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Showing posts with label Eid al-Adha. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Eid al-Adha. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 8, 2014

Moscow bans Islamic sacrifice ritual for Eid

02 October 2014 Thursday

Muslims in the Russian capital Moscow have been denied the right to celebrate the upcoming Eid al-Adhu (Feast of the Sacrifice) Islamic holiday after local authorities banned them from carrying out the traditional slaughter ritual.

The second of the two Eid holidays in the Islamic calender, Muslims typically celebrate the occasion by slaughtering a lamb, a cow or a camel and distributing its meat to relatives, neighbors and the poor.

However, a spokesman for the city's inter-regional cooperation, national policy and religious organizations department, told Interfax on Wednesday that the sale and slaughter of sacrificial animals will be banned in Moscow during the holiday.

Muslims will be allowed to fulfill the religious rite in villages outside of the main city, he added.

A recent influx of migrant workers in Moscow from mainly Muslim parts of Russia, such as the northern Caucasus and central Asia, have brought to light new issues in the city, amid increasing tensions between migrants and the city's Slavic community.

Currently, there are only four official mosques in Moscow, which is insufficient to cope with the increase of Muslims arriving in the city.

Muslims in Moscow in recent years have had to resort to praying their Eid prayers in public squares with prior permission from the local authorities.

In total, around 23 million Muslims live in Russia, making it the country's second largest religion with 15% of the overall population of 145 million.

Source: World Bulletin.
Link: http://www.worldbulletin.net/news/145548/moscow-bans-islamic-sacrifice-ritual-for-eid.

Monday, November 22, 2010

Eid vacation a chance to forge House alliances

By Khetam Malkawi

AMMAN - Some members of the 16th Lower House spent the Eid Al Adha holiday contacting and lobbying their colleagues to form parliamentary blocs, deputies-elect said on Saturday.

According to parliamentary sources, two blocs were formed over the past few days, while another two to four are still in the process of establishing themselves.

One of the recently founded blocs is the National Current, affiliated with the National Current Party, which started as a bloc in the dissolved 15th Parliament.

The 17-strong bloc elected Saturday Mohammad Thweib (Amman, 2nd District) as president and decided to support Jerash MP Mefleh Ruheimi’s pursuit to become House speaker, sources from the alliance said.

The 18-member National Accord bloc, headed by Zarqa First District Deputy Mirza Bollad, was also established on Friday.

The establishment of a third bloc is expected to be announced today as well, according to MP Jamil Nimri (Irbid, Second District), who told The Jordan Times that a number of leftist deputies will meet to discuss the bylaw of their bloc.

He noted that the bloc has eight members but its final membership is expected to reach 12 as other left-wing deputies will join it.

A fourth bloc is also in the making and will be announced soon, according to Amman Third District representative Ahmad Safadi.

He told The Jordan Times that a meeting will be held today to officially announce the group, which is expected to consist of 20 members.

According to Safadi, Karak Third District MP Atef Tarawneh, who also previously announced that he would run for speaker, is a member of this bloc.

Also yesterday, Amman Second District MP Mohammad Halaiqa told The Jordan Times that he had begun contacting his colleagues to form a bloc at the House, which he said will be “patriotic” in character and work to reclaim the Lower House’s role in governance.

The new House, which was elected on November 9, is expected to be summoned on November 28.

According to Article 78 of the Constitution, Parliament is to be summoned by a Royal Decree to begin its ordinary session on October 1 of each year, but the starting date can be postponed by up to two months. In their first session, lawmakers are scheduled to elect a speaker and members of the permanent office (two deputies and two assistants).

Meanwhile, changes are expected to take place soon in the make-up and possibly the size of the Senate, MPs and commentators said, after five senators resigned their positions to run for seats in the Lower House, and a sixth left to take up the presidency of the Anti-Corruption Commission.

These members of the 55-seat Upper House are expected to be replaced by Royal appointment in accordance with the Constitution.

Political analyst Mohammad Abu Rumman added that the Senate, which is constitutionally required to have no more than one half as many seats as the Lower House, may increase in size to 60 seats, now that the Lower House has 120 seats instead of 110.

21 November 2010

Source: The Jordan Times.
Link: http://jordantimes.com/?news=31943.

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Eid Curbs on Uyghur Muslims

2010-11-17

Police in northwest China step up surveillance on Muslims ahead of an important holy day.

Authorities in China's troubled northwestern region of Xinjiang have boosted security as ethnic minority Uyghur Muslims celebrated a key festival of their calendar, Eid al-Adha.

Police in the region's western Kashgar city have already detained six Uyghurs outside a mosque for distributing "illegal religious CDs" to people arriving for Friday prayers last week, an exiled Uyghur group said.

The Eid al-Adha is considered a festival of "sacrifice" among Muslims with celebrations peaking on Wednesday.

Dilxat Raxit, spokesman for the Munich-based World Uyghur Congress, said those detained ahead of the festival included a 17-year-old Uyghur girl.

"The government has stepped up its surveillance of mosques," Raxit said. "There are a lot of plainclothes police officers around [the mosques] now."

"The plainclothes police are also going into the mosques, requiring them to comply with government directives on social stability," he added.

A police officer who answered the phone at the Kashgar municipal police department said he was unaware of the detentions in the city.

However, an officer at the Yecheng county police station did not deny the detentions had taken place. "This is an internal matter for the police," the officer said. "I can't answer your questions."

An employee who answered the phone at a hotel in Kashgar said there would be traffic restrictions around the city's main mosque during early prayers.

"Our mosques will be very busy on the day," she said. "There will probably be 500 or 600 people at prayer, perhaps even 1,000. It's like that every year."

She said tourists would be barred from entering the mosques during the festival prayers.

"When Eid is over at the 12th hour, then we will have some activities, like dancing," she added.

Streets 'tense'

Police were carrying out round-the-clock patrols on the streets of Urumqi, the regional capital which was rocked by deadly ethnic violence in July 2009, leaving nearly 200 dead, according to official reports.

An Urumqi resident surnamed Wu said there were armed security patrols all over the city.

"Things are pretty tense on the streets," Wu said. "The special forces are armed to the teeth, and patrolling in groups of three."

"The volunteer security guards, who aren't so combat-ready, are also patrolling in bigger groups of seven, eight, nine, 10," he added.

