Women’s Rights in the MENA Region: Progress & Obstacles

A Background to Women’s Rights in the MENA Region

Gender equality is a fundamental human right and an imperative foundation which lays the groundwork for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world. The development of women’s rights in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region has seen much progress and obstacles over the past decade. However, the unequal status of women stands out as a particularly challenging problem.Following“International Women’s Day” last month, this article provides a snapshot of the development of women’s rights in the MENA region as of April 2023. MENA countries include Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.The MENA region has a reputation for struggling with gender equality.  Development of women's rights Therefore, this article focuses on this region. However, it is important to emphasize that the MENA region is not the only place women experience inequality. Gender inequality is also seen in Asia, Africa, Latin America, Europe, and North America. Undoubtedly, women continue to face discrimination and significant barriers to fully realizing their rights worldwide.

Any Progress in the MENA Region?

Governments are developing stronger laws and policies to support women’s rights.Significant laws, policies, and programming developments have focused on gender equality within the MENA region. Moreover, women’s representation in government has increased.Many countries in the region have established “national women’s machinery”. This machinery is used in government offices, departments, commissions, or ministries. All these provide government leadership and support in achieving gender equality.Furthermore, there have been notable improvements in education and health within gender-related indices. There has been an increase in specialized programming to support women’s rights and empowerment in this region.Women struggle to uphold their rights in places like Palestine. It is international human rights laws and conventions which are helping women in advocating for and strengthening their fight. Since the ratification of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) by the State of Palestine in March 2014, civil society organizations and women human rights defenders have publicly advocated for the implementation of the Convention and the passing of a Family Protection Bill, pending since the early 2000s, which would specifically address gender-based discrimination and violence. In turn, this will help to edge women closer towards gender equality in the occupied Palestinian territory.

Women are increasing their role in civil society and advocating their rights

Women are increasing their engagement in civil society. Women’s and youth feminist civil society has started to dominate the political scene in advocating for and securing gains. In Iran, millions of young women took to the street following Mahsa Amini’s death in police custody for improperly wearing her hijab. These women risked their lives to change the system. Many were arrested and beaten and now face the death penalty for speaking out. This demonstrates women’s power in standing up against authoritarian regimes and fighting oppression.Caption: Thousands walk to the cemetery of MashaAmini’s funeral in Iran supporting women’s rights in September 2022.The Iranian government is brutally repressing women’s voices who courageously stand up for their freedom. The UN has called Iran a “gender apartheid” on women.Women’s civil society actively engages internationally with the “Women’s Peace and Security” agenda. Remarkably, women activists have testified before the United Nations Security Council. The UN Women highlighted the gender impact of conflict and occupation on women’s rights.

What Obstacles Hinder the Development of Women’s Rights in the MENA Region?

Women face many inequalities within the MENA society, correlating them as second-class citizens with little to no protection from violence. The COVID-19 pandemic has compounded existing inequalities. Moreover, factors significantly reducing space for constructive civil society engagement with governments include ongoing conflict, the revival of extremist religious groups, and increased political turmoil. These international crises created many setbacks in passing long-term legal change.The 2022 global poverty update from the World Bank reports that the MENA region is the only place worldwide where the extreme poverty rate increased between 2010 and 2020. Poverty has a detrimental impact on women’s rights.Gender-based violence is also one of the main challenges facing women in the region today, with devastating effects on their health and well-being and their economic and civic participation.Women protest for the development of women's rights in the MENA region.Caption: Egyptian women in Cairo protest against violence against women [EPA].Read more: Female Genital Mutilation in Somalia Reflects Deep-Rooted Gender Inequality.A striking example of gender-based violence was in 2022 when the Israeli forces shot dead Al Jazeera’s journalist Shireen Abu Akleh in the occupied West Bank. Abu Akleh, a longtime TV correspondent for Al Jazeera Arabic, was killed on the 11th of May 2022 while covering Israeli army raids in Jenin in the northern occupied West Bank.

Women have no right to nationality in the MENA region

The MENA region has the highest concentration of gender-discriminatory nationality laws. An estimated 50% of the 25 countries in MENA deny women equal rights to pass nationality to their children.Algeria is the only country in the region with nationality laws upholding complete gender equality, including women’s right to confer nationality on their children and noncitizen spouse on an equal basis with men. Thus, gender discrimination in nationality laws is one of the primary causes of statelessness in the MENA region, in addition to causing several other human rights violations.Lebanon, Kuwait, and Qatar deny women the right to confer nationality to their children and spouses in all circumstances. Other States, including Bahrain, Jordan, Libya, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Syria and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), deny women the right to confer their nationality to children in most circumstances.

Malnutrition in women and girls increases by 25%

Malnutrition in women and girls increased by 25% in crisis-hit countries in the MENA region between 2020-2022. Over a billion women and adolescent girls are malnourished in the world. This has detrimental health, economic and well-being impacts. Most women and girls affected by this statistic live in the MENA region. Both local and global crises in 2023 could exacerbate the development of women and girls living there. Rising poverty and inequities increase the chances that people will turn to cheap, ultra-processed, unhealthy foods.ddressing malnutrition in women and girls is essential to reduce the gender health gap”Therefore, the world is making slow progress. Issues like soaring food prices, climate change and the lasting impact of the COVID-19 pandemic risk making the nutrition crisis an even more significant problem in 2023. Nutrition is a widely overlooked issue; coordinated access and policy intervention are urgently needed.Read more: Children’s Rights in Yemen Are Teetering on the Edge of A Catastrophe.

The opinions and attitudes of citizens across the MENA region were recorded in the latest Arab Barometer survey from October 2021 to July 2022. This is the largest publically available survey published since the onset of COVID. Its results were shocking across 12 MENA countries, which collectively are home to 80 per cent of the citizen population in the Arab world. The findings give an unprecedented insight into the everyday lives of these citizens.

UN Defender Demands End to Crackdown on Kashmiri Activists

UN Human Rights Defenders Demand an End to the Crackdown on Kashmiri Activists. India must immediately halt its crackdown on Kashmiri activists, Mary Lawlor, the independent UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defender, said on Friday, calling for greater accountability where abusive actions are taken and demanded an end to the crackdown on Kashmiri Activists. Lawlor took up the mandate of Special Rapport on the situation of human rights defenders on 1 May 2020, following the Human Rights Council decision 43/115.Days after the National Investigation Agency (NIA) formally detained imprisoned Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS) program coordinator Khurram Parvez in connection with its NGO, Mary Lawlor, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders, made this statement and as a human rights defender she demands an end to the crackdown on Kashmiri Activists.

Khurram Parvez’s second arrest after being jailed for a year

Khurram Parvez, who had been jailed since November 2021 on terrorism-related charges, was arrested in a second case on March 22, 2023, following two days of questioning by the National Investigation Agency, India’s top counterterrorism agency. With his role in the Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society, he is charged with financing terrorism in accordance with the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).  Defender Demand Ending Crackdown UAPA is a “draconian Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), a law that allows the government to designate someone as a “terrorist” and keep them in pretrial detention for years without needing to produce incriminating evidence” says Hafsa Kanjwal in the Washington Post.“Indian authorities appear to be intensifying the long-standing repression of Kashmiri civil society,” said Mary Lawlor. “The State must respect its human rights obligations and be held accountable where it violates them,” she added.In 2021, Khurram Parvez was charged with “conspiracy” and “supporting terrorism.”. After conducting raids at his residence and workplace in Indian-administrated Kashmir, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) detained him. Yet, his detention sparked outrage and criticism around the world as well as immediate calls for his release. On social media, activists and others have described the arrest as an effort to “suppress and punish human rights campaigners.” Mr. Parvez has long been a prominent opponent of the BJP-led administration that currently holds power and was also arrested in 2016 for two and a half months.

Mr. Parvez is also the chairperson of the Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD), an international rights organization that looks into forced disappearances in Kashmir and elsewhere in Asia.

