Afghan spy agency freed another eight Shiite kidnapped victims

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Kabul, Afghanistan – Ahlul Bayt News Agency – Afghanistan’s spy agency freed eight people who were among a large group of ethnic minority Hazara Shias kidnapped earlier this year, the agency said.

The five men, two women and a teenager were freed Tuesday in Ghazni province, the National Directorate of Security said in a statement, reports AP.

The NDS said they were among 31 Shia Muslims abducted earlier this year, but gave no further details.

A group of 31 Hazara Shias, believed at the time to be men, were forced off buses in Ghazni in February. Of the abductees, 19 were freed in May and the rest remain unaccounted for. Senior government officials said at the time that the so-called Islamic State group was behind the abductions.

The NDS statement made no comment on who was responsible, referring only to “terrorists.”

Hazaras, who are predominantly Shiite, have been targeted in several large-scale kidnappings this year, prompting demonstrations and sit-ins in the capital Kabul and elsewhere.

The beheaded bodies of seven Hazaras were found in Zabul, neighboring Ghazni, on Saturday. The four men, two women and a child had been kidnapped up to six months ago, officials said.

The NDS disissed Taliban claims that IS was responsible for the beheadings. Rival Taliban factions have been fighting in the region for days.

The bodies were being transported from Ghazni to Kabul, ahead of a demonstration planned for Wednesday near the presidential palace, according to an organizer, Daud Naji.

About 100 people gathered in a Kabul park yesterday demanding a day of mourning for the Zabul victims. President Ashraf Ghani condemned the killings and vowed to track down the perpetrators.

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Photos: Ashura procession in Zurich, Switzerland

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Catholic Church Bans Teaching Islam in UK Schools

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The Catholic Church in Britain has become embroiled in controversy after it effectively banned schools from teaching students about Islam as part of religious studies on Sunday, Express newspaper reported.

Under new General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) reforms, UK schools are required to teach more than one faith in religious studies, which came as part of a governmental plan to integrate students from different religious backgrounds, and it is intended to drive extremism out of classrooms.

The education reforms were drawn up after the ‘Trojan Horse’ plot, in which individuals were found to have been introducing fundamental Islamic teaching into Muslim schools in Birmingham. However, Muslim leaders have said the plan hasbackfired as Catholic schools have ruled out teaching Islam to students. Catholic schools have opted to only teach students about Judaism alongside Christianity. This decision effectively rules out teaching about the world’s second biggest religion.

Iqbal Sacranie, the former Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain, said that this decision has undermined Pope Francis’s message of greater tolerance between the faiths. He urged Catholic leader Cardinal Vincent Nichols to think again.

Paul Barber, director of the Catholic Education Service, said that teaching about the Jewish faith would ensure pupils are given a solid grounding in Christianity. He continued that students could learn about other religions during typical religious education lessons.

It is noteworthy that critics say that a significant numbers of pupils who attend Catholic Church schools in Britain come from an Islamic background and that the Catholic Church has more than 2,000 schools under its domain in the country.

“This is not a good decision. It does not reflect well on the messages that are coming out from the Church for greater tolerance of other faiths”, said Sacranie. “This is a difficult time for religions, and the last thing you would expect is a major faith making such a statement”.

Rabbi Jonathan Romain, the minister of Maidenhead Synagogue in Berkshire, said: “I urge all religious authorities to allow individual heads the freedom to decide what is best for pupils”.

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Ashura ceremony at Khatam al-Nabieen school of Kabul, Afghanistan / Photos

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Ahlul Bayt News Agency – Ashura mourning ceremony held at Khatam al-Nabieen school of Kabul capital of Afghanistan. Renowned politician such as Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, engineer Muhammad Khan, executive vice president of the National Unity Government, Minister of the Interior, Head of the Department of National Defence, senior scholars, and other important figures participated in the ceremony.

Imam Hussein (the grandson of Prophet Muhammad) and his companions were martyred on Ashura, the 10th day of Muharram (Lunar month), which falls on 24th October 2015 this year. Muharram ceremonies symbolize the eternal and unwavering stance of truth against falsehood and humanity’s struggle against tyranny, the cause for which Imam Hussein was martyred.

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Shia killing in Pakistan again becomes widespread: Allama Jafri

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Ahlul Bayt News Agency -ABNA- Central Secretary General of MWM (a Shia religious and political party in Pakistan), Allama Nasir Abbas Jafri said “What is government doing in the name of ‘National Action Plan’ to crack down on terrorism, has lost its importance and utility due to biasness of the government.”

“Shia target killing has once again becoming widespread in Sindh and Baluchistan. Negotiations with the banned organizations are like strengthening terrorist elements,” he added.

Allama Jafari also referred to the attempts of government for restricting the mourning of Imam Hussain (as) (Azadaari) in the name of NAP and added: Muslim League (N) is directly involved in paving the way for sectarianism in order to please banned organization by enforcing bans on mourning congregations and processions.”

