by admin | May 25, 2021 | News, Politics
New Delhi : The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the earmarking of an “exclusive quota” for Haj pilgrims aged 70 and above and preference being given to pilgrims in the age group of 65 to 69 years who have already applied for the pilgrimage five times or more.
The bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra, Justice A. M. Khanwilkar and Justice D. Y. Chandrachud said that people who have crossed 70 years would get the benefit of a separate exclusive quota and those between the age group of 65 to 69 who have applied five times or more would also get the benefit of preferential consideration for the pilgrimage.
The court order came in the course of the hearing of a plea by the Kerala Haj committee seeking more quota for the Haj pilgrimage as it has far more applicants and not many of them can be accommodated.
It has contended that Bihar, which gets more quota for Haj pilgrims, is not able to utilise it as there are not many applicants there.
Having directed the creation of a separate Haj quota for pilgrims who have crossed 70 years of age, the court ordered the listing of the matter for July 10 for final hearing.
—IANS
by admin | May 25, 2021 | News, Politics
Kozhikode (Kerala) : On her first visit to her home state Kerala after the Supreme Court upheld her marriage with Shafin Jahan, Hadiya on Saturday said “all this happened as I embraced Islam”.
“The Constitution gives all the freedom to choose their religion, which is a fundamental right of every citizen and all this happened because I embraced Islam,” said Hadiya while interacting with the media.
Hadiya and her husband arrived here on Saturday from Salem and drove to the office of the Popular Front of India (PFI) where she briefly interacted with reporters.
“With the Supreme Court upholding our marriage, we feel we have got freedom,” Hadiya said here. The top court on March 8, set aside an order of the Kerala High Court that annulled their marriage.
Hadiya, 24, earlier Akhila Ashokan, embraced Islam and married Shafin Jahan, a Muslim. Hadiya’s father alleged that she was forcibly converted by groups with links to terrorist outfits.
“It was only the PFI that supported us all through our troubled times and what’s more surprising is that two Muslim organisations whom we approached refused to help us,” added Hadiya who will be in Kerala for three more days before returning to Salem in Tamil Nadu where she is studying.
A bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra, Justice A.M. Khanwilkar and Justice D.Y. Chandrachud on Thursday said: “Hadiya alias Akhila Asokan is at liberty to pursue her future endeavours according to law.”
However, the court also said the National Investigation Agency (NIA) would continue its probe into the criminal dimension of the case, if any.
Hadiya’s father has said that he will go ahead in the case seeking legal recourse to the apex court’s latest judgement.
—IANS
by admin | May 25, 2021 | Muslim World

Saudi women go on a walking parade on March 8, 2018 in the coastal city of Jeddah on the occasion of the International Women’s Day.
Riyadh : Over 2,500 Saudi women went on a walking parade on Thursday in the coastal city of Jeddah on the occasion of the International Women’s Day, the first massive public appearance of Saudi women in the conservative Islamic society.
The parade, organised by Jeddah government, aims to promote the ideas of healthy lifestyle and environmental protection, Xinhua news agency reported.
In a bid to return his country to a “moderate Islam,” Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman has taken measures to improve women’s rights of all aspects in the society.
The country announced its plan to allow women to drive from June this year and ride-hailing apps are getting prepared to hire female drivers.
“I’m excited about being able to drive in a few months. Women can take the wheel just like men,” said college student Aimena, who is taking driving lessons in Princess Nura University.
Furthermore, Saudi women were given permission in January to attend football matches and to start their own businesses without the consents of their male relatives.
Saudi Arabia’s public prosecutor’s office said this month it would also begin recruiting women investigators for the first time.
The kingdom has also opened 140 positions for women at airports and border crossings, a historic move that the government said drew 107,000 female applicants.
—IANS
by admin | May 25, 2021 | News, Politics
New Delhi : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday paused his speech for Azaan during his visit to the new BJP central office after party’s stunning victory in Tripura.
Soon after he began his speech, Modi told the gathering of enthusiastic party workers that he was pausing for ‘azaan’, the Muslim call to the faithful for prayer, audible from a mosque. He resumed his speech later with slogans of “Bharat Mata ki Jai.”
Modi also asked the assembled gathering to observe silence in memory of party workers who had lost their lives in political violence in Tripura and other Left-ruled states.
“Many workers have laid down their lives. Only due to their ideology, our innocent workers have been killed. But the poorest of poor and illeterate have given answer to that with their vote,” Modi said.
While the BJP scored an emphatic victory in Tripura, it improved its performance in Nagaland and Meghalaya.
—IANS
by admin | May 25, 2021 | News
Hyderabad : Police in Hyderabad on Wednesday registered a case for hurting religious sentiments of Muslims against the director of a Malayalam movie, whose song featuring actress Priya Prakash Varrier has gone viral.
On a complaint by some youths in the old city of Hyderabad, the police registered a case against Omar Lulu, director of “Oru Adhaar Love” and some others.
The case under Indian Penal Code’s Section 295 (Deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) was registered at Falaknuma Police Station, said Deputy Commissioner of Police V. Satyanarayana.
According to the police official, the case was registered on a complaint by Abdul Muqeet and others, who alleged that the names of Prophet Mohammad and his wife Bibi Khateeja were used in the song. They sought immediate ban on the song as it hurt their religious sentiments.
The DCP said the police were investigating the case and appropriate action would be taken after taking legal opinion and ascertaining the facts.
The song “Manikya Malaraya Poovi…” went viral in the social media over the last few days apparently because of the wink by Priya.
Abdul Muqeet, an engineering student, told reporters that he noticed the objectionable part of the song while listening to it on the internet. He informed his other friends and they decided to lodge a complaint with the police. He said if necessary they would take legal action against the filmmaker.
The Malayalam film is scheduled to be released on March 1.
—IANS