Jammu Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS)

Mr.Parvez’s Jammu Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS) has released a number of critical studies on the power abuses and disregard for human rights carried out by Indian security forces in the Kashmir Valley. Jammu Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS) was founded in 2000.“We are an amalgam of various non-funded, non-profit, campaign, research and advocacy organizations based in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir. JKCCS through its constituents seeks to speak truth to power whether through reports, programmes, systematic documentation, litigation or other engagements in Jammu and Kashmir and outside. JKCCS believes that a vibrant civil society and institution building is essential for any society, particularly Jammu and Kashmir. JKCCS maintains that the people of Jammu and Kashmir enjoy all the internationally guaranteed civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights including the right to self-determination.”.This is an excerpt from the wordpress website of JKCCS, an “already vulnerable civil society” which is now further being attacked and crushed on all fronts.

“The Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS) carries out essential work monitoring human rights. Their research and analysis of human rights violations are of huge value, including to international organizations seeking to ensure accountability and non-repetition of abuses,” Lawlor said.

Recent Arrest of Other Activists

Irfan Mehraj, a journalist and human rights advocate who previously belonged to the Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Societies (JKCCS), was taken into custody in the same case before the second arrest of jailed Khurram Parvez on March 20, 2023. Mehraj was then transported to New Delhi post his arrest in the same case under the draconian UAPA. Other human rights defenders are verbal about how the authorities are using compulsion and intimidation against former JKCCS associates and volunteers.Mehraj, a resident of Mehjoor Nagar in Srinagar, was ordered to appear at the Church Lane office of the central anti-terror agency on Monday evening, March 20, despite being away on business, according to his father, Mehraj-ud-Din Bhat.

He was on a story when the investigators called him on his mobile phone. They told him to come over to their office [for questioning] for five minutes. Later, we got to know that he had been arrested and was going to be shifted to Delhi on Tuesday. My son and brother have gone there seeking legal assistance,” Bhat, who is a Kashmir arts trader, told The Wire.The arrest and detention of persons for exercising their human rights are arbitrary. There must be accountability and remedy where such abusive actions are taken.” Lawlor said. “Time and time again, the Government has been called upon to address the fundamental issues with the country’s anti-terrorism framework and its misuse to smear and silence human rights defenders,” she added. As a human rights defender she demands an end to the crackdown on Kashmiri Activists.

The Saudi-Iran Deal and its Implications

Seven years after their relations were broken, Saudi Arabia and Iran, the two major oil-producing competitors of the Middle East, have agreed to mend fences by reopening their embassies. The Saudi-Iran Deal is being said to bring the Middle East “Security, Stability” and have global implications. It is unexpected that the accord was signed in China because negotiations between Saudi Arabia and Iran on a future reconciliation had been ongoing for years, primarily in Iraq. After meetings held in Beijing under Chinese mediation, the Saudi-Iran deal was sealed.According to a joint statement, Iran and Saudi Arabia “agreed to resume diplomatic relations and reopen embassies… within two months” as a result of the negotiations, Iran’s national news agency said.

A video showing Ali Shamkhani, the council’s secretary, chatting with a Saudi official and China’s top diplomat, Wang Yi, was posted by Nour News, a website affiliated with Iran’s supreme national security council. “After implementing the decision, the foreign ministers of both nations will meet to prepare for exchange of ambassadors,” Iranian state television said.

Why had Saudi and Iran Cut Diplomatic Ties?

Following the killing of a renowned Shia cleric and preacher Nimr al-Nimar, Iranian protestors attacked Saudi diplomatic offices in Iran in 2016, leading to a deepening sectarian rift between Riyadh and Tehran causing Sadi and Iran to cut ties. The Saudi Arabian government’s killing of the renowned Shia preacher had drawn criticism from the. The Saudi-Iran Deal  Iranian government and Middle Eastern religious authorities, who threatened the country’s royal family with consequences. The execution of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr sparked widespread outrage, according to councils and clerics in Iran, Yemen, and Lebanon, which significantly heightened religious and diplomatic tensions in the area.In recent years, the rivalry between predominantly Sunni Saudi Arabia and predominantly Shia Iran, has dominated Middle East affairs and spread to Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, and Yemen.

Why Does the Saudi-Iran Deal Send Shockwaves to Israel?

The announcement of the reconciliation between longtime opponents Saudi Arabia and Iran on March 12, sent shockwaves through the Middle East and struck a symbolic blow to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has made countering the threat presented by Tehran a top priority in his public diplomacy efforts. He has presented himself as the sole leader capable of shielding Israel from Iran’s nuclear program, which according to him is expanding quickly, as well as from Iranian proxies in the region, such as Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Reports claim that Israeli-linked ships transporting supplies in the Persian Gulf have been targeted by suspected Iranian drone strikes, among other attacks, as a result of Israel and Iran’s ongoing regional shadow war.Netanyahu’s normalization agreements with four Arab nations, including Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, in 2020 remain one of his greatest diplomatic victories. They were part of an overall strategy to oppose and isolate Iran in the area.

Earlier Netanyahu and his allies made hints that a deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia would be close since taking office late last year. Last month, Netanyahu said in an address to American Jewish leaders that a peace deal was “a goal that we are working on in parallel with the goal of stopping Iran.” However, experts claim that such plans have been dashed by the Saudi-Iran agreement that was unveiled on Friday.Israel is essentially on its own as it spearheads efforts to diplomatically isolate Iran and makes threats of an unprovoked military attack against Iran’s nuclear facilities as a result of Saudi Arabia’s choice to cooperate with its regional opponent Iran. Additionally, the UAE and Iran reestablished official ties last year.

Israel and Netanyahu baffled over Saudi-Iran Deal

The Saudi-Iran deal led to not just disappointment but also finger-pointing in Israel. Benjamin Netanyahu has been baffled over the Saudi Iranian deal and blamed Yair Lapid and Naftali Bennett’s previous administration in Israel, as well as U.S. President Biden. When negotiations between Saudi Arabia and Iran got underway a year ago, Netanyahu charged that they failed to take a firm enough stance.Danny Danon, a Netanyahu ally and former Israeli ambassador to the U.N. who recently predicted a peace agreement with Saudi Arabia in 2023, seemed disconcerted.“This is not supporting our efforts,” he said when asked about whether the rapprochement hurt chances for the kingdom’s recognition of Israel.“It’s a blow to Israel’s notion and efforts in recent years to try to form an anti-Iran bloc in the region,” said Yoel Guzansky, an expert on the Persian Gulf at the Institute for National Security Studies, an Israeli think tank. “If you see the Middle East as a zero-sum game, which Israel and Iran do, a diplomatic win for Iran is very bad news for Israel.”.

Saudi Iran Deal Causes a Blow to the Abraham Accords

Additionally, Israel is also worried that the Saudi-Iran deal can cause a blow to the Abraham Accords signed on Sept. 15, 2020, which normalized diplomatic relations among Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, and, potentially, Sudan. Because the Saudi-Iran deal challenges the Abraham Accords’ most fundamental justification, there is currently a sense of discontent across the Israeli political spectrum. Israelis and Americans can make all the claims they want about the Accords being peace treaties, which they are not, or about the economic advantages. The main goals of the Accords, however, were expanded Arab state access to American weapons and coordination, as well as an Israeli-Arab coalition against Iran.

That framework provided Israel with the solution it had been looking for for years, which is the normalization with the Arab world without giving the Palestinians their freedoms and rights. The Saudi-Iran deal causes a blow to the Abraham Accords because it will fail Israel’s attempts to isolate Iran from the middle eastern countries. While the Saudi-Iran Deal has the potential to make shifts in both regional and global politics, it could also mean a lot less than it initially anticipated.

Festival turns bloody after Hindutva Mob Burnt Centennial Mosque

Hindutva rioters, on March 31, in Bihar Sharif, eastern India, vandalized and destroyed the 110-year-old Madrasa Azizia, which contained 4,500 books of Islamic literature. The Hindu festival in India turned bloody for Muslims after the Hindutva mob burnt centennial mosque and library and set the shops on fire.Bibi Soghra established the prestigious Madrasa Aziza in 1896 as a tribute to her late husband, Moulvi Abdul Aziz. At Bihar Sharif, Bibi Soghra was a well-known philanthropist. After losing her husband and children, she committed her life and riches to charitable causes. She founded the Soghra Waqf Estate in 1896, a foundation that is still in use today that manages her assets and provides funding for charitable and educational organizations. Sadly, the Hindutva mob burnt this Centennial Mosque which is a historic religious siteSome 20 members of an armed mob damaged the historic building and tossed petrol bombs at it during the Hindu holiday of Ram Navami. Authorities reported that at least one person, a teenager, had been killed by gunfire and that 77 of those responsible for the violence had been detained.

