SHAFAQNA

SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) – The United States and Qatar are set to boost their support for the militants operating inside Syria, in an act of foreign interference in the internal affairs of the crisis-hit Middle Eastern country. US President Barack Obama made the announcement at the White House following a meeting with the emir of Qatar, Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. This comes days after US Secretary of State John Kerry said that Washington would double its assistance…

SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) – A Palestinian inmate ended a prolonged hunger strike Tuesday after reaching a deal with Israeli military prosecutors for early release, his lawyer and family said. Samer Issawi, whose fast helped fuel weeks of protests in the West Bank this year, will be allowed to return home to East Jerusalem after he serves eight more months, his attorney, Jawad Boulus, said. Issawi, 33, had refused food for 227 days, receiving only infusions of water, vitamins…

SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) Clashes between security forces and anti-government protesters in northern Iraq have left at least 20 people dead and dozens injured, officials said. The clashes broke out early on Tuesday morning when security forces entered an open area in Hawijah, west of Kirkuk, where demonstrations have been held since January. Iraq's ministry of defence said, in a statement, that 20 armed men were killed along with three army personnel - one officer and two soldiers - in…

SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) –The number of Muslims in Russia has increased in the past ten years, president of Ahl-ul-Bayt (AS) Society in Moscow said. Nezami Balaklanev said Islam, which is the last and most perfect Divine religion, attracts everyone by referring to issues like equality, fraternity, peace and friendship. “This has led to the rising number of Muslims not only in Russia but all over the world,” he stressed. “Thank God, the Ahl-ul-Bayt (AS) Society in Moscow has…

SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) –The leader in Hamas movement, Salah Bardawil, confirmed that the movement's Political Bureau has held in Doha its first meeting, after its Internal elections. Bardawil told Quds Press that the newly elected Political Bureau of the movement has discussed files related to the bureau's internal affairs and the prominent Palestinian issues. The meeting, chaired by Khaled Mashaal and attended by the elected Politburo members, "was held in good conditions and dealt with all the issues…

SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) – A Palestinian prisoner held by Israel has agreed to end an on-off hunger strike that lasted for more than eight months in exchange for an early release, Palestinian officials say. The fast by Samer al-Issawi, from a suburb of Jerusalem, had stoked weeks of street protests and concerns by Israel that his death might lead to mass unrest. Issawi on Monday agreed to a deal brokered by Israeli and Palestinian officials to serve eight…

SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) – Two Orthodox archbishops have been kidnapped by foreign-sponsored militants in Syria in the northern governorate of Aleppo. Syriac Orthodox Archbishop of Aleppo Yohanna Ibrahim and Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Aleppo Paul Yazigi were captured by "a terrorist group" as they were "carrying out humanitarian work" in a village in Aleppo governorate on Monday, the official news agency SANA reported. "Terrorists intercepted the bishops' car in Kafr Dael village, took the driver out of the…

SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) An appeals court in Kuwait has freed on bail an opposition leader at the centre of a political standoff, delaying the final verdict to an unspecified later date. Mussallam al-Barrak, who has so far evaded arrest, was sentenced to five years in jail for insulting the the emir of the Gulf state. Al Jazeera's Jamal Elshayyal, reporting from Kuwait City, said that the delay is "probably the best situation" that the government could have opted for. "On one hand, it…

SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) –The rabbi said the idea of giving non-Jews equal rights in Israel goes against the principles of the Torah and government representatives have no authority to go against the Torah’s teachings. This is while many researchers believe that the current Torah has been distorted and does not contain the original teachings of the Prophet Moses. Peretz’s racist ruling has been published in a book titled “Laws of the Mezuzah” published by the Israeli military’s Rabbinate.…

SHAFAQNA (Shia International News Association) –Australian Ambassador in Iraq visited Imam Ali shrine in Najaf with her ​​accompanying delegation and expressed her admiration for the architectural and geometrical style of the shrine. An international team arrived to Najaf city yesterday headed by the Australian Ambassador in Baghdad, Lyndall Sachs to oversee the local elections that took place on Saturday. Lyndall Sachs said in a press statement that “it is a very beautiful to watch this faith atmosphere in this holy…