Pope Francis, the first leader of the world's 1.3 billion Catholics<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/pope-francis-urges-respect-for-yemen-truce-accord-194830"> to visit the Arabian Peninsula</a>, will attend an interfaith meeting in the UAE on Monday as part of his outreach to Muslims.

The pope's highly publicised 48-hour visit to the United Arab Emirates will also include an open-air mass on Tuesday for 135,000 of the Muslim country's million Catholic residents.

The pontiff, who made history when he touched down in Abu Dhabi on Sunday night, said he came "as a brother, in order to write a page of dialogue together and to travel paths of peace together".

The pope is expected to raise the issue of Yemen, devastated by a war in which the UAE is a key player, with Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed.

Yemen is home to what the UN calls the world's worst humanitarian crisis, triggered by the intervention of Saudi Arabia, the UAE and their allies in a war between the government and Huthi rebels.&nbsp;

More than 10 million Yemenis now risk imminent starvation.&nbsp;

Open-air altar 
&nbsp; 
Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb — imam of Cairo's Al-Azhar, Sunni Islam's prestigious seat of learning — greeted the pope with an embrace on Sunday night as the pontiff arrived in the UAE capital Abu Dhabi.&nbsp;

The emirate's crown prince was also at the airport to greet the pontiff, who has made strengthening ties between Christianity and Islam a cornerstone of his papacy.

Hours before he flies back to Rome on Tuesday, the pope will lead a mass in a stadium in the capital, which local media say will be the largest public gathering ever in the UAE.

The UAE has dubbed 2019 it's "year of tolerance", but rights groups have criticised the country for its role in Yemen, where an estimated 10,000 people have been killed since the Saudi-led alliance including the UAE joined the government's fight against the Huthis in 2015.

Rights groups, which have slammed the UAE over its intolerance of dissent, have also urged the pope to raise the issue of Ahmed Mansoor, an Emirati activist serving a 10-year prison term.&nbsp;

Pope addresses Yemen war

Before heading to the Gulf on Sunday, Pope Francis urged warring parties in Yemen to respect a truce agreement and allow deliveries of food aid.

"The population is exhausted by the lengthy conflict and a great many children are suffering from hunger, but cannot access food depots," he said.

"The cry of these children and their parents rises up to God."

The pope and his host Sheikh Mohammed are also expected to discuss "terrorism" and violence.&nbsp;

The UAE, which prides itself on its religious tolerance and cultural diversity, is a member of the US-led coalition battling the Islamic State group in both Syria and Iraq.

The UAE has eight Catholic churches. Oman, Kuwait and Yemen each have four.

Qatar and Bahrain have one each, while ultra-conservative Sunni powerhouse Saudi Arabia bans all non-Muslim places of worship.

Muslims make up nearly four-fifths of the UAE's population, but the country is also home to nearly a million Catholics, according to the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia.

Migrants from Asian countries make up about 65 per cent of the population.

Pope Francis, the first leader of the world's 1.3 billion Catholics to visit the Arabian Peninsula, will attend an interfaith meeting in the UAE on Monday as part of his outreach to Muslims.

Pope Francis, the first leader of the world's 1.3 billion Catholics to visit the Arabian Peninsula, will attend an interfaith meeting in the UAE on Monday as part of his outreach to Muslims. The pope's highly publicised 48-hour visit to the United Arab Emirates will also include an open-air mass on Tuesday for 135,000 of the Muslim country's million Catholic residents. The pontiff, who made history when he touched down in Abu Dhabi on Sunday night, said he came "as a brother, in order to write a page of dialogue together and to travel paths of peace together". The pope is expected to raise the issue of Yemen, devastated by a war in which the UAE is a key player, with Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed. Yemen is home to what the UN calls the world's worst humanitarian crisis, triggered by the intervention of Saudi Arabia, the UAE and their allies in a war between the government and Huthi rebels. More than 10 million Yemenis now risk imminent starvation. Open-air altar Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb — imam of Cairo's Al-Azhar, Sunni Islam's prestigious seat of learning — greeted the pope with an embrace on Sunday night as the pontiff arrived in the UAE capital Abu Dhabi. The emirate's crown prince was also at the airport to greet the pontiff, who has made strengthening ties between Christianity and Islam a cornerstone of his papacy. Hours before he flies back to Rome on Tuesday, the pope will lead a mass in a stadium in the capital, which local media say will be the largest public gathering ever in the UAE. The UAE has dubbed 2019 it's "year of tolerance", but rights groups have criticised the country for its role in Yemen, where an estimated 10,000 people have been killed since the Saudi-led alliance including the UAE joined the government's fight against the Huthis in 2015. Rights groups, which have slammed the UAE over its intolerance of dissent, have also urged the pope to raise the issue of Ahmed Mansoor, an Emirati activist serving a 10-year prison term. Pope addresses Yemen war Before heading to the Gulf on Sunday, Pope Francis urged warring parties in Yemen to respect a truce agreement and allow deliveries of food aid. "The population is exhausted by the lengthy conflict and a great many children are suffering from hunger, but cannot access food depots," he said. "The cry of these children and their parents rises up to God." The pope and his host Sheikh Mohammed are also expected to discuss "terrorism" and violence. The UAE, which prides itself on its religious tolerance and cultural diversity, is a member of the US-led coalition battling the Islamic State group in both Syria and Iraq. The UAE has eight Catholic churches. Oman, Kuwait and Yemen each have four. Qatar and Bahrain have one each, while ultra-conservative Sunni powerhouse Saudi Arabia bans all non-Muslim places of worship. Muslims make up nearly four-fifths of the UAE's population, but the country is also home to nearly a million Catholics, according to the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia. Migrants from Asian countries make up about 65 per cent of the population.

