LONDON: Leaders and scholars from Britain’s Muslim community have told their congregations that there is no conflict between fasting during Ramadan and receiving coronavirus vaccinations.
The month of Ramadan is a holy month for Muslims worldwide, and sees worshippers abstaining from food and drink, between sunrise and sunset.
While religious teachings compel Muslims to refuse “anything entering the body” while fasting, scholars from the UK have said that this rule does not apply to coronavirus vaccines.
Imam Mustafa Hussein, from Birmingham’s Green Lane Masjid mosque, told Arab News: “The vaccine doesn’t have nutritional value, and when we look at injections, we look at what they will provide the body. If the vaccine doesn’t provide the body with any nourishment or nutritional value, then you’re allowed to take it, even if you are fasting.
“It does not break your fast at all. Therefore, there is nothing wrong with taking the vaccine during Ramadan.”
Qari Asim, an imam in Leeds and chair of the Mosques and Imams National Advisory Board, echoed Hussein’s ruling, and said it was an opinion shared by the majority of British imams.
“The majority of Islamic scholars are of the view that taking the vaccine during Ramadan will not invalidate the fast,” Asim told the BBC.
Ramadan is expected to begin early next week when the moon is sighted over Makkah in Saudi Arabia.
The month’s timing coincides with a major drive to provide adults with vaccinations across the UK. There has been concern that inoculations for the UK’s 2.5 million Muslims might slow down during the holiday.
British citizens from Pakistan and Bangladesh were already among the groups worst affected by the pandemic, while misinformation campaigns and myths surrounding vaccines also made them more likely to refuse a jab when offered.
To counter this, British mosques and their imams have played a major role in encouraging congregations to take the vaccine, highlighting its religious permissibility. Some mosques have even opened their doors to the UK’s National Health Service for use as vaccination centers.
New data suggests that these efforts have caused major improvements in vaccine confidence.
Figures from polling company Ipsos MORI suggest a significant increase in ethnic minority Britons who say they have had, or are likely to have, the vaccine — up from 77 percent in January to 92 percent in March.
Kelly Beaver, managing director of Ipsos MORI, said: “It is extraordinarily encouraging to see the steady progress being made with vaccine confidence across the UK. The increase in vaccine confidence among ethnic minority Britons is a particularly welcome sign, given the disproportionate impact that the pandemic has had on ethnic minority communities.”
Vaccines allowed while fasting, UK Muslim leaders say
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Vaccines allowed while fasting, UK Muslim leaders say
- “The majority of Islamic scholars are of the view that taking the vaccine during Ramadan will not invalidate the fast”: Qari Asim
- Britain’s mosques have played leading role in raising health awareness, fighting fake coronavirus news
Former Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond, who sought Scotland’s independence from UK, dies at 69
Salmond, who was a divisive figure in British politics and who as the then leader of the Scottish National Party took Scotland to the brink of independence in a 2014 referendum, died in the North Macedonia lake-resort town of Ohrid, local media reported.
“Unfortunately, Alex Salmond, the former first minister of Scotland who was one of the panellists at yesterday’s cultural diplomacy forum that was held in Ohrid, died suddenly today,” according to a statement from the office of former North Macedonia President Gjorgje Ivanov.
Tributes poured in from across the political spectrum, with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer of the Labour Party calling him a “monumental figure” of both Scottish and British politics.
“He leaves behind a lasting legacy,” Starmer said. “As first minister of Scotland, he cared deeply about Scotland’s heritage, history and culture, as well as the communities he represented.”
Salmond served as first minister of Scotland from 2007 to 2014, and was leader of the Scottish National Party on two occasions, from 1990 to 2000, and from 2004 to 2014. Salmond, as then leader of the Scottish National Party, led the independence campaign in the referendum in 2014, but lost, gaining 45 percent of the vote. Salmond resigned from the SNP in 2018 in the wake of sexual harassment allegations.
He subsequently formed a new party called Alba — the Scottish Gaelic word for Scotland — and was acquitted of the charges.
The current SNP first minister, John Swinney, said that he was “deeply shocked and saddened at the untimely death” of Salmond.
“Over many years, Alex made an enormous contribution to political life, not just within Scotland, but across the UK and beyond,” he said. “He took the Scottish National Party from the fringes of Scottish politics into government and led Scotland so close to becoming an independent country.”
Former UK Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said that Salmond was a “huge figure in our politics.”
Salmond said that he learned to dream of a better Scotland at his grandfather’s knee, and chose to join the SNP at university in 1973 when his English girlfriend poked too much fun at his separatist sentiments.
Salmond’s academic and professional background prepared him to become Scotland’s most economically optimistic and visionary politician. At St. Andrew’s University. he double-majored in medieval history, reflecting his love of a Caledonia lost, and economics. In his 20s, he worked as an economist first for Britain’s regional government in Scotland and then at the Royal Bank of Scotland, where he analyzed the country’s most dynamic industry, North Sea oil.