He further said: “We were the first ones to support the war against terrorism. Our stance was also clear on the NAP but arrests of Shia people, for no reason, has revealed the reality of this plan and government’s dishonesty. FIRs were registered against thousands of mourners in Punjab only for organizing mourning congregations. Despite the court orders, force was used to stop the historical procession in Islamabad that was sheer state terrorism. Such actions are unbearable and unacceptable. The government itself is becoming the reason for increasing its own difficulties.”

Muharram is the month of mourning for Imam Hussain (as) and we want to spend it purely as days of Ahl ul Bait (as); we do not want any conflict or collision but some extremist elements within the government deliberately want to create an atmosphere of sullenness. Governmental terrorism in name of NAP should be stopped, all FIRs* registered with regard to mourning processions should be cancelled and hindrances that have been created in mourning congregations and processions, in the name of law, should also be stopped,” Allama Jafari added.

It should be remembered that the NAP was implemented in the country with mutual consent of all political parties after the last year’s attack on APS Peshawar that killed more than 145 children.

* First Information Report, a written document prepared by the police in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Japan, after a crime is reported.

 

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Bahrain leading Shiite opposition figure ‘Majeed Milad’ sentenced to two years in jail

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Ahlul Bayt News Agency – A Bahraini court today jailed a member of the main opposition Al-Wefaq bloc for two years for “inciting freedom of speech”, the Shiite grouping and authorities said.

Majeed Milad, a member of Al-Wefaq’s delegation which took part in a “national dialogue” that failed despite several rounds of negotiations, was handed a two-year sentence for making “a speech… Demanding just political reform”, the bloc said.

Bahraini authorities crushed Shiite-led peaceful protests a month after they erupted on February 14, 2011.

The gap has since been growing between the al-Khalifa authorities and their opponents, mainly from the Gulf state’s Shiite majority.

In a statement received by AFP, Bahrain’s public prosecutor Ahmed al-Qorashi said “the lower criminal court today sentenced an individual to two years in prison on charges of inciting non-compliance with the law”.

“The defendant was questioned in the presence of his lawyers and provided with the opportunity to meet his legal team throughout,” said Qorashi without naming Milad, who can appeal the ruling.

But Al-Wefaq’s statement described Milad’s trial as “evidence … Of the complete absence of any level of freedom of speech and expression” in Bahrain.

The bloc, whose leader Sheikh Ali Salman was himself jailed in June for four years on alleged charges of inciting disobedience, urged the international community to take a “clear stance to end the repression of free expression in Bahrain”.

The Bahraini judiciary has come under fire by many human rights groups for handing down long-term sentences to anti-regime protesters and activists in the country.

Amnesty International and other rights groups have repeatedly censured the Manama regime over the “rampant” human rights abuses against opposition activists and anti-government protesters.

Since mid-February 2011, thousands of anti-regime protesters have held numerous demonstrations on an almost daily basis in the streets of the tiny Persian Gulf kingdom, calling for the Al Khalifa family to relinquish power.

Scores of people have been killed and hundreds of others injured or arrested in the ongoing heavy-handed crackdown on the peaceful rallies.

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Yemen: 15 Ansarullah fighters killed in Hadi loyalists’ ambush

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Ahlul Bayt News Agency – At least 15 fighters of the Ansarullah group were killed Wednesday in an ambush by militants loyal to fugitive president, Mansur Hadi, in Yemen’s southern province of al-Dhalea, an army officer told Xinhua.

“The militants ambushed armored vehicles carrying Shiite Houthi fighters and weapons near Damt town which they retook three days ago, killing about 15 at the scene,” the local army officer said on condition of anonymity.

“Since last week, the Ansarullah and popular committees continued to send heavy reinforcements and well-trained fighters in an apparent attempt to re-enter southern provinces such as al-Dhalea, Lahj and Aden, where hundreds of Sudanese and UAE aggressor forces are positioned,” the army source said.

On Tuesday, hundreds of forces loyal to fugitive president Mansur Hadi, were mobilized to the strategic military air base of Anad in Lahj province.

Intense fighting also continued Wednesday between Ansarullah fighters and aggressors in villages between Lahj and Taiz province.

A tribal chief told Xinhua that Houthis approached toward military locations controlled by army units loyal to the government near Lahj province.

Earlier, Yemeni’s troops captured a Saudi warship after launching rocket strikes against it off the coastal city of Mokha.

Yemen has been witnessing ceaseless military attacks by Saudi Arabia since March 26. The military strikes are supposed to undermine the Ansarullah movement and bring Hadi back to power.

The Saudi aggression has reportedly claimed the lives of more than 7,100 people and injured nearly 14,000 others. The strikes have also taken a heavy toll on the impoverished country’s facilities and infrastructure, destroying many hospitals, schools, and factories.

Human rights groups and international organizations have voiced deep concern over the rising number of civilian casualties in Yemen, calling for an end to the conflict.

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Sayyed Nasrallah: Obama-Netanyahu Focus on Hezbollah Threat “Source of Pride” to Resistance Movement

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Hezbollah Secretary General, Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah stressed that all victories achieved by the resistance are because of the blessed blood of martyrs.

