International

AIMIM chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi has strongly criticised the Allahabad High Court’s recent decision rejecting a Muslim student’s plea to wear a hijab with her school uniform. Reacting to the ruling, Owaisi described the decision as an “attack on Islam” and argued that judges cannot determine which practices are essential to a religion. “Islam is our religion, and we will decide what is essential in it,” Owaisi said, while questioning the court’s approach to matters of religious practice. The AIMIM leader also pointed out that the Supreme Court is already considering issues related to essential religious practices and freedom of religion. He argued that the Allahabad High Court should therefore have avoided making a ruling on the matter while the broader legal question remains before the apex court. Owaisi further claimed that the judgment conflicts with Articles 19 and 25 of the Indian Constitution, which protect freedom of expression and religious freedom. Defending the student’s right to wear a hijab, Owaisi said the decision concerns a personal and religious choice. He remarked that the student was wearing a hijab on her head, “not on her brain,” stressing that wearing the religious garment should not be viewed as a barrier to education or academic ability. He also warned that the ruling could discourage Muslim girls from pursuing education, particularly in Uttar Pradesh. According to Owaisi, Muslim girls already have relatively low enrolment at the secondary-school level in the state, and restrictions on religious attire could create additional obstacles for them. The controversy follows an Allahabad High Court ruling issued on August 21, in which a two-judge bench dismissed a petition filed by a Muslim student from a private school in Prayagraj. The student had sought permission to wear a hijab along with the prescribed school uniform. The student had already completed her high school education and wanted to continue in Class 11 at the same institution. Her petition challenged the school’s restriction on wearing the hijab as part of the uniform. The bench, comprising Justices J.J. Munir and Indrajeet Shukla, rejected the argument that wearing a hijab constitutes an essential religious practice in Islam. The judges noted that several High Courts have previously held that wearing a hijab is not an obligatory religious practice for Muslim women to the extent that failing to observe it would affect their faith. The court also maintained that students cannot unilaterally alter an institution’s prescribed uniform based on their individual preferences. The ruling has since sparked debate over the balance between uniform regulations, religious freedom and students’ rights in educational institutions.

  MIDDLESBROUGH: Seven people, including two police officers, have died in a serious road crash during a police pursuit involving a “suspicious” vehicle travelling in the wrong direction on a dual carriageway in northeastern England. The collision occurred at around 3:39am BST on the A66 in South Bank, near Middlesbrough in Teesside. Cleveland Police said the crash involved a marked police vehicle and a Volkswagen Passat. According to police, the marked police car had been travelling in the correct direction on the road when the collision occurred. Emergency services rushed to the scene, but all occupants of both vehicles were pronounced dead at the location. Cleveland Police Chief Constable Victoria Fuller expressed her condolences to the victims and their families, saying that no one should leave their home without being able to return safely, including police officers who serve and protect their communities. The force said the families of those identified had been informed and were being offered specialist support. Fuller described the incident as a tragedy that would have a profound impact on communities across Cleveland and the wider policing family. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), the police watchdog, has launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash. The watchdog said that, based on information available at the early stage of the inquiry, Cleveland Police had spotted a suspicious vehicle and a pursuit subsequently began. Investigators will examine the circumstances leading up to the pursuit, including why the vehicle was considered suspicious, how the pursuit developed and what happened immediately before the fatal collision. The A66 is one of the main roads running through the Teesside region. The area surrounding the crash site includes a number of industrial buildings and factories. Following the incident, the road was closed in both directions between Normanby Road and Church Lane. Police said the closure was expected to remain in place for the rest of the day while emergency crews and investigators worked at the scene. Police vehicles and officers could be seen along the road as a major emergency response continued. Motorists were advised to avoid the area and use alternative routes. The North East Ambulance Service said it deployed 14 ambulance resources as part of the major emergency response. Despite the efforts of emergency responders, several patients died at the scene. The ambulance service expressed its condolences to everyone affected by the tragedy and thanked those who worked through the night in response to the crash. Cleveland Police said a significant number of emergency service vehicles remained at the scene and urged members of the public not to speculate about the circumstances while the investigation was still developing. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood described the incident as “devastating” and expressed her support for Cleveland Police as officers worked to identify everyone involved. She paid tribute to police officers who put their safety at risk every day to protect the public and offered her condolences to the victims’ families, friends, emergency responders and the wider police community. Local MP Anna Turley also expressed deep sadness over the deaths. She extended her sympathies to the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives and thanked emergency services personnel who worked throughout the night. The investigation remains ongoing, with authorities expected to examine forensic evidence, witness accounts and other information to establish the exact sequence iof events that led to the fatal crash.