Pope Francis makes history with Muslim dialogue in UAE

Muslims and the “settlers” from the coastal and Rayalaseema regions of Andhra Pradesh are likely to play a crucial role in the electoral fortunes of the candidates in 24 constituencies falling under the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC).

In the 2014 Andhra Pradesh Assembly polls, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) had won nine seats, Asaduddin Owaisi’s All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) seven, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) five and Telangana’s ruling party Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) had won three seats.

The TDP and the BJP were in an alliance in 2014. For the upcoming Telangana Assembly polls, the N Chandrababu Naidu-led TDP has struck an electoral pact with the Congress.

In the December 7 election, all the nine MLAs of the TDP, who had left the party subsequently, are contesting on TRS tickets.

Naidu has been campaigning vigorously in the region for the candidates of the Congress-led “Praja Kutami” or the grand alliance, also comprising the TDP, the Telangana Jana Samithi (TJS) and the Communist Party of India (CPI).

Naidu has also addressed poll meetings along with Congress president Rahul Gandhi in the GHMC areas, which have over 40 lakh voters.

The AIMIM, which counts the old city as its stronghold, has fielded eight candidates in the region and is supporting the TRS in the remaining seats.

The K Chandrasekhar Rao-led TRS has described the AIMIM as a “friendly party” and said it would have “friendly contests” in the seats where the Owaisi-led party has fielded its nominees.

AIMIM MLC Syed Aminul Hasan Jafri said Muslims constituted 12.7 per cent of Telangana’s population and in the 24 constituencies in the GHMC areas, it was 30 per cent.

“The Congress’s tie-up with the TDP, which was a BJP ally until recently, may not gel well with the Muslim voters. Not only that, since the beginning, not many members of the minority community have voted for the TDP.

“Constituencies like Rajendranagar, Maheswaram, Serilingampalli, Kukatpally, Kutbullapur, Malkajgiri, Uppal and LB Nagar have large numbers of minority voters who certainly have a say,” he told PTI.

Most of the constituencies located in the GHMC area have a large number of people from Andhra Pradesh, also called the “settlers”, accounting for about 20 per cent of the total votes.

The TDP, which is being projected by the TRS as an “Andhra party”, is contesting in some of the key constituencies in the area such as Serilingampalli, Kukatpally and Uppal.

Naidu’s party, which largely banks on the votes of the “settlers”, has fielded party founder NT Rama Rao’s granddaughter Nandamuri Suhasini from Kukatpally.

Political analyst and former MLC Nageswar said the “settlers” would certainly play a decisive role in the electoral outcome in these seats, but they might not vote en masse for any particular party, given the “diverse social structure”.

He pointed out that the TRS had won 100 seats in the GHMC polls largely due to the votes of the “settlers”.

“They (settlers) may not vote for the TRS now, unlike the way they had done in the GHMC polls. At the same time, they may also not vote for the TDP en masse. A particular community, which has got the backing of the TDP, may vote for it, but there are other influential communities which may desist it,” Nageswar said.

Telangana will go to polls on December 7 after Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao had dissolved the 119-member Assembly in September and the results will be declared on December 11.

Muslims and the “settlers” from the coastal and Rayalaseema regions of Andhra Pradesh are likely to play a crucial role in the electoral fortunes of the candidates in 24 constituencies falling under the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC).