A non-Uyghur Hui Muslim who answered the phone at a mosque in the city's Tianshan district said that the mosques were expecting several hundred worshipers to attend prayers for Eid al-Adha, at which sheep and goats are sacrificed to recall the sparing of Abraham’s son Ismail.

"Recently, there have been a lot of plainclothes police carrying out surveillance outside the mosques," he said.

"There's no problem here now. The July 7 [violence] is over now," he said, adding that the government had "sorted them out."

"It's only the Uyghurs who are under strict controls," he added.

Meanwhile, government agencies at all levels had recently received orders banning any Muslim members of the ruling Communist Party or government officials from attending Eid prayers in the region's mosques, Raxit said.

"I don't think the Chinese government is sincere about improving the situation of Uyghurs," he added.

China is home to around 23 million Muslims, including the Turkic-speaking Uyghurs and the Hui, whose mother tongue is Chinese, and who have Chinese names.

Around 13,000 Chinese Muslims flew to the annual pilgrimage in Mecca last month, boarding chartered flights from Gansu, Beijing, Urumqi, Yinchuan and Kunming, official media reported.

However, since the Urumqi violence of July 2009, Uyghurs and travel industry sources have said that Uyghurs have been effectively barred from foreign travel if they don't already have a passport, as their applications are being uniformly turned down.

Reported by Hai Nan for RFA's Cantonese service, and by Qiao Long for RFA's Mandarin service. Translated and written in English by Luisetta Mudie.

Copyright © 1998-2010 Radio Free Asia. All rights reserved.

Source: Radio Free Asia.
Link: http://www.rfa.org/english/news/uyghur/eid-11172010082929.html.

Mauritanian inmates receive Eid al-Adha pardon

2010-11-16

Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz on Monday (November 15th) granted amnesty to 135 prison inmates, including 17 Salafists, to mark Eid al-Adha. For Eid al-Fitr last September, the president pardoned 100 prisoners, including 35 men incarcerated on terror-related charges.

Source: Magharebia.com.
Link: http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/newsbriefs/general/2010/11/16/newsbrief-02.

Eid shopping boom hits Algeria

Despite soaring food prices, pre-Eid shopping madness in Algeria turns even the stingiest consumers into lavish spenders.

By Mohand Ouali for Magharebia in Algiers – 16/11/10

With the feast of sacrifice drawing near, spending is reaching its peak as Algerians celebrate Eid al-Adha with new clothes and stocks of food. Yet, it is always the same story across the country: sheep are expensive this year.

Algerian buyers repeat it so much that they forget that a sharp rise in grocery prices always accompanies festivities. On top of that, there are changes in the weather which affect the availability of agricultural produce and, therefore, prices. A little rain can spark a surge in prices.

"Buy now, it'll be more expensive tomorrow," greengrocer Faouzi warns his loyal customers.

As Eid al-Adha approaches, businesses start to shut down, which also contributes to the spike in prices. Whether in agriculture, commerce or transport, big celebrations are always preceded by the huge exodus of workers whose families live outside major towns.

With entire companies relying on migrant workers, Algiers is particularly vulnerable to this phenomenon. Finding a bakery on feast days is a challenge, especially if the holiday falls near the weekend.

"Everyone knows that the majority of those working in bakeries come from the Jijel or Kabylie regions," explains Amar, an elderly man living in Algiers. "It's natural that they should celebrate Eid with their families."

The people of Algiers, however, have learnt to grin and bear it, coping with the difficulties of shopping and getting around the city in the run-up to feast days.

"I have a small family, so I don't have too much to worry about, but I've already started stocking up. My biggest problem is getting hold of bread. For several days, we'll be eating the flatbreads that my wife will have to make," Redouane explained.

Nora, a public sector worker, has taken a few hours off work to finish buying new clothes for her children. "I sorted out my aoula (stock of food) a few days ago. I don't take any chances there. It's all planned," she said with a smile of someone who has it all sewn up.

Grocery and convenience stores are practically cleared out. There are fewer and fewer products available.

"It all goes so quickly," said Ahmed, who works at a small convenience store in the city center.

"People buy everything: sugar, butter, tinned milk, tinned tomatoes, spaghetti, eggs, yogurt, chocolate, preserves and so on, all in huge quantities, either to stock up or to make their cakes. It's excellent for our business!" he said cheerfully, pointing to the emptying shelves.

For consumers, Eid means huge spending and sacrifice.

"Fortunately, my boss gave us a bonus so that we could buy our sheep, and we're being paid in advance of Eid. Otherwise, I don't know what I'd have done," said Mahmoud.

Source: Magharebia.com.
Link: http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/features/2010/11/16/feature-01.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Muslims mark Eid with outdoor prayers in central Athens

Tue, 16 Nov 2010

Athens - Thousands of Muslim immigrants gathered for outdoor prayer services across Athens on Tuesday to mark the festival of Eid-al-Adha.

Dozens of riot police were deployed in the city center to protect the immigrants from attacks by extreme right-wing demonstrators who tried to disrupt the prayers.

Reports said a handful of protesters threw eggs at the group of faithful in central Athens before police intervened early on Tuesday.

In recent municipal elections on November 14 the head of extreme right-wing party Golden Dawn, Nikos Mihaloliakos, won more than 5 per cent of the vote in Athens, winning a seat in seat on the local council.

Mihaloliakos based his campaign on anti-immigrant issues and government plans to build a mosque in the Greek capital.

Tens of thousands of immigrants make their way into the European Union via Greece each year, mainly from the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/news/353732,outdoor-prayers-central-athens.html.

Saleh exchanges Eid congratulations with Oman Sultan and Jordan King

[15/November/2010]

TAIZ, Nov. 15 (Saba) – President Ali Abdullah Saleh received phone calls from Oman's Sultan Qaboos bin Said and Jordan's King Abdullah II on Monday.

During the conversations, Saleh exchanged congratulations on Eid al Adha with the two rulers, and discussed the bilateral relationship with Oman and Jordan, the latest developments in the region and issues of mutual interest.

Source: Saba Net.
Link: http://www.sabanews.net/en/news228851.htm.

Muslims gear up for Eid al-Adha

Tue Nov 16, 2010

Millions of Muslims across the world are preparing to celebrate the annual Eid al-Adha event marking the end of the rituals in Hajj pilgrimage in the holy city of Mecca.