LONDON: British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband has strongly opposed Israel’s plan to invite tenders for the construction of 1,200 new homes under the controversial E1 settlement project, warning that the move could seriously undermine prospects for a future Palestinian state and the two-state solution. The British government has urged Israel to immediately withdraw the E1 plan, cancel the construction tenders and halt the expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. A UK government spokesperson said Israeli settlement activity violates international law and remains a major obstacle to achieving lasting peace in the region. The government stressed that continued settlement expansion could further weaken efforts to establish a viable and geographically connected Palestinian state. Miliband said Britain would continue to strongly support a two-state solution, arguing that it offers the best path toward lasting peace, security and stability for both Palestinians and Israelis. The E1 area, located east of Jerusalem in the occupied West Bank, has long been a sensitive issue because large-scale settlement development there could divide Palestinian communities and complicate the possibility of creating a contiguous Palestinian state. The British government’s latest warning comes amid continued international concern over settlement expansion in the occupied Palestinian territories and its potential impact on future peace negotiations.

WARSAW: Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski has criticised the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the lack of accountability for what he described as the Israeli military’s “excessive use of force,” warning that such actions are weakening public support for Israel even in countries traditionally sympathetic to it. Writing on X on Thursday, Sikorski said that genuine partnerships require mutual respect and suggested that the continuing humanitarian crisis in Gaza was having an impact on international public opinion. “The humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, as well as the failure of accountability for [Israel Defence Forces] IDF’s excessive use of force, are undermining public support in even pro-Israel nations,” Sikorski said. His remarks came after Poland’s Foreign Ministry expressed strong disappointment over Israel’s decision to close proceedings into the April 1, 2024, attack on a World Central Kitchen humanitarian convoy in Gaza. The strike killed seven aid workers, including Polish national Damian Sobol. The Polish ministry said the Israeli ambassador in Warsaw had been summoned after Polish authorities were informed on August 19 that the Israeli military had decided to discontinue the proceedings. Warsaw said it remained dissatisfied with the measures taken so far to determine what happened during the attack. Polish authorities also called on Israel to provide all explanations and documents requested by Polish investigators. The District Prosecutor’s Office in Przemyśl is conducting a separate investigation into the incident, according to the Polish Foreign Ministry. Poland said the circumstances surrounding the deaths needed to be fully established and stressed that those responsible should not be allowed to avoid legal or moral accountability. The ministry also said that the families of the victims deserved appropriate compensation and redress. Poland’s criticism came shortly after the Israeli military acknowledged details surrounding another incident involving the death of a Palestinian child during the war in Gaza. The case concerns five-year-old Hind Rajab, who was killed in January 2024 after Israeli forces opened fire on a vehicle carrying her and members of her family. The Israeli military had previously denied that its troops were operating in the area where Hind was killed. However, following a months-long internal investigation, the military said it had determined that its forces had fired at the vehicle as it approached them. According to reports, Hind remained trapped inside the vehicle for hours while several of her family members were killed. During that time, she reportedly contacted Palestinian emergency workers by telephone and pleaded for help. An ambulance was dispatched to rescue her, but communications with both Hind and the emergency responders were subsequently lost. Twelve days later, the bodies of Hind, her relatives and two ambulance workers were reportedly recovered from the area. The Israeli military also said its investigation found that a shell was later fired at a Palestine Red Crescent ambulance that had been sent to assist Hind. The incident became one of the most widely reported cases involving civilian deaths during Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. Rights organisations have repeatedly criticised the limited number of prosecutions and convictions resulting from Israeli military investigations into alleged violations. The developments have intensified calls from Poland and other international actors for greater transparency, independent investigations and accountability over incidents involving civilian casualties and humanitarian workers. Polish officials maintain that the circumstances surrounding the deaths of humanitarian workers and civilians must be thoroughly investigated and that families affected by such incidents should receive justice and appropriate redress.

