Human Rights

Over 3,000 people died or went missing at sea in hope of reaching Europe: UN

29 April 2022; MEMO: More than 3,000 people died or went missing while trying to cross into European countries in 2021, an official from the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said on Friday, and Anadolu News Agency reports.

The people died or went missing while attempting to cross the Central and Western Mediterranean and Atlantic to Europe, UNHCR spokesperson, Shabia Mantoo, said at a press briefing in Geneva.

Israel approves new 31-unit settlement construction in occupied West Bank

29 April 2022; MEMO: The Israeli Supreme Court today approved the construction of a 31-unit six-storey settler apartment complex in the occupied West Bank city of Hebron, known as the Hezekiah Quarter.

The court rejected a petition submitted by the Peace Now rights group and the Municipality of Hebron against the complex, which is built on Palestinian land in the heart of the occupied city.

Israel detains 6 Palestine fishermen, destroy their boats off Gaza coast

28 April 2022; MEMO: Israeli naval forces detained six Palestinian fishermen yesterday and destroyed their boat off the Rafah coast, south of the blockaded Gaza Strip, reported Wafa news agency.

Zakaria Baker of the Union of Agricultural Work Committees (UAEC) in Gaza said that Israeli gunboats opened fire on a group of fishermen while they were sailing north of the sea of Rafah, before arresting them and confiscating their two boats.

Israel to station reserve battalions along the illegal Separation Wall

28 April 2022; MEMO: Six Israeli reserve battalions will be stationed along the illegal Separation Wall that isolates the occupied West Bank from Israel, the military announced yesterday.

The decision to call-up reserve battalions in replacement of regular forces was approved by the Chief of the Israeli Army, Aviv Kohavi, in order to prevent Palestinians from entering Israel without passing through one of the occupation's illegal checkpoints in the West Bank.

France: Attacks by police officers against veiled women in France trigger tensions

28 April 2022; MEMO: A French lawyer has expressed deep concern over the recent assault of two veiled young Muslim women by police officers at the Pont de Clichy in the north-western part of the capital, Paris, Anadolu News Agency reports.

Video footage showing police officers involved in the incident on 14 April went viral, triggering tensions.

Anti-Muslim acts rose by 9% in the US - CAIR report

28 April 2022; MEMO: The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) report shows that there has been a 9 per cent increase in discrimination against Muslims in the US

During a press conference of a newly published report "Still Suspect: The Impact of Structural Islamophobia", CAIR Director, Nihad Awad, said Islamophobia is structural and deep in the US.

India: 2 Kashmiris killed by Indian Sec Forces in Pulwama district of Indian Administered Kashmir

Pulwama, 28 April 2022: Two Kashmiris were killed by Indian security forces in Pulwama district of the Indian Administered Kashmir on Thursday, Indian officials said.

Slained Kasmiris were identified as Aijaz Hafiz and Shahid Ayub.

ICC receives complaint against Israel over systematic targeting of journalists

28 April 2022; MEMO: The International Criminal Court (ICC) has received legal submissions accusing Israel of systematically targeting journalists working in Palestine and failing to properly investigate killings of media workers, which amount to war crimes.

Footballer Mesut Ozil, 'praying for Muslims of India', slams 'shameful situation'

28 April 2022; MEMO: German-Turkish footballer Mesut Ozil has taken to twitter to spread awareness of the plight of India's Muslims who face persecution in the Hindu-majority country.

Yesterday, on one of the final ten days of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, the former Real Madrid and Arsenal player called on the international community to "break the silence" on what is happening in India. He added that he is praying for the safety and well-being of the country's substantial Muslim minority.

India: Place on record that no untoward statement will be made: SC to U'Khand chief secy on Dharam Sansad

New Delhi, Apr 26 (PTI) The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the Uttarakhand chief secretary to place on record that no untoward statement will be made at the 'Dharam Sansad' scheduled in Roorkee.

The event is scheduled for Wednesday.

A three judge bench headed by Justice A M Khanwilkar took note of the assurance given by the Uttarakhand government that authorities are confident that no untoward statement will be made during the event and all steps as per decisions of this court will be taken.

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