Kashmir Cricketer Naeem Bhat Remembered At UN

By News Desk

UNITED NATIONS, Geneva—The rising star of Kashmir cricket, Naeem Bhat, killed by Indian army two months ago, was remembered at the United Nations in a special event dedicated to him during UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) 32nd session.

The World Muslim Congress and the International Kashmir Lobby Group YFK jointly organized the event at the Palais des Nations. This was the first time that an entire side event was dedicated to one man from Kashmir.

Titled, “The Story of A Promising Sportsman Killed By Indian Army In Kashmir”, the event started with a 20-minute presentation by Kashmir lobbyist Ahmed Quraishi. The presentation included a 3-minute heart-rendering short video report on the last day in the life of Naeem Bhat, who was killed while shopping for grocery on April 12, 2016.

International human rights activists and defenders listened intently in the hall as the film, titled Indian Bullet For a Kashmiri Cricketer, written by Quraishi and produced by Waqar Malik, garnered sympathy for Bhat, who was 19 when killed by India.

“The reason we are dedicating this event to Naeem Bhat is because his case has implications for education in conflict zones and disputed territories worldwide,” said Quraishi. “India is the only occupation force in the world today that targets students in a disputed territory.”

Daniela Donges, president of Scales for Justice, a Geneva-based NGO, presented three cases from Palestinian territories where young Palestinian men and women were killed by Israeli army. Like Quraishi’s presentation on Naeem Bhat, Donges showed three short films that evoked similarities to how Indian army killed Naeem Bhat in Kashmir.

The landmark event was chaired by Syed Faiz Naqshbandi, from Srinagar, and Ishtiyaq Hameed, from Anantnag, both Kashmiri freedom leaders exiled from Indian-occupied Kashmir.

The eight-member Kashmir Delegation for UNHRC’s 32nd session consists of Altaf Hussain Wani-Delegation leader and senior Kashmir freedom leader, senior APHC leader-Syed Faiz Naqshbandi and Ishtiyaq Hameed, senior Kashmir freedom leader Mir Tahir Masood, senior woman Kashmiri leader Mrs. Shamim Shawl, Ahmed Quraishi-Executive Director Youth Forum For Kashmir (YFK); an international Kashmir Lobbying Group, Prof. Shagufta Ashraf-human rights defender working with women & children and Zartasha Niazi-human rights defender.

Please Stop Discussing Why Pakistan Was ‘Created’ And, Please, Move On!

Pakistan Is Here. Please Stop Discussing Why It Was ‘Created’ And, Please, Move On!

By Ahmed Quraishi

I am sick and tired of seeing reputable Pakistani publications and respected Pakistani writers discussing, in the year 2017, why Pakistan emerged seventy years ago!

The story of Pakistan’s rise as an independent nation should be a CLOSED CHAPTER now. Pakistan is, and that’s all that matters. Pakistani intellectuals should stop debating and discussing why Pakistan became independent. Please move on.

Repeatedly discussing why Pakistan emerged and whether there was another way, is tantamount to continuous self-doubt. It means that Pakistan’s existence somehow remains debatable.

No, it is not debatable. I am not interested in those details even as a history subject. Those details are not necessary. Instead of continuing to discuss it in today’s newspaper articles and magazines in Pakistan in 2017, our intellectuals will do better to write on the future of Pakistan in the 21st century and beyond. They can write on solving our social and economic problems (today the managers of a Sufi shrine in rural Punjab killed 20 innocent Pakistani citizens who were exploited by the so-called religious figures they trusted. Exploitation of poor Pakistanis, that’s an issue).

Students in colleges and universities should question their teachers why the rise and independence of Pakistan is being discussed even now. Why not focus instead on celebrating how we’re moving forward? How about celebrating how the 5th and 6th generation of Pakistanis today is more integrated in every respect — linguistically, culturally and economically — than our ancestors were at the time of Independence?

The rise and Independence of Pakistan is a closed chapter. I refuse to discuss it. You should too. Look forward, not backwards.

OIC’s Extraordinary Session on Afghanistan: Outcome And Achievements

OIC’s Extraordinary Session on Afghanistan: Outcome And Achievements

Experts Ahmed Quraishi and Hassan Aslam Shad analyse the outcome and achievements of OIC’s extraordinary session on Afghanistan hosted by Pakistan on 19th December 2021. Syeda Qudsiya Mashhadi moderated the session.

