Rohingya Refugees Shifted To 'Defacto Prison Island', UN Raises Concerns

 New Age Islam Special Correspondent30 December 2020Defying objections from tbe United Nations and humanitarian groups, the Bangladesh government on Tuesday shifted more than two thousand Rohingya refugees from Cox Bazar refugee camp to Bhasan Char Island on navy ships. These refugees reportedly had agreed to shift to Bhasan Char. This was the second batch of refugees shifted to the island. On 4th December, the first batch of 642 refugees had been shifted.The Bangladesh government has spent $300 million on building houses for 100,000 families in Bhasan Char. According to the Bangladesh government, modern amenities and facilities have also been built there.But the United Nations has expressed reservations over the safety and security of...

Christmas and Eid Milad-un-Nabi: Two Communities, Two Approaches

 New Age Islam Special Correspondent29 December 2020Christmas is celebrated as the birthday of Jesus Christ by the Christians all over the world. On Christmas Day, Christians assemble in churches and offer five prayers. They decorate the churches, light them up, set up Christmas trees and dress up as Santa Claus to entertain children and distribute chocolates and gifts among children in the streets. They visit friends and relatives and offer greetings and exchange gifts. This way they celebrate the birthday of Jesus the Messiah.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Also Read:  Prophet Muhammad Was Indeed Mercy for the World, says chief guest Father Victor Edwin SJ in the Eid Milad-un-Nabi...

Indian Media Fraternity Sets To Bid Farewell to the Covid-19 Pandemic Year 2020 with the Horrible Statistics of Journo-Killings

 By Nava Thakuria, New Age Islam29 December 2020Indian media fraternity sets to bid farewell to the Covid-19 pandemic year 2020 with the horrible statistics of journo-killings with some dangerous countries for working journalists in the world. The populous country lost over 50 working journalists to novel corona virus infection aggravated ailments and it also witnessed killings of 15 scribes till the last week of December.The largest democracy in the globe along with Mexico emerged as the hazardous places for scribe this year as the global tally of media-victims to assailants reaches to 92 in 31 countries, said Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), the Geneva based media watchdog in its recent reports. Mexico, as it routinely observes journo-murders...

Debating COVID-19 Vaccines As A ‘Haram-Halal Issue’ Is Untenable!

 By Prof. Aleem Ashraf Jaisi(Translated from Urdu by New Age Islam Edit Desk)28 December 2020Let me tell you at the very outset. Islamist fundamentalists have started an unsolicited debate on the issue of the coronavirus vaccine being ‘un-Islamic’. Fatwas have been issued by self-styled Muftis which prevent the use of COVID-19 vaccines for Muslims as something forbidden under the Islamic Shari’ah.The "religious sincerity" of these gentlemen, ulema or Islamic clerics may be beyond doubt. But if you look at their plain statements, there is a severe lack of knowledge in their arguments with no awareness of the modern requirements. The fake-news spreaders in the mainstream and social media were waiting for such irresponsible statements....

The Tablighis Were Indeed Made Scapegoats; But Will Muslims Condemn Maulana Saad’s Retrograde Speeches?

 By Arshad Alam, New Age Islam28 December 2020With the release of Tabligh Jamaat (TJ) members by a Delhi court sometime back, there has been a surfeit of condemnation of those who dared to criticise the TJ for holding its religious gathering during the onset of the corona pandemic. It is being argued that all those who condemned the TJ must now apologise as the courts have not found them guilty. However, amidst this cacophony, there is a need to separate the vilification of TJ (which must be called out) and the putrid speeches delivered by its chief vehemently negating the dangers of the pandemic and putting many lives at risk.Let us start with the larger narrative spun around the Tabligh Jamaat which was deeply disturbing. This narrative...