Headlines:

• US Territorial Hypocrisy
• The Trump Regime did not Collaborate with Russia
• Pakistan Receives Another Loan, Again
• Mega Entertainment Events in Saudi Arabia
• Uighur Muslims Forbidden to Pray or Grow Beards in China’s Re-education Camps
• India PM Modi Wishes Imran Khan on Pakistan’s National Day

 

US Territorial Hypocrisy

US President Donald Trump in a tweet announced the US would back the Jewish entity’s annexation of the Golan Heights, a piece of Syria captured for strategic purposes during the 1967 Six-Day War. Whilst Trump has longed back Jewish entity’s claims this move creates a problem for the US in the long term. The US was the champion of the post-World War II order that made military conquest of territory unacceptable. What the Jewish entity has done with the Golan Heights is no different to what Russia has done with the Crimea. Anyone with claims upon neighbouring territory can readily consider the risk of war to adjust borders, while those already embroiled in territorial disputes, can now point to America’s Golan decision as an ex post facto justification.

 

The Trump Regime did not Collaborate with Russia

The Mueller report has finally been released. The report’s conclusions, is that while Russia did use propaganda and hack Democratic Party organisations with the goal of undermining American public confidence in the presidential election results, no one in the Trump administration “conspired or knowingly coordinated” with Russia in these activities. The completion of Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s report does not impact US foreign policy, the investigation was  primarily a domestic affair. The report did confirm yet again that Russia interfered in a US presidential election with malign intent. The Russian media are now speculating that the report’s completion will lead to improved relations between Russia and the US. This remains to be seen considering both nations have strategic differences.

 

Pakistan Receives Another Loan, Again

The State Bank of Pakistan announced it has received a $2.1 billion loan from China. The loan is to boost Islamabad’s low foreign exchange reserves to $10.67 billion. This means the Imran Khan government is struggling to pay for imports or meet its existing debt requirements. This can be seen further by the fact that Finance Minister Asad Umar is meeting with the mission chief of the International Monetary Fund, Ernesto Ramirez Rigo, on March 26 to discuss additional bailout funding for the country. It would seem like many of his predecessors Imran Khan has no long term plan to deal with Pakistan’s finances, each loan taken is presented as the last loan as the loan that will solve all loan crises.

 

Mega Entertainment Events in Saudi Arabia

With its goal of transforming the country into a hub of culture and entertainment, the Sharqiah Season in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been in full swing since last week, featuring 83 different programmes in eight different cities in the country’s eastern province, with the event being only the first of 11 major planned festivities in the kingdom this year. Running until March 30, Sharqiah Season aims to boost the country’s national economy, diversify its portfolio and help in the creation of job opportunities for Saudi nationals. The two-week event is expected to create 3,000 job opportunities for Saudi nationals and local entrepreneurs.The major event is also seen as part of the country’s efforts in opening itself up as a destination for international tourists, with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman spearheading such efforts. Among the leading international artists that have been involved in Sharqiah Season included household names such as Pitbull, Akon, French Montana and Deadmau5, highlighting the country’s entertainment authorities seriousness in putting the kingdom on the map when it comes to major events. Along with the musical performances, the season has also boasted a unique line up of programmes such as the Red Bull Air Race, Formula 1 H20, the Saudi Bike Show, the Cirque Eloise, the Bollywood festival, the Leonardo Da Vinci Exhibition and the Saudi Film Festival among many others, ensuring the season brings the full package when it comes to entertainment options. Cities like Dhahran, Jubail, Hafar Al-Batin, Nuairyah and Khafji will see programmes that blend education and sports with entertainment and culture similarly with Ithra Lab, and the Saudi Robotics Conference and Exhibition, with the addition of sports-related events such as activities for special needs, the Aqua Bike Kingdom Championship and the Sailboat Race Kingdom. Cultural events are also playing a big role in the season, with at least 33 of the programmes being focused on the eastern region’s local heritage and customs. The country’s eastern province is known for several archeological and historical sites such as the Al-Ahsa Oasis, which has been named as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city has also been named as the capital of Arab tourism for 2019. [Source: Gulf News]

Saudis do not need the promotion of Western values disguised as entertainment shows. They need emancipation from the despotic rule of the Saudi ruling family that has usurped the country’s resources for personal use. Only the Khilafah (Caliphate) upon the method of the Prophethood can put an end to the plunder of oil and the accelerated promotion of Western values. The Khilafah will protect the hearts, minds, blood, property and lives of the believers and not make them subject to dominance of Capitalism.