Il Fatto Quotidiano: “Io, cecchino in Bosnia durante la guerra. L’ho fatto perché detesto i musulmani”: il racconto choc in esclusiva di un cacciatore piemontese. Il video

Cecchini del weekend diretti in Bosnia, durante la guerra nei Balcani. Paolo (nome di fantasia), ex cacciatore piemontese, racconta la sua esperienza in una intervista video esclusiva a il Fatto Quotidiano. Nel cuore del conflitto (tra il ’94 e il ’95), secondo la sua ricostruzione, partì più volte per la ex Jugoslavia. Non per osservare, ma per sparare. Descrive il freddo estremo, i viaggi brevi, gli spostamenti, le armi, gli uomini incontrati. Descrive ciò che resta dopo lo sparo: gli amputati, le emorragie, gli incubi che – dice – tornano ancora la notte: “Non è come al poligono”.
Paolo non è soltanto un testimone: è uno dei protagonisti di quella zona grigia fatta di volontari (questo secondo lui è il termine corretto), stranieri, ideologia, guerra e confini attraversati troppo facilmente. Per la prima volta, nel corso di questa inchiesta, qualcuno ammette apertamente di essere partito dall’Italia per uccidere e fa emergere che Sarajevo non fosse l’unica destinazione. Le sue parole aprono scenari nuovi, citano rotte mai menzionate fino ad oggi, presenze inattese e dettagli che oggi potrebbero interessare anche agli investigatori.
Il video (presente anche il giornalista Martino Villosio) contiene un estratto della sua testimonianza.
I cecchini del weekend, di Ezio Gavazzeni, è il libro-inchiesta pubblicato da PaperFirst.
L'articolo “Io, cecchino in Bosnia durante la guerra. L’ho fatto perché detesto i musulmani”: il racconto choc in esclusiva di un cacciatore piemontese. Il video proviene da Il Fatto Quotidiano.

“I, a sniper in Bosnia during the war. I did it because I hate Muslims”: the shocking account in exclusive of a Piedmont hunter. The video

Cecchini of the weekend directly in Bosnia during the war in the Balkans. Paolo (fictitious name), a former Piedmont hunter, recounts his experience in an exclusive video interview for il Fatto Quotidiano. In the heart of the conflict (between ’94 and ’95), according to his reconstruction, he left several times for the former Yugoslavia. Not to observe, but to shoot. He describes the extreme cold, the short trips, the movements, the weapons, the men he met. He describes what remains after the shot: the amputations, the bleeding, the nightmares that – he says – still return at night: “It’s not like at the shooting range.”

Paolo is not just a witness; he is one of the protagonists of that gray area made of volunteers (this, according to him, is the correct term), foreigners, ideology, war and borders easily crossed. For the first time, during this investigation, someone openly admits to having left from Italy to kill and brings to light that Sarajevo was not the only destination. His words open up new scenarios, citing routes never mentioned until today, unexpected presences and details that today could also interest investigators.

The video (journalist Martino Villosio is also present) contains an excerpt from his testimony.

The cecchini of the weekend, by Ezio Gavazzeni, is the book-investigation published by PaperFirst.

The article “I, sniper in Bosnia during the war. I did it because I hate Muslims”: the shocking account in exclusive by a Piedmont hunter. The video comes from Il Fatto Quotidiano.

#Bosnia #Muslims #Piedmont #Cecchini #Balkans #Paolo #FattoQuotidiano #Yugoslavia #first #Italy #Sarajevo #MartinoVillosio #EzioGavazzeni #PaperFirst #IlFattoQuotidiano

https://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2026/03/26/cecchino-italiano-bosnia-balcani-confessione-news/8337173/

During the Ottoman rule, less than 5 percent of Palestine’s population was Jewish

During the Ottoman rule, less than 5 percent of Palestine’s population was Jewish

The Ottomans ruled the contemporary Israel and Palestine for 400 years after their occupation of the land in 1517. Their legacy is still felt today in several aspects.

The legal system of Israel, the religious court records (the sijjil), the land registry (the tapu) and a few architectural gems all testify to the significance of the Ottomans’ presence.

Suleiman the Magnificent who is known as Sultan to the Arabs and Caesar to the Christians never visited Jerusalem but, regarding himself as the second Solomon, he rebuilt most of the and gates that we see today.

During the Ottoman rule, less than 5 percent of the population was Jewish, probably 10 to 15 percent were Christian and remaining were Muslims.

