Morocco busts terrorist cell group

Terrorist ring under formation broken up in Morocco

Rabat – Security services have recently broken up a terrorist ring under formation, security sources announced on Tuesday.

 

    The ring, which is composed of eight Islamists, was operating in various cities across the kingdom and was plotting attacks, according to the same sources.

    The alleged members of the ring will be brought to justice, the same source added.

MAP: Morocco severs ties with Iran, gives diplomats one week to depart

Morocco severs diplomatic relations with Iran

Rabat- Morocco has decided to sever its diplomatic ties with Iran, starting Friday March 6, 2009, a statement of the Foreign Affairs announced.

 

   The document cites the “inadmissible attitude” of the Iranian authorities against Morocco, and the activities of its representation in Rabat to alter the religious fundamentals of Morocco as causes of this decision.

   Morocco has recalled on February 25 its interim chargé d’affaires in Tehran for consultations for a week, says the document.

   Morocco has also demanded explanations from Iran after it issued a communiqué that included “unacceptable” language following Morocco’s solidarity, like many other countries, with the territorial integrity of Bahrain, the document adds.

   According to the foreign ministry, Iran’s diplomatic representation members were trying to alter the fundamentals of the identity of the Moroccan people, and to undermine the uniqueness of cult and of the Sunnite Malekite rite adopted in the north African kingdom.

   Such activities constitute an unbearable interference in the domestic affairs of Morocco, and run contrary to the diplomatic rules and ethics, it stresses.

   For these reasons, and as the one-week deadline expired without the Iranian authorities providing any explanation, the Moroccan authorities have decided to cut diplomatic relations with Iran, the release concludes.

———————————
Al-Masakin News Agency
http://almasakinnewsagency.wordpress.com/
http://feeds.feedburner.com/Al-masakinNewsAgency
http://almasakinnewsagency.wordpress.com/feed/
http://twitter.com/AlMasakin

ISESCO: For Immediate Release: Conference on Israeli war crimes to be held in Rabat with the objective of bringing Israeli war criminals before the ICC

On Saturday and Sunday in Rabat: International Conference on “Israel: War Crimes and Genocide” under the Aegis of ISESCO

Rabat: 11/2/2009 A Conference on “Israel: War Crimes and Genocide” will be held by the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), in cooperation with Palestinian, regional and international human rights organizations, on 14-15 February 2009, at ISESCO headquarters in Rabat. This event will bring together Palestinian, regional and international NGOs, and a host of international lawyers, international law experts and eyewitnesses to Israel’s recent crimes against humanity in Gaza. The Conference is aimed at conducting legal studies and research on the war crimes and crimes against humanity being perpetrated by Israel against the Palestinian civilians; collecting evidence to support human rights reports in this connection; and considering possible ways to benefit from the international human rights movement calling for the trial of the Israeli political and military leaders for their crimes in Gaza. The Conference will seek also to coordinate the efforts of the different international human rights actors and organizations, in a bid to prepare elaborate legal documentation and evidence on Israel’s crimes against humanity and war crimes, in such a way as to convict the perpetrators and sue them at the European national courts having universal criminal jurisdiction. Among other objectives of the Conference is to consider available means and possible actions likely to help bring the perpetrators before the International Criminal Court (ICC), and to invite its Prosecutor together with the UN General Assembly to assume their responsibilities in this regard. Several themes are on the Conference’s agenda. These include reviewing the international legislation and the UN resolutions confirming the right of the Palestinian people to independence and to establish its independent State; documenting Israel’s repetitive breach of those laws and resolutions, presenting firsthand testimonies on the Israeli crimes in Gaza to be provided by Palestinian human rights activists in Gaza, and European and Arab doctors who went there during the war and who has keep samples of infected human tissue of the Palestinians injured. The participants will also review the efforts being made by the regional and international human rights organizations to document the Israeli war crimes against the Palestinian civilians and educational, cultural and academic institutions, in such away as to provide enough evidence to bring the Israeli political and military officials to international justice and try them at the ICC and the national courts in the European countries. The Conference will be opened by ISESCO Director General, Dr Abdulaziz Othman Altwaijri, who will deliver an address on this occasion in which he will highlight the importance of the Conference to be held as part of ISESCO’s fields of competence as the Palestinian cause lies at the heart of joint Islamic action.

Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) to convene international conference on Israeli war crimes in Rabat Feb. 14 & 15

International Conference at Rabat on Israel’s Crimes in Gaza Strip   Feb 12, 2009

Rabat, (SANA) – An international conference on the war crimes and genocide committed by Israel during its aggression on Gaza Strip will be held on the 14th and 15th of February at the headquarters of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) at the Moroccan city of Rabat. According to a statement published on the ISESCO website, the conference which is organized in cooperation with Palestinian, regional and international juristic organizations aims to prepare studies on the Isreaeli war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity committed against Palestinian civilians. The conference will also seek to gather evidence to support reports in that regard and discuss means for utilizing international movements calling for putting Israel’s leaders on trial for their crimes in Gaza. The conference will discuss several issues including international laws and UN resolutions that affirm the Palestinian people’s right to liberate their land and establish an independent state, in addition to documenting Israeli violations of these laws and resolutions. H. Sabbagh / Ghossoun

World diplomats at Islamabad conference commit to changing Western perceptions of Islam

http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/02/04/18568096.php

World diplomats at Islamabad conference commit to changing Western perceptions of Islam

by al-masakin
Wednesday Feb 4th, 2009 8:51 AM

World diplomats at Islamabad conference ‘Future of Change’ commit to changing Western perceptions of Islam
Iranian Envoy Recounts Major Muslims Concerns

future_of_change_islamabad_4feb09.pdf
download PDF (94.9 KB)

TEHRAN, Feb. 4 (FNA)—Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan Mashaallah Shakeri Wednesday pointed to the West’s biased stance towards the world of Islam as among the Muslims’ major concerns.

Criticizing some Western countries’ stance toward Muslims and linking them to terrorism, Shakeri said in a seminar dubbed as ‘Future Agenda of Change, Role for the Muslim World’ in Islamabad, that Muslims believe that the war on terror is for crushing them.

He noted that another reason for Muslims’ concern is that the West resists against recognition of Islamic countries’ changes, including what happened in Iran’s Islamic Revolution.

He also described major powers’ unilateralism in South Asia and the Middle East as another cause for Muslims’ concerns.

The Iranian diplomat also expressed hope that US President Barack Obama’s policies regarding Muslims would be different from those of Bush, and said Iran would positively respond to any change by the new US administration.
Reminding the world nations’ hatred for war and bloodshed, he urged the new US administration to work on democracy and peace and respect Muslims.

In international relations, war is not the solution to problems, the Iranian diplomat reiterated.

Ambassadors of Islamic countries ask Obama to address root causes of terrorism

Islamabad, Feb. 4 (APP)—Muslim world is hopeful of a change in US policy towards the Islamic world with arrival of the Obama administration, said ambassadors of prominent Islamic countries. Ambassador of Saudi Arabia Ali S. Awadh Assery, Ambassador of Syria Riad Hussain Ismat, Ambassador of Iran Masha’s Allah Shakeri, Ambassador of Iraq Kais Shbhi Al-Yacoubi and diplomats of Morocco and Nigeria agreed that election of President Obama points towards long desired change.

They were speaking at a roundtable conference on “Islam and the West and future agenda of change” held under the auspices of Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) here on Tuesday.

Diplomats of Germany, USA, Russia and Japan also spoke on the occasion.

They expressed optimism that President Obama would see the Islamic world with a different perspective and the practice to bracket Islam with terrorism would be stopped. They stressed that the new US administration should seek to root out the real causes of terrorism.

The Saudi Ambassador said the international community should give more funds to Pakistan so that it can be in a better position to counter terrorism and extremism. He said Saudi Arabia has adopted a soft anti-terror policy by integrating and rehabilitating those who got misled and went on the path of terrorism.

The Iranian ambassador spoke about the policies of previous US administration which proved counterproductive. “President Bush spoke enough to the world now the US requires to listen prior to talking,” he added.

He said Iran is waiting to see what change President Obama will bring in its policy towards his country.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has stated that if Iran witnessed any substantive change in US policy it will be replied positively.

The Iraqi ambassador said miracles should not be expected of Obama administration. He pointed out that Israel has always wasted opportunities to secure permanent peace in the Middle East.

