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Ashura ceremony at Khatam al-Nabieen school of Kabul, Afghanistan / Photos
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
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
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
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
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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Seyyed Nasrallah, Iran’s Deputy FM discuss regional developments + Pics
Hezbollah Secretary General, Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah met with Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and held talks on issues of mutual interests, it was reported on Thursday.
The meeting was held before Amir-Abdollahian’s departure to Muscat early Thursday.
The two side discuss the latest regional and political developments during the meeting.
Iranian Defense Minister Hamid Reza Dehqani and Iran’s Ambassador to Lebanon, Mohammad Fathali were also present during the meeting.
Before leaving Beirut, Amir-Abdollahian said he will hold talks with Omani officials on issues of mutual interest and regional developments, including Syria, Yemen and Palestine.
Amir-Abdollahian noted he would probably travel to Iraqi capital, Baghdad, on the forth leg of his regional tour.
Amir-Abdollahian arrived in Beirut early Wednesday.
Upon arrival at Beirut International Airport, Amir-Abdollahian was warmly welcomed by a number of senior Lebanese officials and Iran’s Chargé d’Affaires, Mohammad Sadiq Fazli.
Amir-Abdollahian held talks with the Lebanese Parliament Speaker, Nabih Berri and some other Lebanese senior officials on issues of mutual interest, regional developments, particularly the Syrian crisis.
Iranian deputy foreign minister visited Moscow on Tuesday before departing for Beirut.
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West Gave Rise to Terrorism to Tarnish Image of Islam: Sheikh Issa Qassem
Bahrain’s Shiite leader Ayatollah Sheikh Issa Ahmed Qassem referred to the phenomenon of terrorism as the West’s offspring in the region, saying that it has been using terrorism to tarnish the image of Islam.
Hegemonic powers, using their puppet governments in the Middle East, spread the phenomenon to undermine Islam and cause a rift in the Muslim community, the Bahraini leader said on Thursday.
The Global Arrogance tried to use terrorism as a means to achieve its “dirty goals”, Sheikh Qassem said, but added that it has now backfired and turned to a threat against the hegemonic powers themselves.
He also questioned the West’s so-called fight against terrorism, saying that there is no sign showing it is a serious one.
Their campaign against terror would not be believable unless the political conditions are improved and justice would become the main criterion in dealing with Muslim nations, the senior cleric stressed.
International observers have frequently raised the issue of how serious the US-led coalition’s so-called fight against terrorism is, mostly bringing evidence showing that the West’s claims are absurd.
In October, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said the US-led coalition against the ISIL (Daesh) terrorist group has failed to accomplish its declared mission in Iraq and Syria for it has never been serious in fighting the group.
“We support anybody’s involvement against Daesh, provided that it’s serious. The problem with the international coalition was that it was never serious, because it had political inhibitions against hitting Daesh, because they believe that hitting Daesh before they have a solution for (Syrian President) Bashar al-Assad would help Bashar. So there is just a show going on, and that is why the ability of Daesh has not even been dented over the past year,” the Iranian foreign minister said in an interview with The New Yorker.
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Iran’s FM visits senior religious figures in Qom to report on JCPOA + Pics
Iranian FM Zarif arrived in Qom this morning and held talks with several senior religious figures on JCPOA and Syria peace talks, among other topics.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, after paying his respects to the Holy Shrine of Hazrat Masoumeh (SA), held meetings with several prominent religious scholars and authorities in Qom on Thursday.
Zarif first held talks with Grand Ayatollahs Nasser Makarem Shirazi and Lotfollah Safi Golpayegani.
He is also scheduled to meet with Grand Ayatollahs Hossein Nouri Hamedani, and Seyyed Abdul Karim Mousavi Ardebili.
The Iranian top diplomat said the aims of his visit to Qom were to present a report to the senior religious scholars and receive their opinions on advancing the Islamic Republic’s foreign policies in regard to the latest developments in the JCPOA, the Syrian peace talks and regional situation, the process of pursuing the Mina tragedy and the condition of the incident’s missing pilgrims.
“Today, we are in a situation where the Muslim world is in need of a cultural and scientific countermeasure to the threats of extremist and Takfiri terrorist groups. Qom as the cultural capital of the Islamic world can contribute a lot to the discourse stemmed from Islam’s highly valued teachings in the fight against extremism,” said Zarif.
The meetings between Zarif and religious figures in Qom will be held in private and without the presence of the reporters.