As Yonatan Mendel comments:

“The exact percentage of Jews prior to the rise of Zionism is unknown. However, it probably ranged from 2 to 5%. According to Ottoman records, a total population of 462,465 resided in 1878 in what is today Israel/Palestine. Of this number, 403,795 (87 percent) were Muslim, 43,659 (10 percent) were Christians and 15,011 (3 percent) were Jewish”

The official website of the Israeli foreign ministry relating to the history of Palestine since the sixteenth century states: “Following the Ottoman Conquest in 1517, the Land was divided into four districts, attached administratively to the province of Damascus and ruled from Istanbul. At the outset of the Ottoman era, some 1,000 Jewish families lived in the country, mainly in Jerusalem, Nablus (Schechem), Hebron, Gaza, Safed (Tzfat) and the villages of the Galilee. The community was composed of descendants of Jews who had always lived in the Land as well as immigrants from North Africa and Europe. Orderly government, until the death (1566) of Sultan Suleiman the magnificent, brought improvements and stimulated Jewish immigration. Some newcomers settled in Jerusalem but the majority went to Safed where, by the mid-16th century, the Jewish population had risen to about 10,000, and the town had become a thriving textile centre.”

[Research by Fidato]

جبری تبدیلی مذہب، پرویز ہود بھائی اور ڈاکٹر عمیر محمود صدیقی کا مکالمہ

جبری تبدیلی مذہب،حقیقت یا افسانہ؟

پرویز ہود بھائی اور ڈاکٹر عمیر محمود صدیقی کے مابین مکالمہ

Kashmiri And International Journalists Discuss Lock-down Restrictions In Kashmir

Kashmiri And International Journalists Discuss Lock-down Restrictions In Kashmir

By News Desk

ISLAMABAD– Journalists from several countries came together in a webinar that discussed lockdown restrictions and the future of journalism in varied countries and conflict zones, including Iraq, Israel and Palestinian territories, Azerbaijan, and Kashmir.

An international nongovernmental organization, YFK-International Kashmir Lobby Group, which works with the United Nations mechanisms and human rights organizations, brought together international journalists to talk about the future of journalism and human rights. YFK is based in Islamabad, Pakistan.

The webinar was also a rare occasion to have journalists working in different conflict zones to sit on one table and learn from each other’s perspectives and experiences. Award-winning Iraqi photojournalist Ali Arkady, the whistleblower who uncovered torture cells run by security forces in Iraq, joined Nelofar Abdullah, a journalist who lives and works under the world’s longest lockdown in Indian-occupied Kashmir, and Daniela Donges, who works with journalists and activists as Country Director Israel and Palestinian territories for German Voices for Peace.

Journalist Efsane Elesgerli, a correspondent for the Voice of Karabakh newspaper, described to the participants the circumstances under which journalists and civilians are coping with renewed clashes with Armenia over the Karabakh region, where residents are opposed Armenian presence.

Nelofar Abdullah described incidents where Indian occupation soldiers harassed her at checkpoints during her normal media coverage work. She explained in detail how Kashmiris are coping with the ban on fast-speed internet and are adjusting their lives around 2G speed. Kashmir has around eight million people who have to live with 2G. This has affected I.T. industry, online education, and some medical services.

Daniela Donges, Country Director Israel and Palestinian territories for German Voices for Peace, just completed her two-year stay at the city of Bethlehem, which is part of occupied Palestinian lands in dispute between Israel and the Palestinians.

She described how the health emergency, the lockdowns, and the occupation have combined to create an economic crisis that could explode in the face of both Palestinian and Israeli authorities.

To one question, Ali Arkady declined to reveal where he is living in asylum in Europe due to security and safety reasons. Arkady said that some security officials in Iraq have affiliations to extremist militias and are covertly working for other countries. He said he is optimistic that the coverage his work has received in international media will act as an instrument of accountability for everyone involved in human rights violations in Iraq.

Sumaira Khan, a correspondent for Indus World television was full of praise for the Pakistani government for its handling of the pandemic. She called for regulation to stem disinformation in a health crisis.

The situation for the media in the Gulf region is different in that there is a mushrooming of modern digital and broadcast media but not as much difficulties for journalists under lockdown thanks to the availability of high-speed internet, said Shahad Al-Matrouk, the Kuwait correspondent for the Dubai-based Al-Arabiya. She explained in detail her experience working under lockdown.

YFK–International Kashmir Lobby Group (Youth Forum For Kashmir) is a non-partisan INGO, working for the peaceful resolution of Kashmir Conflict in accordance with United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions.

