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Rabwah Times

Algerian Human Rights organization condemns targeting of Ahmadis

The Algerian League for the Defense of Human Rights (LADDH) has condemned the Government’s crackdown on the Ahmadiyya Muslim minority. Referring to the arrests of the Algerian Ahmadis, the LADDH called it an unacceptable infringement of the freedoms of worship, The organization also called for the release of Ahmadi prisoners of conscience. In a statement, the LADDH office in M’sila urged the Algerian Government to respect the international conventions ratified by Algeria, “in particular, those concerning respect for human rights.” LADDH …

Pakistan: Men sentenced to three years in prison for “Excessive use of Quran”

A Pakistani court on Wednesday sentenced two men to three years in prison for “Excessive use of Quran” The two men, Idris Ahmed and SabaulZafar were charged with”excessive use of Quran and Islamic literature” along with illegal possession of the Islamic Holy book. Both men were given a three-year prison sentence and fined PKR 50,000 (USD 475) by the anti-terrorism court. The men who belong to the minority Ahmadiyya community were arrested by Pakistan’s security forces in December last year during …

Trailer: Victoria & Abdul

The extraordinary true story of an unexpected friendship in the later years of Queen Victoria’s (Academy Award winner Judi Dench) remarkable rule. When Abdul Karim (Ali Fazal), a young clerk, travels from India to participate in the Queen’s Golden Jubilee, he is surprised to find favor with the Queen herself. As the Queen questions the constrictions of her long-held position, the two forge an unlikely and devoted alliance with a loyalty to one another that her household and inner circle …

America: Journalist told to stop filming in Mosque as it’s ‘Sinful’

U.S. Mosque-goers tried to forcibly stop a journalist from filming inside a Mosque after claiming it was sinful. Journalist Aziz Ahmed was at the Darul Huda Mosque in Springfield, Virginia to cover the beginning of Ramadhan when he was forcefully stopped by Mosque-goers from filming within the Mosque. Ahmed posted the video of the confrontation on his Facebook in which Mosque members can be seen telling Ahmed to stop filming. The video you made of people praying, you should delete …

Pakistani Barbers told not to style Beards

A local council in the Pakistani province of Balochistan has banned ‘designer beards’ The ban was announced by the Municipal Committee in the town of Omara, which is the seaside suburb of Gwadar city and has a population of around 35,000. The local council announced the ban at a special meeting held on Friday to discuss a course of action for the upcoming Islamic holy month of Ramadhan. During the council meeting, a local leader of an Islamic political party, …

U.S. to deport Pakistani Imam for Immigration Fraud

A Pakistan-origin imam detained by U.S. immigration agents faces deportation to Pakistan for abusing religious workers’ visa. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials said Hafiz Abdul Hannan, the leader of the Masjid Al-Islam mosque in New Haven since 2013, was taken into custody at his home on Friday. He was previously convicted of committing fraud in immigration documents and will remain in custody pending his removal from the United States, said Shawn Neudauer, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesman. According …

Bangladesh: Women honored for arresting Islamist attacker

Mosammat Ayatunnessa along with Achhia Khatun and Minara Khatun tied up a fleeing militant until police arrived Three women of the Ahmadiyya community have been honoured in two separate programmes for their exceptional bravery in the arrest of a suspected militant in Ishwarganj upazila of Mymensingh. They are Achhia Khatun, Mosammat Ayatunnessa and Minara Khatun. Mymensingh Superintendent of Police (SP) Syed Nurul Islam awarded each of the three with Tk5,000 and a sari at a ceremony at the Mymensingh Police …

Pirate Kites take over Washington skies

Indian and Pakistani families came together on Sunday to celebrate the South Asian kite festival of Basant. Traditionally celebrated in Spring, the families have been coming together at Gunpowder Falls Park in Maryland for the past 7 years to celebrate the historic festival. The event which lasted from 12 pm till 5 pm was hosted by ‘Patang Pirates’, a group of avid kite flyers from India & Pakistan. The group was founded by friends Shukoor Ahmed, Nasir Jamil and Mazhar …

The Pakistani-American Woman Taking Down Terrorists in Court

A Pakistani-American lawyer has made a name for herself by taking down international terrorists in Court. Since 2009, 37-year-old Zainab Ahmad has worked as an Assistant United States Attorney in New York, and so far she has prosecuted 13 people for terrorism, without losing a single case. Zainab who grew up in suburban Long Island, New York says she had planned to be a hospital administrator, but things went sideways after the September 11th attacks, and she ended up at Columbia …

Bangladesh: Ahmadiyya Imam attacked in Mosque

Imam Mostafizur Rahman was hacked with sharp weapons indiscriminately inside the mosque around 9pm The imam of an Ahmadiyya mosque in Mymensingh was critically injured after he was hacked by a group of three youths inside the mosque Monday night in a suspected militant attack. Imam Mostafizur Rahman, 35, of Khanpur mosque in Ishwarganj area was hacked with sharp weapons indiscriminately around 9pm after the Esha prayers. The attackers tried to flee as locals came to his rescue. The imam …

European Union celebrates Europe Day in Pakistan with ‘Euro Village’

The European Union delegation celebrated its first Europe Day celebrations in Pakistan by arranging a mini ‘Euro Village’ in the capital city of Islamabad. The event was led by EU’s envoy to Pakistan Jean-Francois Cautain. The family friendly event was held on May 6th at the Lok Virsa Heritage Museum and highlighted the diverse cultures of the European Union Member States through food, musical performances, and art exhibits. It was organized to raise awareness about the different cultural traditions of …

Pakistan proposes Tax increase for non-Muslim Town

Pakistan has announced plans to increase Taxes for a non-Muslim majority town. The tax increase will impact residential homes and businesses. The Town of Rabwah’s Municipal Committee announced the proposed tax increase through a public notice which was published in a local newspaper on April 29th. The proposed new rates amount to an estimated 100% increase. Majority of the town’s residents are of Ahmadiyya faith, a sect which considers itself Muslim but has been declared non-Muslim under Pakistani law. Meanwhile, …