Eid al-Adha, or the Feast of Sacrifice, is considered as one of the most important Islamic festivals commemorating Prophet Abraham's willingness to submit to God's command in sacrificing his beloved son, Ismail.

The holy feast takes place on the 10th day of the lunar month of Dhul Hijjah in the Islamic calendar.

On the day of the Eid, a major Islamic holiday, pilgrims throw pebbles at rock pillars that symbolize the devil. Muslim pilgrims will then sacrifice a sheep, goat, or camel to show their gratitude for Allah's generosity and blessings and distribute the meat among the poor.

In Iran, people observe Eid al-Adha, called Eid-e Qurban in Persian, by taking part in the congregational prayers, sacrificing and distributing sheep's meat among the poor, as well as passing out a variety of sweets and confectionaries.

Eid-e Qurban is considered as one of the most important religious festivals in Iran; for Iranians it is the feast of love and brotherhood.

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei on Monday described the annual Hajj pilgrimage as a symbol of monotheism and spirituality.

"During the Hajj season, the Ka'ba, which is the secret to unity and dignity, and the symbol of monotheism and spirituality, hosts enthusiastic and hopeful individuals, who converge on the birthplace of Islam, from across the world in response to God Almighty's invitation," said the Leader in a message on the occasion of the annual Hajj rituals.

"The Muslim Ummah can witness the compact image of its enormity and the diversity and the depth of faith in the hearts of the followers of this monotheist religion through the eyes of its representatives who have gathered here from the four corners of the world, and can become familiar with this tremendous and unique asset," the message read.

Ayatollah Khamenei also emphasized in his message that the growing wave of Islamic reawakening across the world heralds a glorious future for the Muslim community.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://presstv.ir/detail/151190.html.

Poverty kills Muslim feast happiness in Gaza

November 16, 2010

Um Ibrahim Salah, a 42-year-old woman, can not buy all she needs for the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, or Feast of sacrifice, since her husband have been jobless for years.

"Prices double every year and most of the people are unemployed, " Salah said, who lives in the Jabaliya refugee camp of Gaza, one of the most densely populated spots in the world.

The mother spent most of the money buying sweets, nuts and shirts for her four sons. "I have no more money now to afford meat or more clothes for my kids," she added.

Muslims around the world will on Tuesday observe the Eid al- Adha which marks the most important Islamic Holy holidays.

Markets in Gaza this year have witnessed great amount of goods, however sellers said the deteriorating financial conditions of the people in Gaza have resulted in poor shopping ahead of the feast.

"As you can see, the market is full of people but few of them are buying or selling," said Ahmed Jojo, a young vendor of sweets and candies in Gaza City. "Maybe the political parties have contributed candies to the families across the Gaza," he added.

According to international nongovernmental organizations (NGO), poverty in the Gaza Strip has hit more than 70 percent of the 1.5 million residents, as the majority of the population mainly depends on food aid offered by the United Nations and its humanitarian aid agencies.

Though Israel relaxed its blockade in July, which had been severely tightened in 2007 since Hamas seized the strip' control, job opportunities did not increase in the coastal enclave and the residents cannot import everything they want from aboard through Israel.

Traditionally, Muslims buy sacrificial animals for the Feast, but apparently the siege and the declining financial conditions forced the Gaza people to spend less money on livestock for sacrifice. What's more, gifts to female relatives and children also increase the expenses during the four-day Eid.

"The Eid has turned to be a burden as it has been almost impossible to save money," Um Ibrahim said, as she gave a hawker a handful of shekels for a pack of Egyptian-made candies smuggled via tunnels between Egypt and Gaza.

Source: Xinhua

Source: People's Daily.
Link: http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90777/90854/7200671.html.

Monday, November 15, 2010

Eid, nice weather boost occupancy at resort hotels

By Khetam Malkawi

AMMAN - Hotels in Aqaba and at the Dead Sea are packed for the Eid vacation, with both Jordanians and Europeans taking advantage of the good weather to visit the Kingdom's resorts.

Hotels in both seaside areas reported 100 per cent occupancy rate for the coming holiday, with Jordanians making up 35 to 50 per cent of visitors in the November 16-19 period.

“The hotel is full during the four-day vacation, and we even have people on the waiting list,” an executive at the Dead Sea Holiday Inn reservations desk told The Jordan Times yesterday, adding that demand is high among both Europeans and Jordanians during the coming days.

“Although the accommodation prices are higher because of the peak season and the Eid, demand is higher than we expected,” said the employee, who asked to remain unnamed.

Nedal Qawasmeh from the Dead Sea Marriott also said the hotel is fully occupied.

“We have no vacant rooms from Tuesday until Friday,” Qawasmeh said, adding that the high tourism season started in October and is expected to continue until the end of this month.

“The majority of occupants are Europeans, but during the coming four days, Jordanians constitute around 50 per cent of them,” he explained.

Aqaba’s hotels will also have their share of Jordanian vacationers this week, according to President of Aqaba’s Hotels Association Salah Bitar.

“As the Eid coincides with the tourism peak season, hotels will be fully booked,” Bitar said, adding that people want to take advantage of the long vacation to relax, especially those who were involved in the November 9 elections.

He said approximately 60 per cent of guests in Aqaba’s hotels during the Eid are Jordanians.

However, few Jordanians plan to spend their holiday in Petra, according to Fawwaz Hasanat, president of Petra’s Hotels Association.

“A lack of activities targeting Jordanians contributes to low demand in the local market for trips to Petra,” Hasanat told The Jordan Times over the phone yesterday.

He added that while the five-star hotels in the rose-red city are almost fully booked with European tourists, other hotels with three-star ratings and below have much lower occupancy as they are not marketed by travel agents abroad.

15 November 2010

Source: The Jordan Times.
Link: http://www.jordantimes.com/?news=31857.

Prisoners freed in Gaza for holiday

GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- Hamas authorities in Gaza released some 274 prisoners Monday in a goodwill gesture on the occasion of the Eid Al-Adha holiday.

Tearful families greeted the prisoners, all men, as they emerged from the Reform and Rehabilitation Center in Gaza City at noon.

At a brief news conference, prison administrator Lt. Col. Nader Suleiman said authorities released a total of 370 people from Gaza Strip jails, including approximately 280 released under a government campaign to promote "dignity" in police work. Another hundred were released on a temporary basis for Eid Al-Adha.