Government Sends Riot Police and Shuts Off Mobile Internet Services

After violence broke out during a Hindu religious event in multiple states, the government sent in hundreds of riot police and shut off mobile internet access in some areas of eastern India. Throughout the region, prohibition orders have been issued in accordance with Section 144 of the CrPC. The district has banned internet connectivity, and it is anticipated that this prohibition will last for the ensuing 48 hours.  Hindutva mob Burnt Centennial Mosque According to the authorities, there was new violence on Saturday night that claimed one life.“So far, 77 people have been arrested and 12 FIRs lodged. A flag march was conducted to maintain peace in the area. Adequate paramilitary personnel have been deployed to control the situation,” said Nalanda Superintendent of Police Ashok Mishra.

According to the police, Gulshan Kumar died from bullet wounds, while a second critically injured person is receiving medical attention in Patna, the state capital. The authorities have strictly suggested that people stay inside after Hindutva mob burnt the Centennial Mosque. Read here, India’s Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi Disqualified

BJP Union Minister Amit Shah to Send Additional Forces

“The Home Minister spoke to the Bihar governor and took stock of the situation. The Home Minister expressed his concern over the violence in the State,” news sources said.On April 2, 2023, sources claim that Union Home Ministry voiced concerns over occurrences of communal unrest in Bihar and called on Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar to assess the situation. To help the state administration deal with the aftermath of the violence, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has decided to send more paramilitary soldiers to Bihar.

Historic Property and Holy Books Burnt in the Attack by Hindutva Mob

Sarfaraz Mallik, an advocate at Bihar Sharif Court who resides close to the madrasa said “It is unfortunate that rare books were burnt in the attack, which was carried out with the intention of hampering the education of children”.Mohan Bahadur, a guard at the madrasa, recalling how he fled when the mob attacked him said “They were armed with swords and rods, and were chanting ‘Jai Shri Ram’. I ran away from the spot, but they took ₹3,500 from my room.”“We had just finished Friday prayers when violence erupted at Gagan Diwan locality near Hotel City Palace. A mob then entered the madrasa and started hurling stones. A member of the mosque’s peace committee was threatened to chant ‘Jai Shri Ram’. They threw petrol bombs into the mosque and the library, and set vehicles parked on the premises on fire,” Mr. Siyabuddin said.“two children were trapped in a room filled with smoke. If I had not reached there on time, we would have lost them,” Mr. Siyabuddin said. The police did not reach the spot till 11 p.m. even though the attack took place in the afternoon, he added.

According to another witness, the Friday Ram Navami procession from Shram Kalyan Maidan to Mani Ram Akhada was marred by violence. Also, the mob allegedly burnt a number of local businesses after flying saffron flags over them.resident of Bihar Sharif named Shatrughan Prasad claimed that since communal disturbances there claimed the lives of 45 people in 1981, the region has not seen such violence.

Similar Communal Outbursts in Other Indian States

Similar communal outbursts were reported in two other cities of Bihar, where authorities restricted public movement and suspended mobile internet connection in some locations.Rohtas was another district hot by violence where six people were hurt in an explosion inside a home where two men were apparently building a bomb inside a house.According to a tweet from the Bihar Police, the explosion did not initially seem to be connected to the ongoing turmoil since local mining operations sometimes use homemade explosives.During the Hindu festival, violence also affected at least seven other Indian states, leaving dozens injured and hundreds detained in at least 13 towns and cities. This included West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Karnataka. Last Thursday, rioters rampaged across the Howrah area of Karnataka and set fire to numerous cars and stores.

A Pattern of Communal Violence Against Muslims During Hindu Festivals by Hindutva Mob

A pattern of communal violence against Muslims during Hindu festivals in India has been seen over the years. Last year in April on the occasion of Ram Navami there were reports of violence, stone-throwing, and burning in various Indian states. Khargone and Barwani in Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Goa, Bombay, and even Jawahar Lal Nehru University in Delhi, where numerous students were hurt, all reported cases of disturbance and violence. Moreover, two persons died in these clashes in Gujarat and Jharkhand.

Why is Zakir Naik Wanted in India – The Radical Preacher Explained

He has 3 million subscribers on YouTube, 593k followers on Instagram, and has delivered thousands of lectures on Islam worldwide. But Zakir Naik, the 57-year-old popular Islamic preacher, is wanted by Indian authorities, banned from entering the UK, Canada, and Bangladesh, and on the run since 2016.Recently, the preacher made headlines after his controversial statement during a lecture in Oman –Hindus in India love me so much that….“But before we dive into the reality of the alleged ‘radical preacher,’ it’s important to know – Who is Zakir Naik? Why is he called the ‘radical preacher’? And What charges does Zakir Naik face in India?

Who is Zakir Naik?

Zakir Abdul Karim Naik was born and raised in Mumbai, India, where he completed his education with an MBBS degree. Zakir Naik His interest in socio-religious activities grew in his 20s, after which he founded the now-outlawed Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) in India: CNBCTV18Zakir Naik also founded a Dubai-based broadcast, Peace TV, a channel now prohibited in the UK, Canada, India, and Bangladesh. And he is especially popular amongst Muslim youth, primarily due to his trademarks, Western suit, skullcap attire, and English lectures.Over the years, Naik has become a subject of global attention after one of the attackers in the 2016 Dhaka attack (that killed 22 people) claimed to be inspired by his speeches.Now 57 years old, the Islamic preacher left India in 2016 amidst accusations of promoting religious hatred and money laundering. Mr. Naik, however, denied the claim saying his remarks were taken out of context and distorted.

What charges does Dr. Naik face in India?

Soon after the Dhaka attack, India’s counter-terrorism activity had filed a complaint against Zakir Naik. He was accused of unlawful activities and of stirring religious hate.Today, Zakir Naik is wanted in India for instigating terrorism, inciting religious tensions, and money laundering (millions of dollars). However, the court judgment delivered by Judge Manmohan Singh halted the ED from seeing Naik’s properties drawing similarities between Zakir and Asaram Bapu (self-styled spiritual guru now behind bars) in January 2018.However, after the accusations, Naik fled India in 2016 and has been living in Malaysia ever since with permanent residency.In 2017, India revoked Naik’s passport and asked Malaysia to deport Naik in 2018. But, somewhere in between, even Malaysia banned Zakir from delivering public speeches after continuously trying to stir up religious feelings and making racial statements against the country’s Hindu and Chinese minorities.

Why is Zakir Naik called the ”Radical Preacher” in India?

Zakir Naik’s name often makes healing for his provocative and controversial statement. For example, at instances, Zakir supported suicide attacks in his speech while citing Salam AudahHe has also defended temple bombing in Pakistan, arguing that Islamic nations should forbid saying, “How can we allow this (building of churches or temples in Islamic states) when their religion is wrong and when they are worshiping the wrong?”His views on 9/11, homosexuality, girls’ education, and more have constantly kept him in the spotlight, giving him the title of ‘radical preacher.’

Where is Naik Today?

Recently, Zakir was spotted daring India to arrest the country’s many godmen. Recorded on camera, he can be seen covering Indian Hindu women. It was at this lecture that he was found saying:he problem is that the majority of Hindus in India love me. They love me so much that it is creating a problem for the vote bank. “While all this was happening in Oman, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs said it was talking to the government of Oman to extradite Zakir so that he could be sent back to India to face justice. But the latest report states that Naik’s work in Oman is done, and he is returning to Malaysia.

Zakir Naik & The Indian Government – Bottom Line

With his large following, he is just a speech away from promoting riots and acts of terror, and yet he remains a celebrity in a certain part of the world – the Gulf.”However, despite Indian authorities’ immense efforts to apprehend Zakir Naik and seek his extradition from Malaysia, Qatar, and Oman, International police refused to grant New Delhi’s requirements for a Ref Notice against him (with the most recent being in 2021).Moreover, Interpol dismissed the NIA’s charge sheet against Dr. Naik, stating that soliciting donations during speeches and endorsing a religion does not amount to any criminal offense.