Kashmir Issue: A Volcano in South Asia

Kashmir Issue: A Volcano in South Asia

By Dr. Maqsood Jafri

On the occasion of Eid-ul-Adha, the Kashmiris were not allowed to offer Eid Prayers in the Grand Mosque of Srinagar and all over Indian Occupied Kashmir. If there is calm and peace in Kashmir as asserted by Indian Premier Narendra Modi, then why ban on prayer?

The APHC General Secretary, Moulvi Bashir Ahmed Irfani, the Chairman Jammu and Kashmir Youth Social Forum Umer Adil Dar and the Chairman Jammu and Kashmir Peace Forum advocate Devender Singh Behl in their press statements expressed deep concern over the continued bloodshed of the Kashmiris by the colonial occupation of Indian forces. The ban imposed on Eid congressional prayers in mosques has unmasked the gruesome face of Indian so called secularism.

Modi in his frantic tempo is committing mistake after mistake. He has banned the study of Chinese language as an optional subject in Indian schools and colleges. It is the height of stupidity. His spite even with a language shows his idiotic mind-set. I call it the apex of deflected, deranged and degenerated mind-set.

The army chief of Pakistan General Qamar Javed Bajwa visited the Line of Control in Khoei Rata, Mirpur, Azad Kashmir on Eid and addressed the soldiers who are valiantly defending the sacred soil of motherland. Army Chief reiterated his unshakable stance that Kashmir is the jugular vein of Pakistan and soon Kashmir will be the part of Pakistan.

He warned India to remain in shirts and refrain from aggression and befitting response will be given to Indian assaults. The whole nation appreciated the address of our dynamic, brave and patriotic General Qamar Javed Bajwa. Bravo: Hurrah.

The Indian Defence Minister blabbered a few days ago that the Indian army is very brave and will face valiantly the Chinese army. What a bluffing. Indian army cannot face Pakistani army, the hell it will face the Chinese army. The bravery of the Indian army can be gauged from the recently given interview of a former Indian Major General Mr. Bakhshi. He said that in 1991 skirmishes at Kargil, Pakistani army fought with great commitment, bravery and courage and thrashed out Indian Army. Indian 50 Punjab regiment was badly beaten and was intimidated. The then government hid our shameful defeat. Pakistani army made us to rub the nose. This interview is a slap on the face of Indian Defence Minister.

Kashmir is a test case for UN. Kashmir is like a volcano that can erupt any time and its eruption will destroy and devastate the fabric of the South Asia. The devilish and devious designs of Modi will turn both the countries into debris. India is a big country and needs sober and sane leadership. It needs a debonair leader. It does not need a deceitful and debilitated dullard.

I appeal to the saner Indian element to resist the policies of Modi if they want to avert the nuclear strike in the Sub-continent. Pakistan will go to any extent to save its solidarity and identity. Let us save our coming generations from the hazards of nuclear war.

The president of the USA, Donald Trump in his electioneering campaign had enthusiastically announced to mediate to resolving Kashmir issue. India claims to be the buddy of America. For the last seven decades, it was a “Maid “of America and now has become the “Mistress” of America. These coquetries of a whore will not last long. This friendship is unnatural and is based to damage China. India is very adroitly playing double game.

Why India refused the offer of Trump as an arbitrator. Simply, because India has no legal base and stand on Kashmir Issue. On the coming American election Mr. Joe Biden of Democratic Party is assessing and weighing the scales and jockeying between Indian- American and Pakistani- American vote bank. It is imperative for overseas Pakistanis to take part in the local politics of the countries they live in and fight for the cause of Pakistan and Kashmir and nullify Indian plans against Pakistan. Neither America nor any other Western country is serious about the plight of Kashmiris as it is not their cup of tea. They drink coffee and wine and we can only provide them a cup of tea. They boast on being democratic countries but support monarchies in Arab world to grind the axe. Petrol is dearer to them than human blood.

The high handedness and foolhardiness of Modi resulted in the tarnished image of India worldwide. One of its fallouts is that on July 15, 2020, much awaited signing of a high profile economic partnership agreement between the European Union and India could not materialize. Iran has also cancelled its pact on Chabahar Port with India and signed an economic pact with China. It is a way forward to opening new economic and strategic vistas between China, Iran and Pakistan. It is a happy omen for us and will strengthen our hands against India.

These two fallouts are the outcome of the hawkish policies of Modi on international front. Indian on-going border tensions with China have locked them in a military conflict in Eastern Ladakh. This is the right and ripe time that China, Iran, Pakistan, Turkey and SAARC countries should unite to contain Indian expansionist designs.