  TEHRAN/BAGHDAD: Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Saturday that Tehran had received messages from neighbouring countries expressing interest in developing new regional security arrangements and expanding economic cooperation. In a statement on X, Ghalibaf argued that US policies had placed the security of its regional allies at serious risk, particularly because of Washington’s support for Israel. He said the situation had prompted countries in the region to reconsider their security arrangements. Ghalibaf said a “homegrown, independent” regional security order would be the most effective way to establish lasting peace and stability in the Middle East. His comments came amid heightened tensions between Iran, the United States and Israel and growing concerns over regional security. Meanwhile, the Iranian army said its military doctrine was gradually shifting from a defensive posture toward a more offensive strategy. Army spokesman Brigadier General Mohammad Akraminia told state news agency IRNA that the change had developed during what he described as the recent 12-day and 40-day wars. According to Akraminia, the shift was reflected in Iran’s faster and broader responses to attacks, including pre-emptive military operations. He also said the Iranian army had prepared a reward plan in case US forces launched a ground invasion of Iran. Under the plan, members of the armed forces or civilians legally possessing hunting weapons would receive 5 billion tomans, estimated at around $26,000, for killing or capturing US troops entering Iranian territory. The reward would reportedly rise to 10 billion tomans, or approximately $53,000, if a woman carried out the action. Akraminia further claimed that the weapon used in such an operation would be purchased by the army for twice its value and preserved in a military museum under the owner’s name, with a replacement weapon provided to the individual. He also pointed to the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement as evidence of what he described as declining US influence in the region, calling it a regional security mechanism established without US participation. In Iraq, President Nizar Amidi said some vessels carrying Iraqi oil had been permitted to pass through the Strait of Hormuz following requests from Baghdad. Speaking at the eighth Baghdad Dialogue conference, he stressed that developments in the strategic waterway had consequences not only for Iraq but for the global economy. Amidi said Iraq faced difficulties transporting its oil because it lacked a national tanker fleet. He added that Baghdad was determined to remain outside the ongoing conflict between Iran and the United States, despite being among the countries most affected by regional instability. The Iraqi president also said Baghdad would not allow its territory to be used to attack another country and reiterated that weapons should remain under state control. Separately, US President Donald Trump said Friday that Iran was not yet prepared to reach what he considered the “right deal” with Washington. He said the United States was closely monitoring developments in the conflict while maintaining pressure on Tehran. The tensions have also disrupted oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, with concerns over the security of the waterway affecting international energy markets. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is expected to announce what Washington has described as its toughest-ever sanctions on Iran, while urging China to cooperate. China remains a major buyer of Iranian oil and has called for diplomacy to resolve the crisis.

  DHAKA: Bangladesh has indicated that it is open to joining the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement signed by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye, as Dhaka looks to broaden its strategic partnerships while maintaining a foreign policy centred on national interests. According to the state-run Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS), Bangladesh Prime Minister’s Adviser for Foreign Affairs Humayun Kobir said the country maintained a positive outlook towards the possibility of becoming part of an economic or defence framework involving Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye. Kobir said any decision regarding participation would be considered in light of Bangladesh’s national interests as well as changing global economic and trade dynamics. He stressed that Dhaka was pursuing a balanced foreign policy under its “Bangladesh First”approach, with national priorities remaining at the heart of its international engagement. He said Bangladesh was also working to strengthen its bilateral relationship with Pakistan through normal diplomatic channels. According to Kobir, the two countries were particularly focusing on expanding trade and improving people-to-people contacts and connectivity. The Bangladeshi adviser’s remarks come amid signs of improving diplomatic engagement between Dhaka and Islamabad. He also said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s proposed visit to Riyadh, following an invitation from Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman was expected to be finalised after the summer. The possibility of Bangladesh joining the defence framework comes shortly after Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement in Makkah on August 7. Under the agreement, an armed attack against any one of the three participating countries is to be treated as an attack against all three. The pact also provides a framework for greater defence cooperation, coordination and collective deterrence among the signatories. The agreement has attracted regional and international attention because of its potential to expand security cooperation among key Muslim-majority countries. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has described the arrangement as technically comparable to NATO’s Article 5 principle of collective defence, while emphasising that the agreement is not aimed at Iran or any other specific country. Ankara has also suggested that the framework could potentially be expanded to include additional regional states. Egypt has previously been mentioned as a possible participant in the broader security arrangement. Pakistan has similarly maintained that the agreement is defensive in character and is not directed against any particular country. Islamabad has also indicated that the framework remains open to states that are willing to support its principles and objectives. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has said the agreement does not seek to replace existing bilateral or multilateral defence and security arrangements. Instead, he said, it provides an additional platform for cooperation based on mutual respect, shared interests and peaceful resolution of disputes. Bangladesh’s latest position suggests that Dhaka is carefully assessing emerging regional partnerships while seeking to preserve strategic flexibility. Its potential participation could further broaden the Makkah agreement’s regional significance and strengthen cooperation among Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and other interested countries. For Bangladesh, however, any decision to join would ultimately depend on how the proposed framework aligns with its national interests, foreign policy priorities and assessment of the evolving regional and global security environment.