Source: Ma'an News Agency.
Link: http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=333843.

Palestinian Muslims to celebrate Eid Al-Adha

15/11/2010

GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- Palestinian Muslims prepared on Monday to celebrate the Eid Al-Adha holiday.

Eid Al-Adha is traditionally marked by slaughtering sheep and other animals, commemorating Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience to God's will.

In the besieged Gaza Strip, animals were smuggled in through underground smuggling tunnels from Egypt.

In Mecca, Saudi Arabia, some 1.7 million Muslims from communities worldwide stood on Mount Arafat in what is considered a high point of the Hajj pilgrimage, which is performed during the holiday. The hill is the place where it is believed Adam was reunited with Eve after 200 years of separation following their expulsion from the garden of eden.

Source: Ma'an News Agency.
Link: http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=333804.

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Military, civil consumer corporation outlets to sell imported sheep

By Omar Obeidat

AMMAN –– Military and civil consumer corporation retail outlets across the Kingdom will start selling sheep on Friday to meet local market needs during Eid Al Adha.

According to Wael Shqeirat, director general of the National Company for Food Security (NCFS), the company imported 25,000 heads of sheep from Romania and Sudan.

On Thursday, the NCFS started distributing the imported sheep to military and civil consumer corporation branches around the country, Shqeirat told The Jordan Times, adding that Romanian sheep will be sold at JD145 per head, while those imported from Sudan will cost JD140 each.

“The quantities of sheep imported by the company or other importers will be sufficient to meet local market needs,” he said, noting that the NCFS took this measure to bring stability to the local market in a bid to prevent unreasonable hikes in sheep prices.

Shqeirat indicated that around 15,000 sheep were imported from Romania and some 10,000 from Sudan, adding that military personnel can pay for the sheep in monthly installments.

In a statement issued yesterday, Civil Service Consumer Corporation Director Omar Neirat said the Eid Al Adha sheep will be sold in three branches in Amman, Irbid and Balqa, adding other governorates will be covered by the Military Consumer Corporation, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The average weight of sheep from Romania will be around 40 kilograms, while the Sudanese sheep weigh approximately 38 kilograms, Petra quoted Neirat as saying.

12 November 2010

Source: The Jordan Times.
Link: http://jordantimes.com/?news=31781.

Eid al-Adha sheep sellers lure Maghreb customers

'E-sheep', supermarket rams, shady dealers and livestock on advertising billboards; Maghreb celebrants see it all for Eid al-Adha.

By Nazim Fethi in Algiers, Siham Ali in Rabat and Jamel Arfaoui in Tunis for Magharebia - 12/11/10

A few days before the celebration of sacrifice, the purchase of the perfect ram is a top priority across the Maghreb. Vendors are turning to new tactics to entice buyers.

In Morocco, the latest consumer trend is Eid al-Adha sheep shopping on the internet. Bank executive Tahiri Hamid is among those who find the method more efficient than searching traditional markets. He says that while web prices are reasonable, sheep in the souks vary from one retailer to another.

"Intermediaries are driving up prices," he complains."One must be a specialist to haggle and buy a good quality ram."

Chakir Lahrizi sells sheep online from his farm in Douar Ouled Moumen. "I had the idea to operate on the internet to reach customers and have a direct relationship with people disgusted by the lying and dishonesty in the markets," he tells Magharebia.

Even Moroccans living abroad are shopping online for his animals. "I just realized a sale from Belgium," he said. "It's from a Moroccan national buying the sheep for his family in Rabat."

"The web is starting to take a prominent place in Moroccan transactions," he adds.

Fatima Zohra Hanini has been buying her ram online for the last two years. "Initially, the idea seemed bizarre. But I tried my luck and I was not disappointed."

"It's better than strolling through the market and getting ripped off by middlemen or getting mugged by pickpockets," she says.

Other Moroccans, like nurse Ahmed Bantoufi, prefer supermarkets that sell by the kilogram. They say they can find good quality at reasonable prices.

They also like to see their rams before they buy.

"I dare not make purchases online because I like to choose my sheep live," he tells Magharebia.

While Moroccans have become accustomed to supermarket sheep, it is a new phenomenon in Algeria this year.

Algerian parents cannot disappoint their children. They must buy the sheep before Eid so that the children can walk them and look after them. But now they can pick out the special ram at the same place where they can buy everything else: the supermarket.

Algeria's Bab Ezzouar shopping center has been open for just a few months. The carpark of the 50,000 sq meter mall outside Algiers accommodates 10,000 cars.

Right now, it is filled with rams.

Sheep cost nearly 25,000 DA at the "Uno" megamarket - and they come with a "good health" warranty. The price at "Uno" can be as much as 13,000 dinars less than anywhere else.

In an effort to curb rising prices, the Ministry of Agriculture put 30,000 affordable rams on the market. But this amount is tiny compared to the estimated annual demand of 2.3 million sheep.

The national flock this year reached 22.5 million healthy heads, the Agriculture Ministry asserted on Monday (November 8th). General Union of Algerian Traders and Artisans (UGCAA) chief Boulenouar Tahar refuted that claim, however, stating that at least 10% of the sheep offered for sale are sick.

Part of the problem comes from itinerant livestock traders.

Mohamed Faid sells sheep during the period of the Eid. "I bring about thirty sheep, no more, just enough to make me a good profit. But I at least know what a sheep is, not like those young people who think that selling a sheep is like selling a shirt," he tells Magharebia.

Algerians also face a unique issue during Eid. To a much greater degree than their Maghreb neighbors, they are very passionate about their bread.

Algerians eat nearly 49 million baguettes per day, according to a study released August by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). They are the biggest bread consumers in the world, so it is no surprise that they worry about the risk of shortages during the Festival of Sacrifice.

In order to prevent bakery closures, the Ministry of Commerce just issued a nationwide directive requiring bakeries to ensure the production of bread for the two days of Eid.

"Any baker who does not respect the timetable will have his commercial register withdrawn and his premises closed," National Union of Bakers chief Youcef Kalafat says.

Along with the bread-selling mandate, Algeria mounted new government efforts to regulate the sheep trade and outlaw undocumented sheep transport.

Instead, the result has been a thriving market for Algeria's informal economy. Everywhere - from garages to the sides of the roads - occasional vendors offer sheep for sale. It is a good way to make money. The trick is simple for these livestock trabendistes: target one or two wholesale livestock markets in the steppe zones, fill up a few trucks and wait for the profits to roll in.

Maghreb neighbor Tunisia has found a compromise for customers who desire both affordable prices and the opportunity to see their ram in-person: livestock sales at expo halls normally used to sell posh perfumes, clothes and cars.

The sheep of Eid al-Adha are lined up inside the tents just like pots and cloths in shop racks.

The decision by three major commercial spaces in the capital to showcase livestock has angered traditional traders.

"I do not understand why large commercial spaces compete with us," laments shepherd and sheep trader Hassouna Hazami. "The Eid is an opportunity for breeders to achieve some profit, especially since the markets for selling sheep have been in a depression," he tells Magharebia.

According to a recent national survey, 85 percent of Tunisians buy a ram. Nearly fifty percent of survey respondents also admitted to cutting back on other monthly expenses to finance the purchase.

Bachir Ben Amer brought his two sons to the convention hall tents to choose a sheep for the celebration but was disappointed by the high price.

"I have to try my luck in the traditional markets," he says. ''At least there I can negotiate."

Livestock trader Salem Azizi thinks that selling rams in commercial spaces makes the Eid lose its special value. "I would feel like I am buying a TV or an air-conditioner," he says.

Fellow shepherd Tahar Mahouachi agrees that exposition halls are no place to buy the sacrificial sheep.

"Tomorrow, I will start selling food and cooking utensils and electronic equipment inside slaughterhouses," he jokes.

Source: Magharebia.com.
Link: http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/reportage/2010/11/12/reportage-01.

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Eid Al Adha on November 16

AMMAN (JT) - Tuesday, November 16, will be the first day of Eid Al Adha, as Sunday, November 7, has been announced as the first day of Dhul Hijja, Chief Islamic Justice Ahmad Hilayel said on Saturday.

The announcement was made after the Saudi authorities declared that the new moon of Dhul Hijja, the last month of the Islamic calendar was cited last night, according to wire reports.

The first day of Eid Al Adha is celebrated by Muslims on the 10th day of this lunar month.

By celebrating Adha, Muslims mark the end of another major ritual in Islam, the Hajj, or pilgrimage to Mecca, while Eid Al Fitr is a celebration of the fasting month of Ramadan.

The key Hajj ritual is Arafa Day, when the millions of pilgrims ascend Arafat Mount from morning till sunset.

Source: The Jordan Times.
Link: http://jordantimes.com/?news=31625.

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Kashmiri boy to spend Eid on road

Sameer Arshad

28 November 2009

NEW DELHI: It's no rogan josh, no gustaba for Kashmiri boy Umar Nissar (16) on Eid, as he squats on a pavement near Jantar Mantar and digs into his modest meal of pakoras and oranges. Away from the hustle and bustle of the festivities, Umar would spend Eid, the second in a row, on the road in Delhi where his father and hundreds of other J&K State Road Transport Corporation (J&KSRTC) would sit-in to protest against the non-payment of their salaries for the past 10 months.

The striking employees marched on foot from Srinagar to Jammu, along with their families, before arriving in Delhi "as a last resort''. The agitating employees were ruthlessly bashed and dispersed when they took to streets in Jammu and Srinagar. "Several people were injured when cops baton-charged us. My uncle, who's also a J&KSRTC employee lost his eye when a teargas shell hit him,'' said Umar, who was a part of the protest when the employees, along with their families, tried to march towards Srinagar's civil secretariat in October.

The striking employees say, their families had no choice but to join them as their pleas for restoration of salaries fell on "deaf ears''. J&KSRTC Employees Union president Shakeel Ahmed said Umar, who had to discontinue his studies, wasn't alone. "Thousands of kids of the employees face bleak future as we can no longer afford their studies,'' he said.

"I was a class IX student at Day Care School in Rajbagh, Srinagar. The school threw me out when I couldn't pay my fee,'' Umar said, still hoping to buy a Barbie and Eid clothes for his six-year-old sister. "When I was leaving for Jammu on foot, she asked me to get this stuff. I would ask dad if he could buy her these things.'' He said he came along to give moral support to his father. "I don't mind that I wouldn't either get to deck up my house for the festivities or the eidee,'' says Umar.

Ahmed said the government was refusing to give them benefits of the fifth and sixth pay commissions, saying the corporation was bankrupt. "This excuse is against the letter and spirit of the SRTC Act passed in Parliament in 1950. The Act says the SRTCs are for cheap, safe and best travel for the public on no-profit-no-loss basis,'' he said. "Why should we suffer with just 329 crore deficit? The DTC's losses run in crores, but its employees aren't penalized.''

J&K transport minister Qamar Ali Akhoon maintained that the employees wouldn't get fifth and sixth pay commission benefits, as the corporation was bankrupt. "We're determined to pay them their salaries and offer the benefits of the voluntary retirement scheme,'' he said.

The employees say nothing doing. "How can you expect us to settle for pay scales of 2000 in 2009?'' asked Ahmed, adding the employees have spent Eid, Diwali, Gurpurab on roads and would continue to do so if their demands weren't met.

The employees have been on an indefinite strike for the past three months and have recently submitted their resignations en masse under voluntary retirement scheme as a protest demanding one-time settlement of their dues.

Source: Times of India.
Link: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Kashmiri-boy-to-spend-Eid-on-road/articleshow/5276989.cms.

Top Indian Kashmir cleric urges troop pullout in Eid sermon

By Izhar Wani (AFP)

SRINAGAR, India — Kashmir's top cleric on Saturday urged New Delhi to pull out Indian troops, revoke tough anti-militancy laws and free prisoners before resuming talks aimed at ending an insurgency in the region.

The call by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq came during a sermon marking the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha in Srinagar, summer capital of Indian Kashmir where Islamist rebels have been waging a two-decade fight against New Delhi's rule.

"The government of India must withdraw troops from the region in a phased manner and revoke draconian laws before resuming talks," said Farooq, the most senior cleric in Indian Kashmir and the leader of moderate separatists.

New Delhi also needs to end alleged human rights violations by security forces and release jailed separatists, Farooq said.

"Before starting the dialogue, people should see some forward movement in the form of these confidence-building measures," Farooq said from the pulpit of the Jamia Masjid, Indian Kashmir's main mosque.