Talking during Hezbollah Martyr’s Day ceremony in Beirut’s southern Suburb (Dahiyeh), Sayyed Nasrallah said that the blood of the martyrs revived the spirit of resistance in our nation.

Commenting about the latest meeting between the US President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Sayyed Nasrallah emphasized that the meeting proves Washington’s commitment to the Zionist entity’s security.

His eminence said Obama-Netanyahu focus that Hezbollah poses threat is a source of pride to the resistance movement.

On the Syrian developments, Sayyed Nasrallah hailed as a major achievement the operation in Kuwayris in which the Syrian army broke the 3-year siege on the airbase.

Meanwhile, the resistance leader stressed that US is incapable to settle the crises in Syria and Yemen by military means.

On the Lebanese issue, Sayyed Nasrallah called for inclusive political settlement in order to solve many of stuck issues.

Our Victories Are Martyrs’ Blessings

Talking about the occasion, Sayyed Nasrallah stressed that all the victories achieved by the resistance are blessings of the martyrs’ blood.

Hezbollah marks every year the Martyrs Day in November eleven. The day is considered an opportunity to recall the great martyr, Ahmad Kassir, 19, who blew himself up in November 11, 1982, targeting the center of the Israeli military governor in the southern city of Tyre, and killing dozens of Zionist officers and soldiers.

Sayyed Nasrallah saluted the souls of Hezbollah martyrs as well as the martyrs of all resistance factions across the Arab world. His eminence also praised the families of the martyrs for their sacrifices.

“Ahmad Kassir’s operation in 1982 was the most major one in the Israeli-Arab struggle,” Sayyed Nasrallah addressed crowds in Sayyed Shuhada Complex.

“We thank our martyrs for all what they had done for our nation.”

Sayyed Nasrallah meanwhile, talked about the resistance spirit which has been stirred up by the martyrs. His eminence hailed the Palestinian resistance against the Israeli enemy.

“This spirit again arouses the resistance and the Palestinian cause,” Sayyed Nasrallah said.

“Israel can take measures against the resistance factions, but it cannot thwart the individual attacks,” the resistance leader said, referring to stabbing attacks staged by Palestinians against the Zionists.

“What we had seen in the previous days is a source of pride, when a courageous Palestinian woman stabbed an Israeli soldier as she knows well what a fate she would meet,” by the occupation forces.

Sayyed Nasrallah stressed that it is our duty and our responsibility to preserve this Jihadi spirit.

“We Are in the Right Place”

Commenting on the Obama-Netanyahu meeting, Sayyed Nasrallah stressed that the Israeli PM‘s visit to the White House proves Washington’s firm commitment to the Zionist entity’s security and interests.

Meanwhile Sayyed Nasrallah said that an Israeli war in Lebanon is possible. However, he ruled out that the Zionist entity will make such an adventure. He expected that the Zionist entity and its agents will go on with the “soft war” against Hezbollah in a bid to tarnish the image of the resistance.

On the other hand, Sayyed Nasrallah commented on the latest remarks by Netanyahu that he would discuss ‘Hezbollah as a threat’ during his meeting with Obama. His eminence considered that these remarks are source of pride for the resistance.

“We are proud that US and Israel consider Hezbollah a threat. When the Great Satan and its puppets say that Hezbollah poses a threat, then we are certain that we are in the right place.”

“Kuwayris Major Achievement”

Hezbollah S.G. hailed as a major achievement the operation in Kuwayris in Aleppo northern countryside in which the Syrian army broke the 3-year siege on the airbase.

He saluted the steadfastness of the Syrian soldiers and officers who had been besieged there for more than two years.

“Breaking Kuwayris siege indicates the firm will and the steadfastness of the Syrian army.”

Meanwhile, he said that the field developments in Syria and Yemen are in favor of the resistance and the army there, stressing that Washington cannot settle the crises in the two countries by military means.

“All-Comprehensive Settlement”

Sayyed Nasrallah called on Lebanese factions to reach an all-inclusive settlement in a bid to end the political crisis in the country.

“All of us must sit down and put all the files on the table and reach a national settlement over everything, from the presidency issue to the future Cabinet, and from Parliament to a new electoral law,” the resistance leader said.

“We regret that we reached this situation in Lebanon,” Sayyed Nasrallah stated, adding that the Lebanese sides are trading accusations and responsibilities over the current deadlock.

“The most dangerous thing is that the country, the state and the people in Lebanon are fragile to the extent that we feel that the country will collapse whenever the political factions disagreed on one issue.”

He announced that Hezbollah will take part in the parliamentary session on Thursday, noting that the resistance party will go on with national dialogue sessions.

Sayyed Nasrallah slammed the political deadlock in the country, saying that all the Lebanese factions have failed to deal with so many issues related to the daily life.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah S.G. underlined the important of passing a new electoral law.

“We will continue to hold our responsibilities alongside the army against the Israeli and the Takfiri enemies,” Sayyed Nasrallah concluded his speech as saying.

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