Israel police to deploy around Al-Aqsa for Ramadan, Palestinians report curbs
JERUSALEM(RAHNUMA): Israeli police said Monday that they would deploy in force around the Al-Aqsa Mosque during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which begins this week, as Palestinian officials accused Israel of imposing restrictions at the compound. Over the course of the month of fasting and prayer, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians traditionally attend prayers […]
UN calls for ‘urgent reforms’ to uphold migrants’ rights in Libya
TRIPOLI(RAHNUMA): The UN on Tuesday called on the Libyan authorities — both the UN-backed government in Tripoli and a rival administration in the east — to undertake urgent reforms to protect the rights and dignity of migrants and refugees. “In Libya, systematic and widespread human rights violations and abuses against migrants, asylum seekers, and refugees […]
Iran to close parts of Hormuz Strait for ‘safety’ measures during drill: state TV
TEHRAN(RAHNUMA): Iran will close parts of the strategic Strait of Hormuz for “safety” measures during military drills by its Revolutionary Guards, state TV reported on Tuesday. “Parts of the Strait of Hormuz will be closed in order to respect the principles of safety and navigation,” said a state TV journalist reporting from a site near […]
Syria starts emptying Daesh-linked Al-Hol camp: officials to AFP
DAMASCUS(RAHNUMA): Syria began evacuating remaining residents of Al-Hol camp, which long housed relatives of suspected Daesh group fighters, as it empties the formerly Kurdish-controlled facility, two officials told AFP. Al-Hol, located in a desert region of Hasakah province, had been Syria’s largest camp housing relatives of suspected Daesh fighters. Last month, the government took over […]
Lawyers in Sanaa face Houthi repression: report
RIYADH(RAHNUMA): In Yemen, the Houthis are attacking lawyers, raising widespread concerns about the rule of law and state of the justice system, Asharq Al-Awsat reported on Tuesday. “Recent reports from local human rights organizations have revealed a recurring pattern of systematic restrictions on the practice of (the) law profession, including arbitrary arrests, prolonged detentions, and […]
Ramadan to begin Wednesday after crescent moon sighted in Saudi Arabia
RIYADH(RAHNUMA): The crescent moon signalling the start of Ramadan has been sighted in the Kingdom, Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court announced on Tuesday. Ramadan will therefore start on Wednesday, Feb. 18, and Muslims will refrain from eating and drinking from dawn to dusk during the holy month. It is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar […]
Israel accused of move expanding Jerusalem borders for first time since 1967
JERUSALEM(RAHNUMA): Israeli NGOs have raised the alarm over a settlement plan signed by the government which they say would mark the first expansion of Jerusalem’s borders into the occupied West Bank since 1967. Israel has occupied east Jerusalem since 1967 and later annexed it in a move not recognized by the international community. Palestinians view […]