Farooq's statements came as hardline separatist Syed Ali Geelani led 10,000 Muslims in an anti-India demonstration in northern Sopore town, 50 kilometers (30 miles) from Srinagar, police said.

Shouting "We want freedom" and "Allah is great," the protesters marched through the town's streets after offering Eid prayers.

Home Minister P. Chidambaram, on a visit to Kashmir last month, said the Indian government was willing to hold a "quiet dialogue with every section of political opinion" -- including those opposed to New Delhi's rule.

Farooq described the offer as a "step forward."

Moderate separatist leaders in the Muslim-majority state have held several rounds of talks with India's central government, though hardliners oppose any contact that does not involve neighboring Pakistan.

However, there have been no talks between the Indian government and the separatists for the last three years.

Farooq said discussions between New Delhi and separatists should culminate in a tri-partite meeting involving India, Pakistan and the Kashmiris.

India and Pakistan, which each hold part of Kashmir but claim it in full, have fought two wars over the scenic region.

Most of the rebel groups fighting New Delhi's rule want the region to become part of Pakistan. A few support its independence.

Chidambaram has said any answer to Kashmir's problems must be "honorable, respectable and acceptable to the vast majority of the people" and added "the solution may turn out to be a unique one."

According to official figures, more than 47,000 people have been killed in the two-decade-long insurgency.

Farooq's sermon came as Muslims in Kashmir marked the festival of Eid al-Adha, or the Feast of the Sacrifice, by slaughtering sheep and goats in remembrance of Abraham's readiness to sacrifice his son to God.

Violence in Kashmir has dropped sharply since India and Pakistan started a peace process in 2004 but New Delhi "paused" the process after last year's Mumbai attacks that left 166 people dead.

Farooq urged New Delhi to resume talks with Islamabad.

"Whatever happened in Mumbai has been condemned by one and all," he said, "but talks should not be held hostage to that act of carnage."

India and Washington have blamed the deadly Mumbai rampage on Pakistan's banned militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba, which has denied any role.

Friday, November 27, 2009

Hamas frees 150 Gaza prisoners for Muslim holiday

GAZA CITY — The Islamist Hamas movement ruling the Gaza Strip released 150 prisoners on Thursday, including what it calls security detainees, in honor of the Muslim feast Eid al-Adha.

Those released include at least 25 "security detainees" and 77 people held on criminal charges, prison official Nasser Suleiman told reporters.

He added that 53 of the detainees were near the end of their sentence.

Outside the prison, the released men were embraced by joyful relatives and led home to celebrate Eid Al-Adha (The Feast of the Sacrifice), in which Muslims traditionally slaughter animals and share the meat with the poor.

"I was detained in June by the (Hamas-run) police during an arrest campaign against Fatah members," said Tariq Muhaisan, one of the detainees, referring to the secular party of Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas.

"I was arrested for political reasons," he added.

Hamas prime minister Ismail Haniya announced the release on Tuesday as a gesture for the holiday, which honours Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his only son Ishmael as related in the Koran.

Since Hamas seized Gaza in June 2007, the Islamist group and its rivals in the Fatah-led security forces -- now confined to the occupied West Bank -- have each arrested scores of people in tit-for-tat arrest campaigns, according to human rights groups.

Each of the two main Palestinian factions has accused the other of arbitrary arrests and torture in the territory under its control while insisting it only arrests those who constitute a security threat.

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Message of Felicitation of the Esteemed Amir ul Momineen on the Eve of Eid ul Odha

Mullah Mohammad Omar

November 25, 2009

Message of Felicitation of the Esteemed Amir ul Momineen on the Eve of Eid ul-Adha.

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate

Praise be to Allah Who honored His pledge and granted victory to His servant and exalted His army and lonely defeated all armed confederates. Peace be on the leader of Mujahideen and chief of the Messengers, owner of lofty behavior, our master and prophet, Mohammad and on his descendants and all his companions.

The Almighty Allah says in the Holy Quran:

(Such (is his state): and whoever holds in honor the Rites of Allah, (in the sacrifice of animals)

Such (honor) should come truly from Piety of heart.

In them, ye have benefits for a term appointed:

In the end, their place of sacrifice is near the Ancient House." S. 22:32-33

I extend my heartfelt felicitation:

-To all Mujahid people of Afghanistan,

- To the esteemed families of martyrs and prisoners who have been imprisoned by the enemy,

- To the gallant Mujaheddin,

-And to all believing masses of the Islamic Ummah on the occasion of this Eidul Odha.

I pray to Allah (SwT) to always bestow on this Ummah, the blessing of celebration of Eid ul Odha while they are dignified and having independence and grant them happiness, prosperity and success in these blessed days. Likely, I pray to Allah (SwT) to accept the pilgrimage of the pilgrims and accept in His Sight their worship and prayers. I also pray to Him to make this congregation (of Muslims), a factor for the unity of the whole Ummah.

While extending to you my felicitation on the eve of Eid ul Odha, I want to touch on some essential issues as regards the current situation:

1. To The Mujahid Nation:

I thank my Muslim people for their positive response to the Call of the Islamic Emirate (of Afghanistan) and for their foiling the American melodrama by avoiding participation in the American process under the name of elections. I firmly believe, if the Mujahid people remain constant in their multi-sided and honest help (with Mujahideen), the Almighty Allah will expose and thwart all conspiracies of the enemy one after another. It is due to your selfless sacrifices that the arrogant enemy is facing both defeat, jittery and disgrace. I hope you will continue your legitimate Jihad and struggle in the way of realizing your Islamic aspirations; help the sacrificing Mujahideen of the path of freedom and strengthen their ranks with your persons and wealth, particularly, show your protection and empathy with the blessed families of the martyrs and prisoners on the basis of your Islamic responsibility and break off all relations with the stooge Kabul Administration.

Those who have occupied our country and taken our people as hostage, want to use the stratagem of negotiation like they used the drama of elections for some time in order to achieve their colonialist objectives. The invaders do not want negotiation aimed at granting independence to Afghanistan and ending their invasion but they want negotiation which will prolong their evil process of colonization and occupation. However, the people of Afghanistan will not agree to negotiation which prolongs and legitimatizes the invaders military presence in our beloved country. Afghanistan is our home. No one will ever be ready to negotiate with any one else about ownership of one’s home --still more to give share in administration and control of the home and himself ends up becoming homeless, powerless and servant in his own home.