The inhuman treatment of Modi with the Indian Muslims also established him a racist and religious extremist in the world community. The president of European Council Charles Michal severely criticized India and protested against the “Citizenship Amendment Act” which discriminated the legislation of the Muslims. The European Union also expressed deep concern on the Indian illegal and undemocratic step in Kashmir and voiced against the violations of human rights in Kashmir. Shamelessly, the Indian Home Minister bragged rather brayed that India will conquer the territories comprising Azad Kashmiri, Gilgat-Baltistan and Aksai Chin. This statement is a warning to Pakistan and China.

Pakistan should confront India on two fronts and like a two edged dagger pierce its pride into pieces. Its arrogance will be buried in the ditches and dykes of nonentity. First; on the diplomatic front through our embassies, we should launch a gigantic movement against India and seek the succour of our friends on diplomatic front. Second; we need to form a Block under the Leadership of China and break India as she broke Pakistan in 1971 and turned East Pakistan into Bangladesh. India is bound to disintegrate in to further two parts. Only planning is required. “Khalistan “in East Punjab for Sikhs and “Islamistan” of UP and Muslim majority areas in India. To avert the strike of nuclear war and escape from the imminent Volcano of Kashmir, it is imperative to dismember India.

اسلام اور احمدیت 16 – قادیانیت ایک نظر میں

اسلام اور احمدیت 16 – قادیانیت ایک نظر میں

ڈاکٹر عمیر محمود صدیقی

Important events which led to the demolition of Babri Mosque in 1992

Important events which led to the demolition of Babri Mosque in 1992

1. In Dec 1949, the idols of Ram and Sita (Ram’s wife) were placed inside the Babri Masjid by two officers of Uttar Pradesh provincial civil service; Commissioner, K.K.K. Nayar and and the City Magistrate, Guru Datta Singh who were members of the RSS. Instead of removing the idols and restoring the property to the Muslim community, the court through an order of interim injunction, locked the mosque and denied the Muslims their right to worship.

2. On 11 February 1986, ironically but unsurprisingly with Congress collusion, a Faizabad lawyer, Umesh Chandra Pandey, moved an appeal before District and Session Judge K.M. Pandey to unlock the Babri Masjid. While the legal case of the Babri Masjid was still pending in Allahabad High Court, the district judge in Faizabad allowed Hindus to conduct their worship of idols by opening the gates of the mosque while prohibiting the Muslims to enter the site.

3. Arun Nehru, a close associate of Rajiv Gandhi, delivered a letter to Judge Pandey and informed him that Congress would not object to the unlocking of the Babri Masjid. At the same time, an agreement was concluded between the BJP and Congress by Buta Singh and Narain Datta Tiwari who was the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. As per the agreement, Shilanya Ceremony (the laying of a cornerstone) would be conducted by the BJP/VHP after the Babri Masjid had been reopened.

4. In 1989 Rajiv Gandhi began his electoral campaign from the same Faizabad district and said: “If Hindus want Ram Rajya, they should vote for Congress as it is the only party which could bring Ram Rajya to the country” (Times of India, 1989).

5. Amidst the hostile political atmosphere, Doordarshan ran a highly sophisticated dramatisation of the Ramayana whose episodes ran for eighteen months commencing in January of 1987, and then followed it up with a ninety one episode version of the Mahabharata.

6. In Sept 1990, BJP President L.K. Advani organized the Ram Rath Yatra. Different affiliates of the Sang Parivar participated in the so called journey of faith which took lives of more than 275 innocent Muslims. Narendar Modi was also a part of it.

7. In 1992, Babri Masjid was demolished by 150,000 kar sevaks. It was planned 10 months in advance by leaders of RSS, BJP and VHP in collusion with PM Rao’s govt. No RSS leaders were imprisoned after the demolition. The RSS was apparently banned but shakhas were never closed.

8. Maloy Krishna Dhar, former head of IB, claimed in his book “Open Secrets” that he was directed to provide security to the meeting held by Sang Parivar where demolition of Babri mosque was planned. Tapes of the meeting were handed over to PM Rao who tacitly approved the plan.

9. PM Narasimha Rao had deep ties with RSS. His personal secretary Ram Khandekar was a swayamsevak. It was Rao who gave permission for worshipping the Ramlila images at the makeshift temple. He frequently visited the Tirupati Temple to get advise and met with the Dharma Sangsad.

10. A professor at Harvard University said, “Congress and the Gandhis created an environment in which BJP could legitimately use religion in politics.” (Newsweek, 1993)

During 1980-89 there were nearly 4500 communal incidents in which 7000 people (mostly Muslims) died.

Research by Fidato

References: