Author: ALJAZEERA

The law is backed mainly by Shia Muslim parties who form the largest coalition in Iraq’s parliament.Iraq’s parliament has passed a law criminalising same-sex relationships with a maximum 15-year prison sentence, in a move it said aimed to uphold religious values, but was condemned by rights advocates as the latest attack on the LGBTQ community in Iraq. The law adopted on Saturday aims to “protect Iraqi society from moral depravity and the calls for homosexuality that have overtaken the world,” according to a copy of the law seen by the Reuters news agency. It was backed mainly by conservative Shia Muslim…

Two Palestinian youths shot dead and 20 arrested as Israeli forces continue deadly crackdown in the occupied West Bank.Israeli forces have shot dead two young Palestinians and injured two others as they continued their military incursions into the occupied West Bank. Mustafa Sultan Abed, 22 and Ahmad Mohammad Shawahneh, 21, were shot dead near the Salem checkpoint in the city of Jenin, and ambulances were prevented from reaching the area to recover the bodies of the two slain youths, the Palestinian news agency Wafa reported on Saturday. “What we know is that they were left to bleed out for about…

When the US TV news programme 60 Minutes II revealed images of Iraqi men being abused and humiliated by their American jailers at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq 20 years ago this weekend, the United States-led invasion and subsequent occupation of Iraq was just 13 months old. Toppled Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, who had been captured by US forces more than four months earlier, was awaiting trial on charges of crimes against humanity, and the Iraqi state itself was in the grip of violence and disorder. For many in the Arab world, Abu Ghraib quickly became a symbol of US…

It’s not every day that you are told to get inside quickly because four drones are watching the compound you are in – probably weaponised United States drones. There is a split-second pause and then you gather your gear and move inside. As we drive into the nondescript building, past the lawn, we are asked to park in the shade, presumably to provide cover from the prying killer robots watching us. It is April 18, one day before Israel launched several drones at Iran after Iran itself launched a barrage of drones and missiles on Israel on April 13. That,…

Palestinian group Hamas says it is ‘open to any ideas’ but sticks to its demand that a deal must permanently end Israel’s war on Gaza.Hamas has received Israel’s official response to its latest Gaza ceasefire proposal and the Palestinian group will study the document before submitting a reply, the organisation’s deputy Gaza chief Khalil al-Hayya said in a statement. “Hamas has received today the official response of the Zionist occupation to the proposal presented to the Egyptian and the Qatari mediators on April 13,” al-Hayya, who is currently based in Qatar, said in a statement published by the group on…

Attack on al-Fashir would have ‘devastating consequences’ for civilians in area already on brink of famine, UN says.The United Nations has sounded the alarm about a possible imminent attack on al-Fashir, in Sudan’s North Darfur, as the global body seeks to reduce tensions in the last major city in the region not under the control of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). A spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Friday that the RSF was reportedly encircling al-Fashir, “suggesting a coordinated move to attack the city may be imminent”. “Simultaneously, the Sudanese Armed Forces appear to be positioning themselves,” the…

NewsFeedThe premature baby girl who was rescued from her mother’s womb after an Israeli air strike on their home in Rafah has died. The baby named Sabreen al-Rouh Jouda was rescued Saturday after the strike that killed her mother, father and young sister. She died Thursday in hospital and was buried next to her family.Published On 26 Apr 202426 Apr 2024 Source link

Student protests calling on Israel to end war on Gaza spread internationally as ground invasion of Rafah looms. Source link

Washington, DC – A Gaza-focused campus protest movement in the United States has highlighted a generational divide on Israel, experts say, with young people’s willingness to challenge politicians and college administrators on display nationwide. The opinion gap – with younger Americans generally more supportive of Palestinians than the generations that came before them – poses a risk to 81-year-old Democratic President Joe Biden’s re-election chances, they argue. It could also threaten the bipartisan backing that Israel enjoys in Washington. “We’re already seeing evidence of a generation divide on Israel, and that is going to be a long-term issue for the…

Funds aim to provide support for children, others affected by armed conflict in Ukraine, Qatari foreign ministry says.Qatar has announced that it will provide $3m to the office of the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, as part of a push to support “welfare and safety” in the war-torn country. Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Friday that the funds aim to support initiatives designed to improve the lives of children, citizens affected by armed conflicts and the overall population in Ukraine. “Furthermore, the fund will contribute to increasing legal support and improving the necessary infrastructure required to provide…