The foreigners have occupied the land of the Afghans by dent of (military) might and savagery. If they want solution of the issue, they should put an end to the occupation of Afghanistan. The invading Americans want Mujahideen to surrender under the pretext of the negotiation. This is some thing impossible. Otherwise, we have noble principles and vast experiences for solution of our internal differences and commencement of good conduct with the people of the world. Therefore, the stand of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan as regards the negotiation emanates from our Islamic and national interests and is based on strong grounds.

2. To the Gallant and Honor-loving Mujahideen of the Front lines!

Your victory over the invading disbelievers is the result of the Divine help. If you seek His pleasure, as a gratitude to the blessing of Allah (SwT), and make the service of common people your objective, Allah (Swt) will bestow on you His ever growing blessing. The enemy will lose their hearts and you will have the honor to defeat the greatest colonialist power of this century. The signs (of this victory) have been appearing, if God willing.

Implement the injunctions of Allah practically and fully; constantly strive for unity among your ranks and keep away from discord and friction. Obey your chiefs in all affairs of Jihad; pay heed to the protection of public and national properties during the conduct of military operations, particularly during martyrdom-seeking operations, focus on the invaders and their lackeys and other important targets. It is the Islamic responsibility of every believing man to avoid causing casualty to common people. There is no justification in Sharia for murder and injury of common people, nor is there any room for such deed in our sacred religion.

The cunning enemy wants to attack people’s congestion places like religious centers, mosques and other similar places in order to malign Mujahideen. They also launch sanguinary attacks under the name of martyrdom-seeking operations to mar the good name of Mujahideen. The Mujahideen should be on guard against these activities of the enemy and fully avoid from carrying out any analogous activity. Well-being and prosperity of people should make your priority. Pay respect to elders and influential among the people and have compassion over the youngsters. Observe true justice when you are authorized to dispense to a deserving person his due right. Implement the Regulation of the Code of Conduct of the Islamic Emirate and observe other principles in order to ensure achievement of ever-increasing advancement in the affairs of Jihad. Make the most of experience, consultation and proven tactics in the military operations and other affairs of Jihad so that you will block the door of differences, complaints and losses. Similarly, take every precaution for the protection of your persons and make efforts in this way. Take care of the rights of those who surrender to you from the enemy side. This process (of surrendering to Mujaheddin) is now continuing.

The (former) communists formed tribal and unscrupulous groups under the name of tribal militia at a time when they were on the verge of defeat. The aim was to provoke internal conflicts, biases, racial differences and resultantly revenge themselves on (our) Mujahid people. The Americans and their allies too want to repeat the same failed experience. I am of the opinion that the recent efforts launched by the enemy will further malign it and will meet its defeat but you should make every effort to foil this last conspiracy of the enemy with the help of your Mujahid people. Mete out an exemplary punishment to those who are leading these mischief-making activities so that the dark and notorious history of the barbaric militias does not recur anew.

3. To the Ruler’s and Employees of the Puppet Administration of Kabul:

Stop oppressing and torturing your miserable Muslim people as a sign of your service and slavery to the non-believing invaders. The foreign invaders are not benefactors of the Afghan people. They are bent on wiping out the belief and holy places of this people and want to bring under their belly all our material wealth. They use the empty slogans of development and reconstruction of Afghanistan for realization of their illegitimate objectives. They have stashed away thousands of millions of dollars in their pockets which they had collected in the name of reconstruction of Afghanistan.

They want to keep our country entangled in a net of usury and interest according to a calculated conspiracy and are determined to subjugate our distinguished people.

I call on you all as I did last time and as per my responsibility, to put an end to your life of humiliation; shun hostility with your people and join the Mujahideen in the strongholds of pride, honor and belief instead of continuing with your present life of debasement. The enemy want to lay his gun over your shoulder and kill your countrymen but you should try, and by utilizing a proper opportunity, should rescue yourself from the fate of the pro-Britain Shah Shuja, pro-Russian Taraki, Amin , Karmal, Najib and their followers. If you honestly part ways with the evil, you will have success in this world and in the world to come.

You should understand that the epoch of dread of the Western colonialism has reached its end. Ground realities in our beloved country indicate that the invaders are about to escape. The caravan of truth is steadily approaching its rationale destination of victory. Mujahideen gain strength with the passage of time as they obtain good experience in political, media, and social fields. The invaders and their stooges’ moribund efforts are tantamount to erecting a mound of sand in front of the turbulent river of the Jihadic movement. These waves of resistance which have been originated from the midst of the honor-loving nation will wash away the torsos of the arrogant invaders, if God willing.

4.To Islamic Conference and the So-called Human Rights Organizations:

I call on the Islamic Conference and all organizations that have been established under the name of human rights protection to take steps for the prevention of civilian casualties caused by the invading forces of America and the coalition and should raise voice for the punishment of the perpetrators of this crime. Similarly, the invading forces under the leadership of America and the surrogate regime of Kabul have erected prisons under different names in all parts of the country in contravention to international principles. A great number of our miserable and innocent countrymen are brutally tortured there. All human rights organizations who claim being advocates of human rights should promptly and as per their responsibility, take steps to prevent occurrence of such brutal acts. Many of our prisoners have been martyred and maimed as a result of harsh conduct and torture in these prisons. If the human rights organizations are not willing to fulfill their responsibility in order to please America and the West, then they should renounce their title of human rights advocacy as a matter of moral obligation.

5. To Scholars, Writers and Men of Letters.

I urge independent scholars, teachers and statesmen to raise the legitimate cause of their miserable people in every hearing and forum and support it. Inform the countrymen and public of the world about the ground realities in Afghanistan through your write-ups and speeches. By waging a Jihad of words and pen, render thanks for the gift of talents bestowed on you by God. I call on all distinguished writers and journalists to play their due role in this critical juncture of our history when our land is under the blatant aggression. They should struggle in the field of media for the obtainment of independence of our Islamic country and a true Islamic system and, as per their responsibility, portray the impeachable facts so that they reach the ears of the public. With the power of belief and an unflinching ardor, make struggle to tell and unveil the truth.

