition on the protesters, which is why there were casualties.” Dissidents and activists have called for major rallies across the country on February 22 to demonstrate their rejection of the ruling military junta.
PUBLIC VOTING IN TENSE PRESIDENTIAL POLL IN NIGER
More than 7 million Niger citizens began voting on February 21 in the second round of presidential election. The ruling Party for Democracy and Socialism candidate Mohamed Bazoum led in the first round on December 27 with 39.3% of the vote. Mahamane Ousmane, the candidate of the Democratic and Republic Rally, came second with 16.98%. Outgoing President Mahamadou Issoufou cannot run for a third term according to the Nigerien Constitution. Bazoum, 61, has held several top positions in Issoufou’s government including the foreign, interior and religious affairs ministries. Ousmane, 71, was Niger’s first democratically elected president and ousted in a 1996 military coup. He was also president of Niger’s National Assembly between 1999 and 2009. Since 2006, he has headed the Parliament of the Economic Community of West African States, or ECOWAS, a regional political and economic union of 15 West African countries.
IRAN SHUTS BORDER WITH IRAQ OVER UK VARIANT SPREAD
Iran on February 20 shut its border crossings with Iraq and barred travel to provinces bordering the neighbouring country over spread of the UK variant of coronavirus. The western province of Khuzestan, which borders Iraq, has been worst hit by the coronavirus mutant, with majority of new cases reported from there. According to local media reports, two children died in the province this week after contracting the UK variant, which was first reported in Iran last month. Iran’s Health Ministry had earlier reported the death of two people due to the UK variant of coronavirus in central Qazvin and Alborz provinces, pointing to spread of the virus. Iran’s Health Minister Saeed Namaki, expressing concern over the alarming situation in Khuzestan and adjoining provinces, on Saturday said the virus was carried by travellers coming from Iraq.
TURKISH PRESIDENT MOURNS OVER DEATH OF ISLAMIC SCHOLAR
Turkey’s president on February 21 attended the funeral service of prominent Islamic scholar Muhammed Emin Sarac, who passed away on February 19. The service was held in Istanbul’s Fatih Mosque, where the scholar provided Islamic education for more than six decades. At the service, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed his condolences over the loss of the renowned scholar of Hadiths, or records of the deeds and sayings of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Saying that he had known Sarac since his school years and had “benefited greatly” from his teachings, Erdogan added that he wished to reunite with the late scholar in the hereafter. “Our teacher was always at the forefront of Islamic scholarship,” Erdogan said, adding that he believes Sarac’s students will continue his teachings “with the same understanding.” Besides the president, senior Turkish officials and bureaucrats also attended the funeral.