He said Islam is about peace and co-existence and the Muslims want that when they extend the hand of cooperation, the outside world should reciprocate in a spirit which promotes unity and harmony.

Speaking on the occasion, a representative of embassy of Japan said idea of co-existence should be promoted to strengthen relations between Islam and the West. He said quest for achieving peace in the world is a laudable initiative taken by the Council of Islamic Ideology.

A representative of Russian embassy said today’s world is interdependent and there is a need for understanding each others point of view on issues.

He said, “Russia as observer at OIC, wants to build good relations with OIC and its member countries including Pakistan.”

He said Russia gives due respect to Muslim Ummah and its proof is that in Russia there are 4750 mosques among 10,000 places of worship.

Katrina, representative of the embassy of Germany appreciated the role of participants in pointing out the problems faced by the Muslim countries and said the issues needed to be addressed in a spirit of reconciliation. She said more than six million Muslims are living a peaceful and respectable life in Germany. She underlined the need for resolving issues through negotiations and by giving due respect to each other.

A representative of the US embassy said people in America believe in the idea of change, adding “America is a land of Christians and Muslims. We need to work together and understand each others point of view.” More than eight million Muslims are living in America.

Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Hamid Saeed Kazmi said Islam is a religion of peace and it does not believe in taking lives of innocent people.

“Bloodshed and suicide attacks have nothing to do with Islam,” he said and added there are some hidden hands who are carrying out such activities to defame Muslims. He said religious seminaries have vital role in Muslim society as these are source of producing useful citizens.

Minister of State for Religious Affairs Shagufta Jumani expressed the hope that the conference will prove to be a good effort to bridge gap between civilizations and religions.

Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed, who conducted the conference, said such interaction would help bridge gap between Islam and the west.

He said recommendations of participants of the meeting would be compiled and forwarded to the government.

He said the election of US President has created cautious optimism and there is hope of reversal of wrong policies of the past.

Chairman Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) Dr. Khalid Masood in his welcome address said CII is a constitutional body which reviews legislation, presents reports to the government and proposes amendments in laws.

He said the Council had almost completed the process of reviewing all existing laws in the country to bring them in line with the Holy Quran and Sunnah.

Fars / APP / EHC
———————————
Al-Masakin News Agency
http://almasakinnewsagency.wordpress.com/

Morocco to send 30 medical specialists to Gaza

Palestinian Red Crescent official hails dispatch of Moroccan medics to Gaza

Source: Maghreb Arabe Presse (MAP)

Date: 26 Jan 2009

El-Arish (Egypt), 26 Jan. 2009 (MAP) - Head of public relations at the Palestinian Red Crescent, May Arif, praised on Sunday king Mohammed VI’s decision to dispatch a medical delegation to Gaza to participate in treating the thousands of Palestinians injured during the Israeli aggression.

“The Palestinian people recall with pride Morocco’s solidarity towards the Palestinian people, particularly in times of hardship,” Arif told MAP, recalling that Morocco has also offered medical support to the victims of the Intifada in 2000 in Gaza.

Medical aid provided by Morocco to the Palestinian people, the dispatch of this medical delegation and the airlift established by the kingdom during the Israeli aggression “will undeniably contribute to alleviate the suffering of the grief-stricken Palestinian people,”said Arif.

She added that the medical delegation, made up of 30 specialists in intensive care, anesthesia, general surgery and orthopedic, is equipped with all medical and paramedical material needed for this humanitarian mission.

“Palestinian hospitals are in a dramatic situation following the Israeli aggression,” said Arif, adding that the Palestinian medical structures lack all means and need doctors, nurses, medical equipment and medicines.

“There are over 5,600 injured. Our hospitals are overwhelmed and the medical teams are unable to attend to all patients, that’s why we are in desperate need of this Moroccan aid,” she said, voicing confidence that Morocco will continue to support the Palestinian people.

The Moroccan medical delegation arrived Sunday morning in El-Arish onboard two military planes. This operation is part of Morocco’s sustained solidarity with and support to the Palestinian cause.

An airlift was established January 9-15 between Morocco and Egypt to dispatch aid to the population of Gaza, under instructions of king Mohammed VI, president of Al-Quds Committee.

The sovereign also gave his instructions to the government and the Central Bank (Bank Al-Maghrib) to open a special bank account to collect donations for the Palestinian people