TwoCircles.net - Indian Muslim news

MPLAD fund: Muslim Members of Rajya Sabha spend 85%
Gujarat minister Amit Shah's anticipatory bail plea rejected
NHRC seeks report on civilian killings in Kashmir
India-US counterterrorism cooperation pact signed
Gujarat minister again fails to turn up before CBI
PFI files complaint against media for maligning the organisation
DGP intervenes: PFI can hold rally in Kozhikode on Friday
Ma’dani: Anticipatory bail plea postponed to July 29
Restrictions in Kashmir to thwart separatist protests
PFI a blot on Muslims in Kerala, says IUML MP
A new generation of Muslim peace educators
Egypt through Western sunglasses

MPLAD fund: Muslim Members of Rajya Sabha spend 85%

Posted: 23 Jul 2010 06:10 AM PDT

By Mumtaz Alam Falahi, TwoCircles.net,

Unlike their Lok Sabha counterparts, the Muslim Members of Rajya Sabha – the Upper House of Indian Parliament – have spent large chunk of the fund under the Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS). They have spent 84.74% of the fund.

Gujarat minister Amit Shah's anticipatory bail plea rejected

Posted: 23 Jul 2010 05:55 AM PDT

By IANS,

Ahmedabad : Gujarat Minister of State for Home Amit Shah's anticipatory bail plea was Friday rejected by a special CBI court here.

Shah on Friday approached the court for anticipatory bail after failing to answer the Central Bureau of Investigation summons for the second consecutive day, even as the agency filed a chargesheet against former deputy commissioner of police Abhay Chudasama in the 2005 Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case.

NHRC seeks report on civilian killings in Kashmir

Posted: 23 Jul 2010 05:12 AM PDT

By IANS,

New Delhi : The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Friday sought a reply from the home secretary by Aug 19 over the killing of civilians by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in Jammu and Kashmir.

The NHRC was acting on a complaint from Sushobha Barve of the Centre for Dialogue and Reconciliation.

"The NHRC has forwarded a complaint to the home secretary wherein attention has been drawn to recent developments in Jammu and Kashmir in which several individuals, including children, were allegedly killed by the CRPF," said an official statement.

India-US counterterrorism cooperation pact signed

Posted: 23 Jul 2010 02:50 AM PDT

By TCN News,

New Delhi: India and the United States today signed the India-US Counter Terrorism Initiative to further enhance the cooperation between the two countries in counterterrorism as an important element of their bilateral strategic partnership.

Union Home Secretary, G.K. Pillai signed for India whereas US Ambassador Timothy J. Roemer signed on behalf of the US government. The text of the pact was initialed on the sidelines of the visit of India Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to the US in November 2009.

Gujarat minister again fails to turn up before CBI

Posted: 23 Jul 2010 01:39 AM PDT

By IANS,

New Delhi : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Friday cancelled a lunch with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh citing the "bitter atmosphere" following the CBI's summons to Gujarat minister Amit Shah in the 2005 killing of Sohrabuddin Sheikh in a staged shootout.

"Four BJP leaders were invited for the PM's luncheon meeting but we decided not to attend it over the bitter atmosphere following the CBI's summons to Shah," Sushma Swaraj, leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha, told reporters.

PFI files complaint against media for maligning the organisation

Posted: 23 Jul 2010 01:29 AM PDT

By TCN News,

Kozhikode: The Popular Front of India has filed complaints against the 'Deshabhimani' daily, 'Keralashabdam' weekly and 'Jeevan' for spreading wrong news about the organisation. The organisation's state general secretary P Abdul Hameed filed the complaint via Adv P Abdurahman.

DGP intervenes: PFI can hold rally in Kozhikode on Friday

Posted: 23 Jul 2010 12:06 AM PDT

By TwoCircles.net Staff Correspondent,

Kozhikode: The Popular Front of India has been permitted to hold the public rally in Kozhikode on Friday after the organisation's leaders held talks with the state DGP. The DGP's permission was secured after the PFI promised to hold the rally and public meeting peacefully and without any provocations, according to reports.

Ma’dani: Anticipatory bail plea postponed to July 29

Posted: 22 Jul 2010 11:32 PM PDT

By TwoCircles.net Staff Correspondent,

Bengaluru: The anticipatory bail plea submitted by Abdunnasir Ma'dani, 31st accused in the Bengaluru blast case, was yesterday postponed to July 29 for consideration by the Karnataka High Court. The decision was taken by the Criminal Single Bench Judge Js N Ananda as the prosecution asked for more time for his counter-argument when the plea was considered yesterday.

Restrictions in Kashmir to thwart separatist protests

Posted: 22 Jul 2010 11:27 PM PDT

By IANS,

Srinagar : Authorities again imposed restrictions in Srinagar and other places in the Kashmir Valley Friday to scuttle a separatist march and protests called against alleged human rights violations by security forces.

The hardline Hurriyat group, headed by Syed Ali Geelani, has called for a march to Khanqah-i-Moula mosque area in the Old city and post Friday prayer protests across the Valley.

"In order to prevent damage to civilian life and property, restrictions have been imposed in Old City areas in Srinagar," a police officer said here.

PFI a blot on Muslims in Kerala, says IUML MP

Posted: 22 Jul 2010 11:18 PM PDT

By T.G. Biju, IANS,

New Delhi : Denouncing a radical Muslim group in Kerala as a blot on Muslims, a senior leader of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) has urged young Muslims to stay away from such "anti-Islamic outfits".

E.T. Mohammed Basheer, a Lok Sabha member, came out strongly against the Popular Front of India (PFI), whose activists have been accused of chopping off one of the hands of a college professor for allegedly making derogatory references to Prophet Mohammed.

The PFI, which enjoys wide support in Kerala, has denied the charge.

A new generation of Muslim peace educators

Posted: 22 Jul 2010 09:40 PM PDT

By Amina Rasul and Qamar-ul Huda,

Davao City, Philippines - In this age of widespread misperceptions that Islam is a religion of violence and intolerance, an Islamic peace education curriculum, addressing peacebuilding from an authentic Islamic perspective, is essential.

Egypt through Western sunglasses

Posted: 22 Jul 2010 09:37 PM PDT

By Sanna Negus,

Jerusalem - "What is it like to live in Egypt as a Western woman?" During the years I lived in Cairo, I was often asked this question while visiting my native Finland, or when travelling outside the Middle East.

My short answer was "different".