He won a seat in the UK Parliament in 1987, and within three years was party leader. He supported Tony Blair’s Labour government in the late 1990s to create a devolved Scottish parliament in Edinburgh, a reform that stopped short of independence, but gave his homeland a taste of self-government for the first time since its 1707 union with England.
Salmond then had a very public forum to push his dream of full independence forward — his government had an array of powers especially on social issues — and managed to convince the government of Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron to call a referendum. Up until the results were known, it had been considered a close call.
Though the independence campaign lost, Salmond’s SNP managed to capitalize its support and has dominated Scottish politics since. The SNP has been the Edinburgh-based government since, though it suffered a huge setback in this year’s UK-wide general election, when it lost a vast majority of the seats it held in the House of Commons to Labour. The next Scottish election is due to take place in 2026.
Sister of North Korea’s leader threatens South Korea over drone flights
- The ministry said North Korean forces will prepare “all means of attack” capable of destroying the southern side of the border and the South Korean military
- “The moment a South Korean drone is discovered once again in skies above our capital, a terrible calamity will surely occur,” she said
SEOUL: The powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Saturday accused South Korea of deliberately avoiding responsibility for the alleged flights of South Korean drones over the North’s capital, and warned of a “terrible calamity” if they continue.
The statement by Kim Yo Jong came a day after North Korea’s Foreign Ministry claimed that South Korean drones carrying anti-North Korean propaganda leaflets were detected in the night skies over Pyongyang on Oct. 3, and Wednesday and Thursday this week.
The ministry said North Korean forces will prepare “all means of attack” capable of destroying the southern side of the border and the South Korean military, and respond without warning if South Korean drones are detected in its territory again.
South Korea’s defense minister initially denied the accusation, but the South’s military later adjusted its response, saying it couldn’t confirm whether or not the North’s claims were true.
In comments published through state media, Kim, one of her brother’s top foreign policy officials, said that the South Korean military’s vague statements should be taken as proof that it was “either the main culprit or accomplice in this incident.”
“If the military stood by while its own citizens employed drones, a widely recognized multi-purpose military tool, to violate another country’s sovereignty, thereby increasing the risk of armed conflict with a potential adversary, this would amount to intentional acquiescence and collusion,” she said.
“The moment a South Korean drone is discovered once again in skies above our capital, a terrible calamity will surely occur. I personally hope that does not happen.”
South Korea’s military and government didn’t immediately respond to Kim’s comments.
Tensions between the Koreas are now at their worst in years as the pace of both North Korea’s missile tests and the South’s combined military training with the United States have intensified in tit-for-tat. The animosity has been exacerbated by Cold War-style psychological warfare campaigns between the Koreas in recent months.
Since May, North Korea has sent thousands of balloons carrying paper waste, plastic and other trash to drop on the South, in what it described as retaliation against South Korean civilian activists who flew balloons with anti-North Korean propaganda leaflets across the border.
South Korea’s military responded to the North’s balloon campaign by using border loudspeakers to broadcast propaganda and K-pop to North Korea.
North Korea is extremely sensitive to any outside criticism of the authoritarian government of leader Kim Jong Un and his family’s dynastic rule.
South Korean officials have been raising concern that North Korea may seek to dial up pressure on Seoul and Washington ahead of the US presidential election in November. Experts say Kim’s long-term goal is to eventually force Washington to accept North Korea as a nuclear power and to negotiate security and economic concessions from a position of strength.
In written answers to questions by The Associated Press this month, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said North Korea is likely preparing major provocations around the US election, possibly including a test detonation of a nuclear device or flight-test of an intercontinental ballistic missile test, as it tries to grab Washington’s attention.
Nelson Mandela’s grandson reportedly denied entry to UK ahead of pro-Palestine speaking tour
- Zwelivelile Mandla Mandela, a former South African MP, was due to attend events in eight cities
LONDON: The grandson of the late South African president Nelson Mandela has reportedly been denied entry to the UK ahead of a planned speaking tour supporting the Palestinian cause, it was reported this weekend.
Zwelivelile Mandla Mandela, a former South African MP, was due to attend events in eight cities, including London, Edinburgh and Brighton, as part of Black History Month.
However, he was forced to join remotely for a Sheffield event after being informed that he required a visa, The Independent reported on Friday.
The Sheffield Palestine Coalition against Israeli Apartheid said in a statement that British officials had initially informed Mandela he did not need a visa due to his South African government passport.
However, on Monday, he was informed otherwise, and despite efforts from senior ANC figures, no visa has been issued.
Mandela, who has openly expressed support for the Oct. 7 Hamas-led attack on Israel, said during the Sheffield event: “It seems that there are those who are intent on preventing me from being physically with you in Britain.”
