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Egypt’s Azhar decries ‘failure of global conscience’ on Rohingya Muslims, calls for action

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Al-Azhar has condemned the violence against the Rohingya Muslim minority in Myanmar and called on international organisations and Arab and Muslim countries to intervene to end it.In a statement signed by Grand Sheikh Ahmed El-Tayyeb and published on Al-Azhar’s Facebook page, Al-Azhar called on the Arab League, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, the European Union, the United Nations, and decision-makers in Arab and Muslim countries to take all political and economic pressures to force the government in Myanmar to stop religious and racial discrimination.Al-Azhar also called on all international and human rights organisations to “take the required procedures to investigate in these shameful crimes, trace those who committed them, and deliver them to International Court of Justice as war criminals”.

 

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Switzerland halts ‘mutual legal assistance’ with Egypt in Mubarak family funds case

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Swiss judicial authorities have decided to halt mutual legal assistance to the Egyptian government in the investigations into the funds of former President Hosni Mubarak, his family and others, as the investigations have not yielded any tangible results, according to a statement issued by the Swiss Embassy in Cairo on Wednesday.The statement also said that the Egyptian attorney general’s office was informed of this decision in late August distinguishing between the conclusion of mutual assistance and the continuation of the investigation, as mutual legal assistance is only one “part of the investigation”, and that no final decisions regarding the funds have been taken.Judicial cooperation between Egypt and Switzerland began after Mubarak was deposed in February 2011. However, the Swiss embassy asserts that “despite this cooperation, Swiss judicial authorities had to conclude that the legal requirements were not met, particularly with regard to the link between the alleged crimes and Switzerland”.

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Washington still deliberating cuts in aid package to Cairo: Egypt foreign ministry

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The Egyptian foreign ministry said on Thursday that the US is still discussing whether it will be introducing cuts to its financial aid package to Cairo for the fiscal year 2018.Egypt’s foreign ministry spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid said in a statement that a House of Representatives’ subcommittee on foreign operations passed the bill without reducing aid to Cairo, though a Senate committee demanded that cuts be introduced to the assistance programme.Egypt receives approximately $1.3 billion in US military aid yearly, as well as an annual economic assistance package, which amounted to $150 million in 2016.The US said last month it would withhold part of its aid to Cairo, saying $195 million would be held in reserve until the US “can see progress on democracy” in Egypt.In response, Cairo said the move is not in line with the strategic relations between Egypt and the US, and that cuts could have “negative repercussions” in achieving the common interests of the two countries.

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Court grants DSS permission to detain suspect for 45 days

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The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday granted permission to the Department of State Service (DSS) to detain one Adamu Mohammed for 45 days pending conclusion of investigation. Mohammed is being investigated for carrying out acts of terrorism by divulging sensitive information to members of Boko Haram. Justice B.O. Quadri reduced the 90 days to 45 days pending conclusion of investigation. The applicant shall provide the court with an update of the investigastion before the expiration of the 45 days; upon the update, the court may review and extend the remand order if it is necessary. Mr O.J. Odu, counsel to the DSS who moved the application told the court that it was pursuant to Section 27 (1) of the Terrorism Prevention Act.

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Haram: Report Warns of Dangers of “abandoning” vigilante

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Nigeria’s North-east could suffer further criminality and insecurity, if the federal government fails to invest in exit programmes for thousands of vigilantes who have helped in fighting Bolo Haram insurgents, the International Crisis Group (ICG) has warned. A new report titled Vigilantes shows that Nigeria’s CJTF (Civilian Joint Task Force) and similar vigilantes in these other countries, such as Uganda, South Sudan and Sierra Leone, have assisted governements in providing local security. According to a press statement issued by Nnamdi Obasi, Senior, Adviser, ICG, on Nigerian CJTF vigilantes, the report observed that by participating in efforts to counter Boko Haram, they ‘‘acted as a bridge between civilians and security forces, helping the state regain a measure of local legitimacy while protecting the local community”. It further urged that the Nigerian and other governments ‘formulate and implement policies and programmes for returning vigilantes to normal life, as conflicts end.

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22 die, 152 injured in Ogun road crashes during Sallah holidays – TRACE

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The state road safety authority said that’s now official, at least 22 people died while 152 others sunstained injuries in 74 road crashes in the state of Ogun during the last Sallah holidays. The Eid al-Fitr Sallah, is on the 25 June and it lasts for the two following days. This day marks the end of Ramadan. Seni Ogunyemi, Commander, Ogun Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE), disclosed in Ota that 174 people and 43 vehicles were involved in the road crashes. The Ogun governor Ibikunle Amosun said that he is not happy over the high rate of accident during the festive period. He, therefore, stated that TRACE should prevent a repeat of such sad occurrence in the state.

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Libya’s biggest oil field said to resume pumping crude

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Libya’s largest oil field resumed production after a halt of more than two weeks, putting pressure on Opec and other producers seeking to rein in a global supply glut and firm up prices. Libyan authorities reopened a valve on the pipeline from the south-western Sharara field to the Zawiya refinery after they reached a final agreement with a militia group that had closed the link, according to a person familiar with the matter, who asked not to be identified because the information is private. The North African nation’s crude output dropped 35% after the forced closing of the three fields, disrupting a revival of its production.

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HoR members blame Haftar, Al-Sirraj for violations at oil crescent region

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Several members of the House of Representatives (HoR) blamed the Presidential Council and the command of Dignity Operation for not protecting the residents of the area from Amra town to Ras Lanuf in east Libya from the arbitrary arrests and violations.The pro-Libyan Political Agreement (LPA) HoR members, who were 21 signing on the statement, said the PC and Haftar’s forces are responsible for repeated attacks on the residents after the turn-up of IS militants, saying they are shocked to see no response by the authorities to such a threat.The statement urged the UNSMIL and the international law and humanitarian organizations to help protect civilians from the threat of terrorists and the attacks as well as the siege that is imposed by Dignity Operation on the district.

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US heart surgeon says GNA does not care about Libyan children

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An American heart surgeon has launched into the Government of National Accord (GNA) for what he says is a complete absence of concern for Libyan children needing life-saving operations.Bill Novick, who has been coming to Libya with a volunteer team of surgeons since 2012, has attacked the GNA health ministry for failing to fund paediatric heart surgery.The Beida health ministry has said that at least a thousand children require cardiac surgery.Novick now insists that if the GNA released funding for his heart operations, hundreds of children would be saved.He said: “The real solution requires GNA to act humanly and provide the funds for a year-long programme in which we could provide clinical care to these children and at the same time provide education to the local team so that in the future Libyan children could be treated by a Libyan team”.

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Human Rights Watch: Torture a widespread practice under Sisi

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Torture is standardized practice under president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, according to a report issued by the New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Wednesday morning. The investigation is based on interviews with people who were subjected to torture between 2014 and 2016.In a statement also issued on Wednesday, HRW writes that the 63-page report “documents how security forces, particularly officers of the Interior Ministry’s National Security Agency, use torture to force suspects to confess or divulge information, or to punish them”. It notes that the practice has become more widespread since the ouster of former President Mohamed Morsi in 2013. According to HRW, torture techniques included beatings, electrocution, stress positions and sometimes rape. According to the interviewees, torture sessions usually begin with electric shocks and slapping, while the detainee is blindfolded, handcuffed and stripped naked. If detainees refuse to cooperate, the strength and duration of the electric shocks increase, and hot water is thrown on them if they lose consciousness.

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