Japan’s Last Chance to Boost Its Birth Rate (A Warning For the World)

japan is on the verge of whether we can continue functioning as a society.” these are the words of the distressed prime minister of japan, fumio kishida. While addressing the island country’s strikingly declining population, one could clearly witness the urgency in mr. Fumio’s 45-minute speech.The threat of japan’s population dropping from 125 million today to 88 million in less than half a century is terrifying. But japan is not alone when it comes to declining birth rates and an aging population. Developed countries across the world are facing the very same population crisis.And japan’s ‘last chance‘ to boost its birth rates is sending shock waves worldwide, warning of a similar fate in the foreseeable future.

Japan’s demographic crisis explained

The worrying trend of falling population growth has persisted for decades. Japan’s annual births have almost halved since the recorded high of 1.5 million in 1982. Birth Rates in Japan With the fertility rate at 1.3 (well below the 2.1 needed for a stable population), the leaders are now facing a ballooning elderly population.The death rate has outpaced the birth in the island country for over a decade now. In addition, overwhelming funds requirements for the aging population’s health care and pensions further put immense strain on the already shrinking workforce.

Exploring the reasons behind low birth rates in japan

One primary reason behind japan’s current demographic crisis is the high cost of living that makes it difficult for couples to raise children.According to jefferies’s research, japan ranked amongst the top three most expensive places to raise a child after china and south korea. Even though the country’s economy has stalled since the early 1990s, with the average annual household income declining to $43,000 in 2020 from $50,600 in 1995, the cost of raising children has only increased.

High cost of raising a child in japan

The financial burden is further exaggerated by the gender pay gap, with japanese women earning 26% less than their male counterparts.Furthermore, japanese women are torn between raising a family or building a fulfilling career. And the skyrocketing cost of raising a child coupled with almost stagnant salary growth, more women lean towards a child-free life, enjoying their career and freedom above getting married and having children.All the above and much more complicated reasons have discouraged coupled from starting families – leading to falling birth rates.

Japan in search of solutions

According to fumio kishida, 2030 is the ‘last chance’ for japan to reverse its sharply declining birth rates. That’s why his government is strongly encouraging couples to start new families. In addition, establishing a child-first social economy is at the top of kishida’s plans, which will be detailed more in the coming months.The prime minister has also promised to double childhood spending by increasing after-school care initiatives and childcare initiatives. In his recent news conference, kishida said that his government also plans to provide housing assistance and childcare allowances along with reducing the cost of education and raising the wages of younger individuals.In the fiscal year 2023, the government allocated 4.8 trillion yen ($36 billion) to a new agency created for children and their families.But, only some think the policies will be effective.

The world on the path to a demographic crisis

The declining birth rates in major developed countries, including japan, china, and the us, is a mild way to describe what could become a global demographic crisisAt 0.79 births per woman, south korea has the lowest birth rate, followed by china and japan. Western nations, including the us, with 1.64 births per woman, also witness a fast-aging population.Therefore, it’s high time for governments to start looking for short-term and long-term solutions.China’s three-child policy and japan’s child-first nation are the aging countries’ attempts to reverse their declining birth. And while the youth population in the developing world is still growing, many countries like india struggle to create enough jobs for their working people. Here, the immigration economy can be an obvious short-term solution. But its political implication can be hard to overcome.In the long term, the government must form deeper structural systems to help improve childcare and the cost of raising children

The uncertainty of a better tomorrow

The falling birth rates bring an existential threat to the world – especially at a time when the majority of women face complications during pregnancy.But the sad reality is the majority of the world is following the same steps as south korea and japan. The skyrocketing cost of living isn’t the only reason. The younger generation doesn’t feel the world is safe, given the uncertainty of a better tomorrow (owing to climate change, threats of nuclear war, and more).How successful japan’s new child-first social economy will be decided in the future. But despite the current policies, it’s tough to comeup with a sustainable solution when you leave out 50% of the population (women) out of the decision-making process.

India’s Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi Disqualified

 

An Indian court last week convicted India’s opposition leader Raul Gandhi in a criminal defamation case. The court awarded him a two-year jail term over his “why all thieves have Modi surname” comment. Further, Gandhi was disqualified from the parliament, a day after the court verdict. Subsequently, the government asked to vacate the government-allotted residence. Even though the court gave him a 30-day period to appeal against the conviction, Gandhi is yet to appeal against the verdict. 

Modi Surname Remark

Gandhi made the “Modi” comment in an election rally in Kolar just before the 2019 General Elections. Talking about the corruption and frauds done by some people with the Modi surname, he had said, “one small question, how are the names of all these thieves ‘Modi, Modi, Modi’… Nirav Modi, Lalit Modi, Narendra Modi, and if you search a little more, aur bahut saare Modi niklenge (many more Modis will emerge).”  Rahul Gandhi A BJP leader in the state of Gujarat with a Modi surname had filed a criminal defamation case against Gandhi after he alleged that it hurt the sentiments of lakhs of people with the Modi surname.After the court verdict came, the Modi-led government reacted quickly by disqualifying Gandhi. The government disqualified Gandhi under the law which states that a Member of Parliament sentenced to not less than two years shall be disqualified from the parliament. 

Gandhi’s Opposition to the Law that Would Have Protected Him

The court gave Rahul Gandhi 30 days to appeal against the conviction. If the court stays the conviction, he will be reinstated as a Member of Parliament (MP). Before July 2013, MPs convicted under this law were able to retain their seat until they had exhausted all the judicial remedies. However, on 10 July 2013, the Supreme Court of India negated this position. Rahul Gandhi’s Congress Party, which was in power in 2013, had initiated an amendment to this law to circumvent the Supreme Court judgement. Rahul Gandhi had opposed the amendment and publicly assailed his party and the prime minister for protecting corrupt political allies. It was his opposition and criticism that led the government to repeal the ordinance.

Questions over the Timing of the Verdict

The court verdict convicting Rahul Gandhi came at a time when Gandhi had led concerted attacks against the government on the issue of the Adani Group. Gandhi has accused Modi of protecting and shielding the Indian business conglomerate Adani Group. Adani Group was accused of fraud by US short-seller Hindenburg Research which termed it the “largest con in corporate history”. Subsequently, Adani Group’s shares tumbled. Gautam Adani, Adani’s Group’s Chairman lost more than 80 billion USD and fell from the world’s third richest person to the world’s 26th richest person (as of today).

Adani’s rise is closely linked to the rise of India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Adani comes from the state of Gujarat where Modi served as a Chief Minister for almost 15 years. Adani Group is involved in infrastructure, airports, ports, coal and cement among many other sectors. India’s opposition party has alleged that the Modi government is tweaking India’s foreign policy to serve Adani’s interests. They substantiate it with the evidence that Adani visited various countries and bagged contracts in those countries just after Modi’s visit to these countries.Even though the allegations against Adani Group are serious in nature, the government has hardly taken any action to investigate these frauds. Congress has raised many questions on the row and persists with its demand to set up a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to probe the charges against the Adani Group. Rahul Gandhi was leading the opposition criticism of the government. Even after the disqualification, Gandhi said, he will still ask these questions against the government.

Indian Democracy under Threat

The farcical disqualification of Rahul Gandhi has raised serious questions about the current regime in India. The disqualification has signalled that the Modi-led government will not tolerate any kind of opposition. The aim of the disqualification is to strike fear in the hearts of opposition leaders and other groups that oppose the policies of the Modi government. It is not just Rahul Gandhi but the Modi government that has targeted activists, students, human rights defenders, civil society, research institutions, universities, businesses, judges and all political leaders that publicly oppose his policies. Most of the politicians belonging to opposition parties today have corruption cases lodged against them. Central agencies like the Enforcement Directorate and Central Bureau of India that work directly under Modi’s orders are daily summoning opposition politicians these days for questioning in different cases. Interestingly, politicians from opposition parties who had cases registered against them but later defected to Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and had their cases withdrawn against them.

These are challenging times for India and India’s democracy. The way the Modi government is acting, it will be safe to say that India today is under a tyrannical government. Since General Elections in India will be held next year, it is possible that the Modi government may not be ready for a peaceful transfer of power. Further, the freedom of opposition parties to contest elections freely is also under threat. Therefore, the next elections will determine what way India goes.  

