Author: M Barbu

Syria Today – Teheran & Damascus Discuss Ties; Kurds Begin Trials for ISIS Detainees; SNA Arrests Syrians Deported from Turkey

During a telephonic conversation between Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and his Syrian counterpart Faisal Mekdad, they discussed recent progress in their countries’ relationship and addressed regional matters. Simultaneously, the Kurdish-led administration in northeast Syria caught diplomats off guard by announcing their intention to initiate trials for numerous suspected foreign Islamic State fighters who have been under their custody for an extended period, raising concerns about the proper legal procedures. Additionally, a Turkish-backed armed opposition group apprehended seven Syrian individuals, including a woman, in a city located north of Hassakeh Governorate in northeastern Syria. These arrests occurred shortly after the individuals had been deported from Turkey.

The Taqiyya Factor

Taqiyya is an Islamic doctrine that allows Muslims to deceive non-Muslims. As in lie to them. Dr. Sami Mukaram, author of Taqiyya in Islam, writes: “Taqiyya is of fundamental importance in Islam. Practically every Islamic sect agrees to it and practices it… Taqiyya is very prevalent in Islamic politics, especially in the modern era.” (Specific references to taqiyya in the Quran, the Hadith, and in Islamic law, can be found here.)

UN agency joins US in suspending food aid to Ethiopia after diversions

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) said on Friday it was suspending food aid in Ethiopia due to the widespread theft of donations, a day after the United States announced it was doing the same.

More than 20 million people need food assistance in Africa’s second most populous nation, largely due to the Horn of Africa’s worst drought in decades and a two-year conflict in northern Ethiopia that left tens of thousands dead.

Rebel mobilisation in southern Sudan raises fears of conflict spreading

Residents of Sudan’s South Kordofan State reported mobilisation by a large rebel force on Thursday, raising fear that internal conflict could spread in the country’s southern regions.

The rebel force, the SPLM-N, is led by Abdelaziz al-Hilu, and is estimated to contain tens of thousands of men as well as heavy weaponry.

Khartoum under siege as fighting spreads across Sudan

Battles have been raging in Sudan’s war-torn capital of Khartoum since last Tuesday with no sign of the violence abating. Other regions are also experiencing prolonged battles, especially Darfur.

Witnesses described “the sound of heavy artillery fire” in northern Khartoum, and “clashes with various types of weapons” in south Khartoum.

Islamic State women use children as ‘sex tools,’ Syrian Kurdish officials say

Officials in northeast Syria tell Al-Monitor that women in Islamic State internment camps are forcing young boys to impregnate women as part of an alleged IS campaign to “go forth and multiply.”

Sitting on a classroom chair, his fingers drumming nervously on a tablet, a young boy slowly raises his head to reveal a pair of pale green eyes, high cheekbones and a chiseled jaw.