I also urge the committed and sensible poets to preserve the Jihadic epics and acts of heroism of Mujahideen in their poems and literary pieces and generate emotions for independence, honor , national unity and Islamic resurgence. Not only that but further bolster them.

6. To Regional and Neighboring Countries:

Colonialist plans of expansionism of the West are in full swing in the region. The economic assistance, the mercenaries, the overt and covert ploys of the wicked companies have paved the way for (execution of these plans) and have set off hatred, discrimination and rivalries in the region.

In fact, this is an act against the humane values, justice, peace, rules of interstate relations and independence. If the regional countries still remain neutral versus the colonialist interventions of America and the vast military presence, the whole regional will be gripped by instability; the process of development will hamper and ultimately (the region) will become powerless.

We emphatically say that the strong determination and unwavering resistance (of Mujahideen) has eroded the capability of the enemy; has wiped out (their) shock and awe era and frustrated their wicked plans. Therefore, as a sign of gratitude for the sacrifices offered by our oppressed people, you should assist us in the cause of freedom of our country. The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan wants to take constructive measure together with all countries for mutual cooperation, economic development and good future on the basis of mutual respect.

We consider the whole region as a common home against colonialism and, as a responsible force, want to play our role in stability and peace of the region in future.

7. To the Rulers of the White House and the Belligerent Americans:

The ground realities in Afghanistan indicate, the Americans and other allied invaders will certainly face a route --this is a defeat which can’t be averted by reinforcement and formulation of successive irrational strategies. You should understand that coercion and militarism has lost its splendor. You will not be able to subjugate the brave Afghan people with the power of your military might or the mantra of your devilish ploys.

The people, whom you have chosen for confrontation, have the honor of dismantling the arrogant empires. They have good capability and historical experience. Our believing people will not allow the Western colonialism to make our country a hotbed against our independence and vital values and aggressive designs against regional countries. These are the people who before you, have wiped out two empires – the British and Russians empires-- from the map of the world. They are holding the stronghold of honor and Jihad with strong determination and high morale against the demoralized and moribund troops. And on the basis of their belief, they are sure that they will gain victory and you will face defeat.

It is better for you to choose the path of rationale instead of militarism and put an end to the occupation of Afghanistan. You should understand your belligerent and aggressive policy will create for you so many enemies in the world which would make for you this world a bed of thorns. It will make your life harsh because the policy of coercion and tyranny is intolerable to all.

8. To the Public of Europe Particularly To the Freedom-loving People of the West:

Your colonialist rulers have invaded our country under the pretext of terrorism to augment the wealth of a few capitalists and spread the net of neo-colonialism over our country.

Every day, our youths, old men, women and children are martyred by your bombs and rounds of mortars. The invaders raid houses of our people at night. They destroy our green gardens, public properties, educational and commercial centers.

Countering this atrocity and aggression and the defense against it, is our legitimate and national right. We will use this right of ours with all our resources and sacrifices.

You should not fall prey to the misleading assertions of your colonialist rulers as they call this war, a war of necessity. This is a farce weapon in the hands of your rulers under the colonialist pretext of fight against terrorism. Thus they want to throw dust into the eyes of people. It is the demand of your conscience and moral duty to raise your voice for the prevention of this savagery.

We only want establishment of an Islamic system in our country which will protect rights of all individuals of this nation both men and women—a system depending on its own feet, fully independent, its internal and external policy being based on this Islamic principle: not harming others and not allowing others to harm us.

Fight against terrorism is an unjustified colonialist term fabricated by Pentagon and Washington. They want to colonize independent countries by using this proposition and bring under their belly natural riches and economic resources of these countries and trample on belief and religious traditions of these countries.

9. To the Islamic Ummah:

I remind Muslim brothers in every part of the world, of the words of Hazarat Omar Farouq (May Allah be pleased with him), the Great Caliph of Islam who said: "We are people whom Allah exalted by Islam. If we still seek exaltation in things other than Islam, Allah will humiliate us."

I advise you to fully abide by the sacred rules of Islam in order to achieve the magnanimity and grandeur of Islam. Help (your) oppressed Muslim brothers and use your wisdom, sagacity and sobriety in the cause of Jihad and confrontation with the tyrant aggressors, particularly, the chiefs of the Jihadic movements should ponder over all aspects during performance of affairs of Jihad; avoid disunity and splintering among your ranks and be heedful to the conspiracies being engineered to malign Mujahideen.

Avoid from deeds that cause great losses to Islam and Muslims instead of bringing in benefits to the Muslims. Focus your efforts on beating the invading, usurping enemy; do not engage in purposeless activities, rather turn your attention to the main objective.

All Muslims should remember in their prayers, the Mujaheddin-- the protectors of Islam and Islamic Ummah-- and extend them moral and Islamic support and should defend their cause as a legitimate Islamic cause. The Americans and its allies have been hammering out plans overtly and covertly to destabilize the Islamic world and provoke differences in the Islamic countries. Every Muslim should realize his/her arch enemy and be on guard against the conspiracies of the enemies.

To end, I remind all my Muslim brothers of this Divine verse (bearing) good news (of victory):

"Or do ye think that ye shall enter the Garden (of Bliss)

Without such (trials) as came to those who passed away before you?

They encountered suffering and adversity,

And were so shaken in spirit that even the Messenger

And those of faith who were with him Cried:

"When (will come) the help of Allah"

Ah! Verily, the help of Allah is (always) near!"

Al-baqara: V.124.

Mullah Mohammad Omar Mujahid

Source: Uruknet.
Link: http://www.uruknet.de/?s1=1&p=60458&s2=26.

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Hurriyat leaders to go Pak after Eid-ul-Azha

New Delhi, Nov 15 (PTI) The moderate faction of Hurriyat Conference, a separatist amalgam, today said its team would visit Pakistan after Eid-ul-Azha later this month for dialogue with leaders there on the Kashmir issue.

"We want permanent peace in South Asia and find an amicable solution to the Kashmir problem," Hurriyat Chairman Mirwaiz Umer Farooq told PTI here.

He said dialogue is important as this is a forum "where we can put our thoughts and work out for solutions," and added that its team would be going to Pakistan after Eid.

The Mirwaiz today met Pakistan High Commissioner Shahid Malik here for four hours and is understood to have discussed the Kashmir issue and need for for the two countries to enter into a dialogue with each other and Kashmiris on.