India’s Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi Disqualified

An Indian court last week convicted India’s opposition leader Raul Gandhi in a criminal defamation case. The court awarded him a two-year jail term over his “why all thieves have Modi surname” comment. Further, Gandhi was disqualified from the parliament, a day after the court verdict. Subsequently, the government asked to vacate the government-allotted residence. Even though the court gave him a 30-day period to appeal against the conviction, Gandhi is yet to appeal against the verdict. 

Modi Surname Remark

Gandhi made the “Modi” comment in an election rally in Kolar just before the 2019 General Elections. Talking about the corruption and frauds done by some people with the Modi surname, he had said, “one small question, how are the names of all these thieves ‘Modi, Modi, Modi’… Nirav Modi, Lalit Modi, Narendra Modi, and if you search a little more, aur bahut saare Modi niklenge (many more Modis will emerge).”   Rahul Gandhi A BJP leader in the state of Gujarat with a Modi surname had filed a criminal defamation case against Gandhi after he alleged that it hurt the sentiments of lakhs of people with the Modi surname.

After the court verdict came, the Modi-led government reacted quickly by disqualifying Gandhi. The government disqualified Gandhi under the law which states that a Member of Parliament sentenced to not less than two years shall be disqualified from the parliament. 

Gandhi’s Opposition to the Law that Would Have Protected Him

The court gave Rahul Gandhi 30 days to appeal against the conviction. If the court stays the conviction, he will be reinstated as a Member of Parliament (MP). Before July 2013, MPs convicted under this law were able to retain their seat until they had exhausted all the judicial remedies. However, on 10 July 2013, the Supreme Court of India negated this position. Rahul Gandhi’s Congress Party, which was in power in 2013, had initiated an amendment to this law to circumvent the Supreme Court judgement. Rahul Gandhi had opposed the amendment and publicly assailed his party and the prime minister for protecting corrupt political allies. It was his opposition and criticism that led the government to repeal the ordinance.

Questions over the Timing of the Verdict

The court verdict convicting Rahul Gandhi came at a time when Gandhi had led concerted attacks against the government on the issue of the Adani Group. Gandhi has accused Modi of protecting and shielding the Indian business conglomerate Adani Group. Adani Group was accused of fraud by US short-seller Hindenburg Research which termed it the “largest con in corporate history”. Subsequently, Adani Group’s shares tumbled. Gautam Adani, Adani’s Group’s Chairman lost more than 80 billion USD and fell from the world’s third richest person to the world’s 26th richest person (as of today).Adani’s rise is closely linked to the rise of India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Adani comes from the state of Gujarat where Modi served as a Chief Minister for almost 15 years. Adani Group is involved in infrastructure, airports, ports, coal and cement among many other sectors. India’s opposition party has alleged that the Modi government is tweaking India’s foreign policy to serve Adani’s interests. They substantiate it with the evidence that Adani visited various countries and bagged contracts in those countries just after Modi’s visit to these countries.

Even though the allegations against Adani Group are serious in nature, the government has hardly taken any action to investigate these frauds. Congress has raised many questions on the row and persists with its demand to set up a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to probe the charges against the Adani Group. Rahul Gandhi was leading the opposition criticism of the government. Even after the disqualification, Gandhi said, he will still ask these questions against the government.

Indian Democracy under Threat

The farcical disqualification of Rahul Gandhi has raised serious questions about the current regime in India. The disqualification has signalled that the Modi-led government will not tolerate any kind of opposition. The aim of the disqualification is to strike fear in the hearts of opposition leaders and other groups that oppose the policies of the Modi government. It is not just Rahul Gandhi but the Modi government that has targeted activists, students, human rights defenders, civil society, research institutions, universities, businesses, judges and all political leaders that publicly oppose his policies. Most of the politicians belonging to opposition parties today have corruption cases lodged against them. Central agencies like the Enforcement Directorate and Central Bureau of India that work directly under Modi’s orders are daily summoning opposition politicians these days for questioning in different cases. Interestingly, politicians from opposition parties who had cases registered against them but later defected to Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and had their cases withdrawn against them.These are challenging times for India and India’s democracy. The way the Modi government is acting, it will be safe to say that India today is under a tyrannical government. Since General Elections in India will be held next year, it is possible that the Modi government may not be ready for a peaceful transfer of power. Further, the freedom of opposition parties to contest elections freely is also under threat. Therefore, the next elections will determine what way India goes.

Liquidating the Palestinian Cause is the goal behind the”Judicial overhaul” crisis in Israel

For weeks now, Israel has been witnessing massive daily demonstrations protesting plans by the new openly fascist government to reform the I’s judicial system. The so-called ” judicial overhaul ” was one of stipulations reached between Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu and his two openly fascist Talmudic coalition partners, Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich.The two extremist ministers advocate and are pushing for the adoption of draconian Talmudic laws against the Palestinians, which would also militate against liberal secular Jews.

They want the judiciary to be subservient to the Executive Branch  

The proposed judicial reform would introduce far-reaching changes to the judicial system, effectively scrapping the checks and balances which maintain the separation of powers and government branches. The proposed Judicial overhaul in Israel seeks to curb the judiciary’s influence over lawmaking by limiting the power of the High  Court to exercise judicial review. The Judicial overhaul in Israel This would grant the government control over judicial appointments as well as limit the authority of its legal advisors.The Supreme Court is considered the last-resort tribune for redress, especially for the Palestinians in both Israel and Occupied Territories.Hence the proposed weakening of the court would seriously undermine the Palestinians’ ability to obtain even a modicum of Justice in Israel and the West Bank. Moreover, the proposed Judicial overhaul in Israel could also lead to the cancellation or dilution of some basic laws related to basic human rights,  civil liberties and human dignity.

If adopted, the reforms would diminish the ability of courts to conduct a judicial overhaul of some basic laws and change the makeup of the Judicial selection committees in Israel, so that control over the appointment of judges is effectively given to the government.

Moreover, the government is widely believed to have further undeclared aims, including expanding the authority of  Rabbinical Courts to act as arbitrators in civil matters using religious law, if both parties consent.The proposed Reforms would make Israel one step- closer to an obscurant  Talmudic state and one step farther from being a democratic state.

US worried over the Judicial overhaul in Israel

The Biden administration seems to have little leverage on the Talmudic extremists in Israel. The administration realizes that the very survival of the current Israeli government depends on the extremists’ support.Hence, they can do very little to return Israel to the status quo ante. On Tuesday,  Biden said that he was worried about the recent events in Israel and added that the Jewish state “can’t continue down this road. “Earlier, administration officials said the President was not worried about the prospects of civil war in Israel. However, the mere allusion to civil war in America’s closest guardian-ally suggests that the US is very concerned about the latest developments.Ben Gvir lambasted Biden for intervening in Israel’s internal affairs. He reportedly said that Israel was not an extra star on the US flag.

“The Jewish and democratic state mantra “

One of the favourite mantras routinely invoked by Israeli officials, especially when addressing a Western audience, is the mendacious claim that Israel is a Jewish and democratic state.However, these officials, including Netanyahu, would never say which description comes first in case there is a serious clash between the   “Jewish and democratic” components as clear from the ongoing developments.The answer is abundantly clear from the current coalition government perspective: The Talmudic comes before John Milton and Thomas Moor.Democracy must be subservient to the draconian, esoteric, and obscurant rules of the Talmud, not the other way around.

But this is anathema for millions of secular and liberal-minded Israeli Jews who fear a takeover of the country by the Orthodox Haredim, who are expected to form a plurality or majority of Israeli voters in a few decades.These Haredim live in a world of their own and are resistant to Western ideals and ideas. Hence many Israelis dread the prospect of the ultra-Orthodox Jews reaching the helm of power in Israel.

The Judicial overhaul crisis in Israel: Existential conflict

The current showdown between the Talmudic Camp and the secular liberal camp seems existential in nature and is not expected to subside in a few months or even a few years. On the contrary, the conflict will continue to pose a serious threat to the political stability of the Jewish state.

The political class in Israel might succeed in finding a temporary compromise formula, which would be similar to reaching a fragile ceasefire agreement between two mutually suspicious enemies. However, there seems to be little real hope for reaching a lasting modus vivendi between the conflicting camps.