India PM Modi Wishes Imran Khan on Pakistan’s National Day

Prime Minister Imran Khan Friday welcomed the message of greetings and good wishes by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the people of Pakistan – on Friday – as the country was set to celebrate its National Day on Saturday. The prime minister who earlier said on his twitter handle about receiving felicitations from Modi, also tweeted his response to his counterpart within an hour. “I welcome PM Modi’s message to our people. As we celebrate Pakistan Day I believe it is time to begin a comprehensive dialogue with India to address and resolve all issues, esp[escially] the central issue of Kashmir,” he said. The prime minister also called for forging a new relationship based on peace and prosperity for all the people of the two countries. In an earlier tweet, Prime Minister Imran Khan shared Modi’s message who said, “I extend my greetings & best wishes to the people of Pakistan on the National Day of Pakistan. It is time that people of Sub-continent work together for a democratic, peaceful, progressive and prosperous region, in an atmosphere free of terror and violence.” [Source: Khaleej Times].

How can Imran Khan accept greetings from the butcher of Kashmir and Gujrat?? Modi has purposely stoked Hindu nationalism to strike fear amongst Muslims living in India, and ordered the recent raid into Pakistan. Yet despite these glaring atrocities against Muslims, Khan is ready to forge a new relationship.

Uighur Muslims Forbidden to Pray or Grow Beards in China’s Re-education Camps

Muslims imprisoned in China’s “re-education camps” are forced to eat pork and banned from praying or growing beards, according to a former inmate. Omir Bekali said the treatment of Uighurs and other ethnic minorities in the Xinjiang province was designed to strip them of their religious beliefs. Called “students”, by the authorities, Mr Bekali said that prisoners were forced to line up facing a wall and sing the Chinese national anthem for half an hour every morning. “I never really wanted to sing, but because of the daily repetition, it sinks in,” he told the Hong Kong Free Press. “Even a year later, the music is still resonating in my head.” More than a million Uighurs have been detained in Xinjiang province, in what China claims is a clampdown on religious extremism and terrorism. International concern over conditions in the camps prompted Sweden to announced on Thursday that it would grant refugee status to Uighur Muslim asylum seekers. Mr Bekali was born in Xinjiang to Uighur and Kazakh parents but moved to Kazakhstan for work in 2006. He said he was arrested when he returned to the province in March 2017 and locked up in prison on charges of aiding “terrorism”. After seven months he was transferred to a re-education camp in Karamay where he said he was chained.  Every Friday, when Muslims traditionally pray, detainees were made to eat pork, which is prohibited by Islam’s religious restrictions, he said, adding that inmates were forbidden to pray or grow a beard, both of which were seen as a sign of extremism. The only language allowed in the camp was Chinese, he said. When Mr Bekali refused to follow orders, he was forced to stand at a wall for five hours at a time. He claimed he was later sent to solitary confinement and deprived of food for 24 hours. This week China responded to growing international criticism by issuing a lengthy report claiming it had detained 13,000 terrorists and broken up hundreds of “terrorist gangs” in Xinjiang. It also described the camps as “boarding schools”. [Source: Independent]

The inaction of Muslim rulers clearly illustrates that they have abdicated their responsibility to protect Islam and safeguard Muslims. Only the Khilafah (Caliphate) can liberate Muslims of China from their inhuman treatment and offer peace and security to the entire Ummah.