He added: “I have been criticized for statements that I have made in support of the Palestinian resistance and its various formations.”
Some of Mandela’s remarks have attracted controversy, including his praise of late Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah, whom he called “one of the great freedom fighters,” according to Iranian state media.
The UK Home Office has faced pressure regarding Mandela’s entry into the country, with concerns raised over his past statements. A Home Office spokesperson responded by saying: “The UK has robust safeguards to ensure visas are only issued to those who we want to welcome to our country.”
Mandela is expected to visit the Irish capital, Dublin, later this month, and his visa requirement has reportedly been waived.
His grandfather, Nelson Mandela, was an outspoken supporter of the Palestinian cause.
Fire at Chechnya petrol station kills four, including children
- “Unfortunately, four people died, including two children,” Russia’s emergency ministry said
- Officials said the petrol station is on Grozny’s Mohammad Ali Avenue
MOSCOW: A fire at a petrol station in Russia’s Chechnya killed four people, including two children, emergency services said Saturday.
Authorities released images of more than two dozen firefighters extinguishing the blaze at an almost totally destroyed petrol station with burnt-out cars in Chechnya’s main city, Groznyy.
“Unfortunately, four people died, including two children,” Russia’s emergency ministry said.
It said the fire had been put out.
Officials said the petrol station is on Grozny’s Mohammad Ali Avenue, close to the center of the Chechen capital.
Social media videos showed a large explosion with flames going into the air.
Russia’s North Caucasus has seen several deadly blasts at service stations recently.
Last month, an explosion at a petrol station in the neighboring Dagestan region killed 13 people. In August 2023, a similar explosion killed 35 people in Dagestan and injured dozens.
Ukrainian recruiters descend on Kyiv’s nightlife in search of men not registered for conscription
- It is unusual for such raids to take place in the capital, and reflects Ukraine’s dire need for fresh recruits
- All Ukrainian men aged 25-60 are eligible for conscription, and men aged 18-60 are not allowed to leave the country
KYIV: Ukrainian military recruitment officers raided restaurants, bars and a concert hall in Kyiv, checking military registration documents and detaining men who were not in compliance, local media reported Saturday.
Officers reportedly descended on Kyiv’s Palace of Sports venue after a concert Friday night by Ukrainian rock band Okean Elzy. Video footage aired by local media outlets appears to show officers stationed outside the doors of the concert hall intercepting men as they exit. In the footage, officers appear to be forcibly detaining some men.
Checks were also conducted at Goodwine, an upscale shopping center, and Avalon, a popular restaurant.
It is unusual for such raids to take place in the capital, and reflects Ukraine’s dire need for fresh recruits. All Ukrainian men aged 25-60 are eligible for conscription, and men aged 18-60 are not allowed to leave the country.
Local reports said raids were also conducted in clubs and restaurants across other Ukrainian cities, including Kharkiv and Dnipro in eastern and central Ukraine.
Ukraine has intensified its mobilization drive this year. A new law came into effect this spring stipulating that those eligible for military service must input their information into an online system or face penalties.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s military said on Saturday that it struck a Russian-controlled oil terminal in the partially occupied Luhansk region that provides fuel for Russia’s war effort.
“Oil and oil products were stored at this base, which were supplied, in particular, for the needs of the Russian army,” Ukraine’s General Staff wrote on Telegram.
Russian state media reported that the terminal close to the city of Rovenky had come under attack from a Ukrainian drone and said there were no casualties and that the fire had been extinguished, but did not comment on the extent of any damage.
On Monday, Ukrainian forces said they struck a major oil terminal on the south coast of the Russia-occupied Crimea Peninsula.
Both sides are facing the issue of how to sustain their costly war of attrition — a conflict that started with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and that shows no signs of a resolution.
Ukraine’s aim is to impair Russia’s ability to support its front-line units, especially in the eastern Donetsk region where the main Russian battlefield effort is stretching weary Ukrainian forces.
Kyiv is still awaiting word from its Western partners on its repeated requests to use the long-range weapons they provide to hit targets on Russian soil.
Meanwhile, Russia’s Defense Ministry said 47 Ukrainian drones had been intercepted and destroyed by its air defense systems overnight into Saturday: 17 over the Krasnodar region, 16 over the Sea of Azov, 12 over the Kursk region and two over the Belgorod region, all of which border Ukraine.
Belgorod regional Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov said Saturday that one person had been killed and 14 wounded in Ukrainian shelling and drone attacks over the previous 24 hours.
In Ukraine, the country’s Air Force said air defenses had shot down 24 of 28 drones launched overnight against Ukraine.
Zaporizhzhia regional Gov. Ivan Fedorov said two women were wounded Saturday in Russian attacks on the capital of the southern Ukrainian region, also called Zaporizhzhia.