Liquidating the Palestinian cause is the secret beyond the current crisis in Israel

As an observer of Israeli political behaviours for 50 years, I believe that the ultimate but undisclosed goal behind the current crisis in Israel is nothing less than the planned liquidation of the Palestinian cause.While the Palestinians are not directly involved in this inter-Jewish strife, there is no doubt that the Palestinians would bear the brunt of a possible  Talumudization of the Israeli judicial system.Liquidating the Palestinian Cause is the real ultimate goal behind the so-called “Judicial overhaul” crisis in Israel.Why many people, including many Jews and Palestinians, do not realize that the ultimate goal behind the so-called Judicial Overhaul is the actual liquidation of  the Palestinian national causeHow? The new proposed amendments would most likely   consolidate and perfect the Right’s grip on power in IsraelOnce this goal is secured “democratically,” in the absence of checks and balances, the newly enacted laws would be used or misused to wage a genocidal rampage against the Palestinians,  aimed at massacring and terrorizing them into fleeing their homes in the West Bank and East Jerusalem exactly like what happened in 1948.

The Zionist apologists would then argue that the “sovereign Jewish democratic state” had to take this “regrettable decision to forestall the annihilation of the Jewish people.”This is the real story behind the judicial overhaul crisis, not some banal procedural legal issues contested through an acrimonious showdown between moderates and extremists.

A few days ago while on a Paris visit, Israeli Finance Minister Smotrich,  denied the very existence of the Palestinian people. He even had the audacity to display a map showing Jordan and parts of northern Saudi Arabia as parts of Israel.

Dehumanizing Representation of Tribals and Muslims in the Oscar fame RRR

Naatu Naatu was the first Indian cinema song to be nominated for an Oscar, and it is a song from the Telugu megahit RRR, also known as Rise Roar Revolt. At the Academy Awards, which are being broadcast globally, its singers also gave a performance. With the movie’s US release last year, the song went viral worldwide, generating endless Instagram clips and dance crazes on social media. The crowd loved the song’s rapid tempo and synchronized choreography. Naatu Naatu has won numerous trophies at international competitions and received accolades on a global scale.

Rajamouli’s media appearances and the movie itself make it clear that the two main characters of his film are based on real-life individuals. Dehumanizing representation of tribals and Muslims  The Rampa Rebellion of 1922–1924, which saw the Adivasi population of the Godavari Agency in the Madras province wage guerrilla warfare against the British, was led by Alluri, a member of the Kshatriya caste. Between 1928 and 1940, Komaram, a member of the Adilabad Gond tribal community, led an armed insurrection against the Hyderabad nizams. RRR is a movie that presents a fictional tale in which the two of them come together to save a Gond girl who is forcefully taken by the British before the two revolutionaries embark on their individual rebellions. Rajamouli and his film RRR do not, however, see the two revolutionaries equally. Intellectuals support the celebration of the Oscar but warn of the dehumanizing representation of the tribals and Muslims in the Oscar fame RRR.Also, read Pro-Khalistan Activist Amritpal Singh declared fugitive- What is happening in “India’s Bread Basket” Punjab?

Dehumanizing Representation of Gonds- The Hindu Nationalist Civilizes the Tribal

There is an emergent model of hegemonic masculinity in RRR which is the muscular Hindu nationalist type, which importantly is the fantasy of the upper-caste Hindu gaze. There are two masculine figures in the film that either embody such masculinities or work towards the glorification of it, for instance, Bheem who is not an upper caste Hindu, but whose character nonetheless glorifies the hegemony of the ideal Hindu utopia.In the end, RRR is unable to free itself from the constraints of this unsettling structure of the Hindu caste system. It’s vital to remember that S.S. Rajamouli hails from a Hindu upper caste because this is something that comes over in his movies. N.T. Rama Rao (NTR) also belongs to the upper caste. Ram Charan belongs to the Kapu caste, which has a strong influence in the Telugu states. 

Rajamouli’s gaze at Raju (who is referred to as Ram for most of the movie) and Bheem is clearly problematic. Both protagonists are physically strong, but Ram is depicted as being smarter. Bheem is mostly shown during the three hours of the movie as a simpleton wilderness dweller in contrast to the clever, diligent, and command-barking Ram. Ram actually thanks his simpleton partner Bheem for his assistance in the very last scene and asks him how he may return the favor. Bheem simply clasps his palms together in front of him and asks Ram to “educate” his people. It appears pretty obvious that Ram, a smart Kshatriya, was given the “savior complex,” but Bheem, a formidable tribal, was not.Read here, India: Violence Against Women on Holi Reeks of Communal and Racial Tensions

Hindu Nationalism and the Dehumanizing Representation of the Muslim

The emotional landscape of these characters displays feelings of anger, betrayal, passion, and steadfastness. They drive their impetus from patriotism (love of the land in RRR) as well as nationalism (quest for national identity and freedom in RRR). But their patriotism and nationalism are explicitly Hindu in nature. So, for these characters, patriotism and nationalism become religion and vice versa. Religion is also culturally present to an extent that the world around them becomes de-facto Hindu. While there is a visible Muslim presence and as opposed to them being shown as outsiders or invaders, they have been depicted as helpful to the larger cause of nationalism that is explicitly Hindu in nature. However, in RRR, the movie may not depict Muslims as the evil foe to be vanquished, but it does depict them as naïve and submissive to a “Hindu unity” of bravery and freedom-fighting (much like Bheem and the tribals are). In other words, it would mean that “You can exist as long as it’s integrated into this invisible hierarchy of the Hindu caste system, where the Brahmins followed by the Kshatriyas are still at the top of everything that matters.”

Majoritarian Hindu Symbolism

The film has a nostalgia for an imagined Hindu past and a fight for a majoritarian Hindu future. The storyline for the film has explicit Hindu symbolism. Ram has the legacy of his father to carry forward to achieve that ideal Hindu future. He moves away from their homeland to fulfill their virtuous destiny. Much like the Hindu God Ram who went into exile to fulfill his father’s wishes only to return as the rightful heir and celebrated leader of the Hindu world. The protagonists are such celebrated characters within the films who have selfless ideals and work for the collective gratification and conscience of their people, either fulfilling the legacy of their fathers or fighting for the honor of women or quite literally saving them. The protagonists’ Ram and Bheem are shown to be a celebration of not being just Indians but being Hindus, Ram being the upper-caste Hindu at that, and Bheem simply by the virtue of being a tribal uncivilized Hindu under the nationalist and therefore religious guidance of his superior Ram.  

India- The Killing of Gangster-Turned-Politician Atiq Ahmad

Atiq Ahmad, a gangster-turned-politician, and his brother Khalid Azim alias Ashraf were shot dead on Saturday in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh while being escorted for a medical examination while in police custody. The shooting happened on the grounds of MLN Medical College. Around 10 p.m., when media personnel followed the two while they were being led to the hospital by police for a medical examination, shots were fired. After killing Atiq and his brother, the assassins could be heard yelling “Jai Shri Ram” in the terrible videos of the attack that leaked online. The three killers posed as journalists and murdered the Ahmad brothers. The assassins during a media interview have been apprehended and named. Arun Maurya, Lavlesh Tiwari, and Sunny Singh were three people that were apprehended, but no formal announcement of their names was made.

Glorification of the Killing

The former Samajwadi Party MP, 62, was killed hours after the last rites of his son Asad Ahmed, who was gunned down in a police encounter in Jhansi two days ago. The most shocking part of Atiq and Ashraf’s killing is that the Muslim prisoners were being escorted by about a dozen police personnel for a routine medical check-up. Gangster-Turned-Politician Atiq Ahmad This brazen killing and its filming and then broadcasting have sent shock waves across the country, especially among the leftist-leaning individuals regarding right-wingers taking law into their own hands. Many are worried about how law and order are rapidly vanishing from India, a country claiming to be the world’s largest democracy. What is further disturbing is the unabashed glorification of this killing by not just the common people in India but also many BJP leaders.

Who was Atiq Ahmad?

It would be an understatement to say that Atiq Ahmed was a problematic personality. The 60-year-old Prayagraj native was born into a low-income family and dropped out of school, but over the years he accumulated enormous money, benefited from political patronage and power, and developed a significant following in his hometown and beyond. He was chosen from the city five times as a state assembly representative beginning in 1989. In 2004, he was chosen from the Phulpur seat to serve in the parliament.He is referred to as a by Vikram Singh, a former director general of the state police of Uttar Pradesh, as some “sort of “Robin Hood, a Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde type of character” who “spent lavishly to help poor people – paying for weddings, giving them money during Eid festivals, and helping poor women buy school uniforms and books for their children”.

Turning into a Criminal

As Atiq Ahmed was charged with kidnapping, murder, extortion, and land grabbing, this image began to fall apart. He was accused of being engaged in more than 100 instances that had already been filed against him, but the victims were allegedly too terrified to file charges. Over the course of two decades, Ahmed spent time behind bars, yet he still managed to control the underworld in Uttar Pradesh and make sure his men were safe. However, Ahmed’s influence started to decline as the local Samajwadi Party cut its links with him and the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party took office in the state. He was detained for assault in 2017 and later sent to Gujarat, a state in western India.

The most current action against him got underway in February after video surfaced showing a group of men shooting Umesh Pal, a crucial witness in the 2005 murder of Raju Pal, a lawmaker associated with the local Bahujan Samaj Party. Pal was a critical witness in the case. The Ahmed brothers had been charged with taking part in Pal’s slaying.

The murder in February that was seen on video started a chain of events that resulted in Ahmed and several members of his family and followers being killed, his wife being tracked down after with a bounty on her head, two of his sons being imprisoned, and the other two sons, who are minors, being placed in government protection homes.Also, read Demolition Drives in Kashmir- Is India following the Israeli Model in Kashmir?

Indian Politicians divided over killing of Atiq Ahmad

Dharmpal Singh, a BJP leader and minister for Uttar Pradesh, asserted on Sunday that the Opposition was responsible for the murder of gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmad. Singh claimed that Ahmed was going to expose a lot of information following his detention, which resulted in his death. “The truth is that the opposition is involved in getting Atiq killed. Some serious secrets were about to be revealed, that’s why the opposition got him murdered,” said Singh, the state animal husbandry and dairy development minister, who arrived here on Friday to attend the BJP workers’ conference for the Chandausi civic polls.

In addition, Asaduddin Owaisi, the president of AIMIM, claimed on Friday that those responsible for the murders of gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed and his brother in UP were acting in a similar manner as Nathuram Godse, the man who killed Mahatma Gandhi, and labelled them “terrorists” who were a member of a terror module. Owaisi, who was speaking to a crowd here, questioned why UAPA had not been applied to them. He targeted Yogi Adityanath, the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, for the murders of Atiq Ahmad and Ashraf, both of whom were in police custody.Read here, India: School Principal Booked After Students Recite Iqbal’s Poem- What Makes Muhammad Iqbal a Contentious Figure in India?

Al-Qaeda Threatens India over Killing of Atiq Ahmad

The radical organization Al-Qaeda broadcasted a message on the eve of Eid ul-Fitr promising retaliation and referring to Atiq and his brother Arshad as “martyrs.” A seven-page magazine was published with the message by As-Sahab, the group’s media branch. Additionally, it pledged to ‘liberate’ Indian Muslims. After Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf were killed, and AQIS voiced outrage over this and hailed them as “martyrs” in the message.Further, slogans for Atiq Ahmed and Ashraf, gangsters turned politicians who were killed before the camera while being in police custody at Prayagraj last week, were on Friday heard close to the largest mosque in Bihar’s capital.

The Assailants wanted to “Become Popular”

The assailants of Atiq Ahmad, a gangster turned politician, and his brother claimed they did it “to become popular.” The attackers who shot Atiq and his brother Ashraf while they were being brought for a medical test in Pragyaraj have admitted to have committed thid crime, according to ANI. They were arrested after they voluntarily turned themselves in.“We wanted to kill Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf with the aim of completely wiping off the Atiq-Ashraf gang and making a name for ourselves,” the FIR quoted the arrested assailants as telling the police.“The moment we received an update about Atiq and Ashraf being taken into police custody, we planned to kill them by posing as local journalists and blending with the crowd,” the FIR stated further.“Three people have been arrested and are being questioned. A journalist was also injured as he fell down and a constable sustained a bullet injury,” Prayagraj Police Commissioner Ramit Sharma said.

What About the Rule of Law?

The Uttar Pradesh state government has ordered an investigation, however, the unabashed killing of Atiq Ahmad has unleashed a series of backlash and criticism from major local and national politicians who have concerns about say about honouring the law and order in India.Vikram Singh, former director general of Uttar Pradesh’s state police, told the BBC that Ahmad’s murder was unacceptable. “Death in custody is bad enough, murder is worse,” he said.Lawyer and politician Kapil Sibal said there had been “two murders” in Uttar Pradesh – “one, of Atiq and brother Ashraf and two, of Rule of Law”.A 40-year-old Muslim man, who didn’t want to be named, told the BBC that people were shocked. “How can somebody be killed in front of the media and the police? He was a convicted criminal I agree, but that doesn’t mean he can be shot like that. What about the rule of law?” he asked.

Pro-Khalistan Activist Amritpal Singh declared fugitive- What is happening in “India’s Bread Basket” Punjab?

Internet services were suspended across the state of punjab on saturday and are still suspended as of now on sunday, officials confirmed. According to press sources, amritpal singh, the leader of waris punjab de and a supporter of the khalistani movement, has been the target of punjab police operation.The department of home affairs and justice, government of punjab, stated that all mobile internet services, all sms services (aside from banking & mobile recharge), and all dongle services provided on mobile networks, aside from voice calls, shall be suspended. The punjab police today conducted a large crackdown on “waris punjab de,” detaining 78 activists in the jalandhar area in response to criticism regarding the allegedly worsening peace and order situation in the state. Amritpal singh, a pro-khalistan activist, evaded capture despite a significant police presence in the jalandhar neighborhood of shahkot. The police asserted that they had taken 373 ammunition, a revolver, seven 12-bore rifles, and one 315-bore rifle from the demonstrators.

Is amritpal singh still on the run?

The radical preacher amritpal singh is still on the run, according to the punjab police, who also stated that a big search operation has begun to apprehend the leader of the waris punjab de organization.The statement followed earlier today’s media reports that stated singh and a number of his allies had been detained by the punjab police . Pro-Khalistan Activist Amritpal Singh According to a statement from punjab police, the state has begun extensive cordon and search operations against waris punjab de members.

What led to the crackdown?

On thursday, in an anomalous course of events, a group of men armed with swords and guns stormed a police station in ajnala, on the outskirts of amritsar, demanding the release of lovepreet singh, also known by his alias “toofan,”.Singh was being held on kidnapping charges and assault on a chamkaur sahib-based resident varinder singh. Lovepreet singh alias toofan, who is a close associate of “waris punjab de” leader amritpal singh, had turned to activism during the farm agitation at the delhi border. Lovepreet singh, a sikh preacher, and modest farmer has long advocated for sikh causesAmritpal singh, 30, who has gained notoriety in punjab over the past six to seven months as a sikh preacher and infamous sympathizer for khalistan, was at the epicenter of these events. He claims to be a devoted follower of bhindranwale, a militant leader who supported khalistan and was assassinated in the infamous operation blue star on june 6, 1984.Lovepreet singh was released from jail the following day, but this entire incident has raised numerous issues with punjabi politics, government, and law and order.

Who is amritpal singh?

Born in 1993, amritpal singh sandhu hails from jallupur khera village in baba bakala tehsil of amritsar district. He is said to have studied up to the plus two levels before he left for dubai for work in 2012. Singh, a 29-year-old dubai-returned sikh who recently moved to punjab, has abruptly entered the religiopolitical scene after taking control of waris punjab de, an organization that actor-activist deep sidhu founded before his supposed accident caused death in february 2022.His surrounding social media activity suggests that he had been advocating for sikh causes for at least the previous five years or so. He joined the anti-farm law demonstrations, notably the deep sidhu-related faction of the movement. According to deep sidhu’s statements at the shambhu border, his branch of the movement was distinct from the farm unions since he advocated for a more comprehensive political and social reform of punjab rather than just the repeal of agricultural regulations. He believed that the movement should’ve been carried forward even after the repelling of the controversial farm laws. According to quint, apparently, amritpal never met deep sidhu and the two interacted only through social media.However, the ministry of home affairs is reported to have told the punjab government to keep a watch on his activities. Captain amarinder singh has asked the government to take action against him and a shiv sena faction wants him booked under uapa. His twitter account was withheld in india on 7 october 2022, reports the quint.

What does the socio-political scene in punjab look like?

There have been a number of political responses to this, with the shiromani akali dal-amritsar denouncing the crackdown while the aam aadmi party and congress supported it. Following the announcement of the crackdown on singh, a number of political figures from various parties have pleaded for peace in punjab. However, the general public’s perception of him is sharply divided, with supporters applauding his efforts to resuscitate sikhi and his anti-drug campaign in addition to the enormous crowds at his events. Critics, on the other hand, charge him of usurpation and with attempting to destabilize punjabAlso, read india: school principal booked after students recite iqbal’s poem- what makes muhammad iqbal a contentious figure in india?

Anxieties over the rise of a potential militancy in punjab?

The khalistan movement, which was previously seen as more of a foreign diaspora concern, is currently making news in india due to farmer protests, but the subject is becoming more prominent due to the recent series of events and the emergence of amritpal singh as a pro-khalistan leader. Anxieties are being risen along the lines of this crisis turning into a potential threat of militancy in punjab.Harjeshwar pal singh, an assistant professor of history based in chandigarh thinks that it will not lead to a rise in militancy because there has been strong criticism within the community against the ways adopted by amritpal singh.Author of panjab: journeys through fault line, amandeep sandhu enunciates the larger problems which have been plaguing the state and which might have come into the forefront with such issues. The rise of someone like amritpal singh, in sandhu’s opinion, is evidence that numerous governments have historically failed to address various issues at their root.While the state has been apparently working to put punjab’s violent history of bloodshed and militancy behind it, these images have brought back memories of those times. Anxieties are being risen along the lines of this crisis turning into a potential threat of militancy in punjab.

Huwara rampage: a prova for a possible Israeli Holocaust.

On 26 February,  hundreds of heavily armed Jewish settlers protected by the Israeli army,  rampaged through the Palestinian village of Huwara, just south of the northern West Bank town of Nablus, ransacking and torching homes and property and killing at least one local resident. According to the Palestinian health ministry, hundreds of people were injured, with many sustaining serious and crippling wounds that will stay with them for the rest of their lives. The rampage in Huwara has been described as the most violent since Israel occupied the West Bank in 1967.According to various sources, the settlers had received definitive instructions from government officials telling them “to teach the Palestinians a lesson they wouldn’t forget.”The settlers, affiliated with the religious Zionist movement, are indoctrinated in a Nazi-like  Talmudic ideology which considers the targeting of innocent noncombatants such as children,  women and the elderly as perfectly legitimate during the time of conflict.The Israeli human rights group B’Tselem has accused the Israeli government, the most racist and fascist ever,  of backing a rampage in Huwara. Israeli Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich was quoted as saying that Huwara needs to be “wiped out and razed to the ground” and that the state of Israel should do it.

Israeli Prime Minister told foreign journalists that Smotrich couldn’t use PR-friendly language to communicate his message, prompting one Israeli journalist to remark that “Netanyahu seemed to  be acting  as PR officer for Smotrich.”

Jewish-Nazism

When this and other writers employed Nazi epithets to describe current Israeli policies and behaviours in the Occupied Palestinian territories, some people, especially Western intellectuals, thought we were exaggerating the level of Israel’s genocidal Jewish barbarianism.However an honest look at the perpetrators of the . Huwara rampage  reveals that these people are far from being a small or marginal extremist group, not representing the mainstream Israeli Jewish society.Read Also: Will the West embrace Kosher Nazism following the instalment of the new Israeli government?In fact, these are the very people who rule Israel today. They are the people of the government. They represent the crème de le crème of the Zionist religious movement in Israel.Hence, we are not talking here about some wild weed growing uncontrollably in the midst of an otherwise sane society or anything of this sort.Our erstwhile critics who didn’t like the use of strong epithets to describe Israel, mainly for psychological reasons,  would probably pay more attention to the purported half-full glass rather than the half-empty one But in all honesty, there is simply no half-full glass in  Israel today.   Some naïve observers here and there might still think that the international community wouldn’t allow Israel to cross the Rubicon.Unfortunately,  It has now been proven that neither Israel could be given the benefit of the doubt nor could the so-called international community be entrusted to prevent or even restrain the increasingly brazenly Nazi entity from doing the unthinkable, namely launching a partial or full genocide against the unprotected Palestinians.Indeed,  the feeble American and European reactions to the Jewish rampage at the village of Huwara proved that the US can not be relied upon to rein in or restrain Jewish Nazism in Palestine.

The US, after all, is the very country that enabled Israel to be what it is and reach this evil level of barbarianism and arrogance of power by funding, defending and constantly optimizing Israeli Nazism.Hence, relying on Washington to rein in genocidal Israel is merely a futile exercise in naivety, day-dreaming and wishful thinking.Besides, All that America can offer to force Israel to behave doesn’t really go beyond futile gentle preaching stressing the need to exercise self-restraint and not indulge in incitement and extremism.

But Israel is not restrained by gentle preaching and polite rebuking or even harsh verbal chastisement. Such a toothless discourse will have no effect whatsoever on a shameless violator of international law, but could actually further embolden the Zionist entity even further.

What Israel needs is a thorough de-Nazification which would convince the racist supremacists in occupied Palestine that the recurrent rampages and genocidal savagery against the Palestinian people would have serious consequences on the Israel state.

Huwara rampage : Prova for a real Holucaust?

As someone who is quite familiar with the religious Zionist mindset, I can safely argue that the rampage at Huwara, which represents the cumulative outcome of years of toxic incitement by the Talmudic schools, such as the Merkaz Ha-Rav in West Jerusalem (the CNS of religious Zionism in Israel) is just a mere prova for something to come that is much more ominous, much more and much more genocidal.

Indeed, if these genocidal thugs and killer beasts could do this shamelessly in front of TV cameras from all over the world, just imagine how they would behave and what they would  do to their helpless victims if the area were to be declared a close military Zone and all journalists and cameramen were ordered to leave.

I am saying this because I am completely convinced that the concept of genocide is absolutely and completely compatible with the religious teaching and ideological indoctrination of these people who apparently were spoon-fed this poison since their kindergarten days.As a journalist who has been covering the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, especially the settler phenomenon, ever since I graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 1981, I can honestly argue with all honesty and rectitude, that these people represent the Nazis of our time.I am not eager to put any people down, and I’m absolutely and totally against all forms of anti-Semitism.

But we must call the spade a spade, irrespective of whether we see the proverbial implement in the hands of Da’esh killers, Jewish settlers in Huwara or Vagner mercenaries in Ukraine. If we don’t wake up, if the world doesn’t wake up now, especially after what we saw in  Huwara, when will we wake up?

The Huwara rampage is more than just writing on the wall. It is more than a  dark cloud hanging over the West Bank. The rampage in Huwarra is actually the penultimate step, the sound alarm coming before a real genocide that could be carried out at any moment by these reptile murderers, protected and assisted by the  Israeli army.

Enter the Palestinian Authority

As to Palestinians, they must not allow themselves to be beguiled or sedated by worthless statements coming from the American state department.The neo-Nazi trio of Netanyahu, Ben-Gvir and Smotrich will not give a  hoot to worthless statements coming from worthless people in Washington.In September 1982, the Reagan administration gave solemn assurances to the PLO that no Palestinian refugees in the Beirut region would be harmed if PLO forces left Beirut.

However, when the PLO left, as part of an agreement mediated by the American envoy Phillip Habib, Israel’s Christian allies, the Phallangists, ganged up on the Sabra and Shatilla refugee camps, south of Beirut, ransacking the two camps and slaughtering more than 3500 innocent men, women and children. Not a single perpetrator was prosecuted or punished for the genocidal massacre.The Palestinians must not commit the same criminal blunder again, by trusting the US to protect our unarmed civilians from the Nazis of our time.We need something much more concrete, much more reliable and much more certain. After all, it is our children’s lives at stake! Today, they set homes on fire while children and babies inside.Tomorrow they will build a huge crematorium to burn our kids in broad daylight while a US State Department would regurgitate the same stale statements about Israel having the right to defend itself!