Muslims and the “settlers” from the coastal and Rayalaseema regions of Andhra Pradesh are likely to play a crucial role in the electoral fortunes of the candidates in 24 constituencies falling under the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC). In the 2014 Andhra Pradesh Assembly polls, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) had won nine seats, Asaduddin Owaisi’s All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) seven, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) five and Telangana’s ruling party Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) had won three seats. The TDP and the BJP were in an alliance in 2014. For the upcoming Telangana Assembly polls, the N Chandrababu Naidu-led TDP has struck an electoral pact with the Congress. In the December 7 election, all the nine MLAs of the TDP, who had left the party subsequently, are contesting on TRS tickets. Naidu has been campaigning vigorously in the region for the candidates of the Congress-led “Praja Kutami” or the grand alliance, also comprising the TDP, the Telangana Jana Samithi (TJS) and the Communist Party of India (CPI). Naidu has also addressed poll meetings along with Congress president Rahul Gandhi in the GHMC areas, which have over 40 lakh voters. The AIMIM, which counts the old city as its stronghold, has fielded eight candidates in the region and is supporting the TRS in the remaining seats. The K Chandrasekhar Rao-led TRS has described the AIMIM as a “friendly party” and said it would have “friendly contests” in the seats where the Owaisi-led party has fielded its nominees. AIMIM MLC Syed Aminul Hasan Jafri said Muslims constituted 12.7 per cent of Telangana’s population and in the 24 constituencies in the GHMC areas, it was 30 per cent. “The Congress’s tie-up with the TDP, which was a BJP ally until recently, may not gel well with the Muslim voters. Not only that, since the beginning, not many members of the minority community have voted for the TDP. “Constituencies like Rajendranagar, Maheswaram, Serilingampalli, Kukatpally, Kutbullapur, Malkajgiri, Uppal and LB Nagar have large numbers of minority voters who certainly have a say,” he told PTI. Most of the constituencies located in the GHMC area have a large number of people from Andhra Pradesh, also called the “settlers”, accounting for about 20 per cent of the total votes. The TDP, which is being projected by the TRS as an “Andhra party”, is contesting in some of the key constituencies in the area such as Serilingampalli, Kukatpally and Uppal. Naidu’s party, which largely banks on the votes of the “settlers”, has fielded party founder NT Rama Rao’s granddaughter Nandamuri Suhasini from Kukatpally. Political analyst and former MLC Nageswar said the “settlers” would certainly play a decisive role in the electoral outcome in these seats, but they might not vote en masse for any particular party, given the “diverse social structure”. He pointed out that the TRS had won 100 seats in the GHMC polls largely due to the votes of the “settlers”. “They (settlers) may not vote for the TRS now, unlike the way they had done in the GHMC polls. At the same time, they may also not vote for the TDP en masse. A particular community, which has got the backing of the TDP, may vote for it, but there are other influential communities which may desist it,” Nageswar said. Telangana will go to polls on December 7 after Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao had dissolved the 119-member Assembly in September and the results will be declared on December 11.

Telangana elections: ‘Settlers’ and Muslims hold the aces in battle for Hyderabad

Narendra Modi is the "favourite" prime ministerial candidate of Muslims for next year's Lok Sabha polls as he has dispelled the "fear" that several parties instilled in the community using his name, senior BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain said Sunday.

He said the faith in Modi among Muslims had increased, especially among the women.

"The favourite prime ministerial candidate for Muslims in the 2019 polls is Narendra Modi, because he sees all 132 crore people of the country just as Indians. Other parties have seen them as a vote bank," Hussain said.

Muslims account for around 14 per cent of India's 130 crore population and the community plays a key role in the electoral outcome in a sizeable number of Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala and Jammu and Kashmir.

Hussain blamed the Congress for the poverty and backwardness of the Muslims in the country, saying the party had done injustice to the community and Modi had given them justice.

"Some people in 2014 used to scare others using Narendra Modi's name. Today, a large number of people from the Muslim community also feel that he is a man who works day and night. Narendra Modi treats all 132 crore Indians alike," he said.

Other parties used to take votes from Muslims by spreading the "fear" of Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the prime minister had taken out that fear, Hussain said.

Now they see that Modi is in power but there is no problem, the BJP leader added.

Not a single statement was made by Modi against Muslims, he said, adding that the prime minister's "shamshan-kabristan" statement in the run-up to the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls last year was "wrongly interpreted" as he had advocated taking care of both.

"In our party, some people may be making (certain) statements, but Muslims have full faith on the statements made by BJP chief Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi," the former Union minister said.

"Our party president and our prime minister have never given any statement that would hurt Muslims," he claimed, asserting that the community would back the saffron party big time in the 2019 general election.

Hussain also said Allahabad's name was changed to Prayagraj as "injustice" was done in the past" and now, "justice" had been restored.

"The earlier name was Prayagraj that was changed. To correct that mistake, is it wrong?

"Earlier also, Bangalore's name was changed to Bengaluru, Madras was changed to Chennai. So, how does history come into this," he said, rebutting the Congress's charge that the Modi government was trying to rewrite history.

On the Ram temple issue, Hussain said for the BJP, it was a matter of faith and not a poll plank.

"From October 29, there will be day-to-day hearing (in the Supreme Court). We are hopeful that this issue will be resolved soon and it will be acceptable to all the people in the country.

"Some people are also demanding that a law be made (for the construction of the temple). Everybody has a right to demand, how can anybody stop that? The government has the right to decide and it has not taken any decision in this regard," he said.

Talking about the upcoming Assembly elections in five states, the BJP spokesperson exuded confidence that his party would win in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh.

"In Mizoram, the government will not be formed without our support and in Telangana, we will emerge as a big party," he claimed.

Hussain also asserted that the BJP, the Janata Dal (United), the Lok Janshakti Party and the Rashtriya Lok Samta Party will fight the Lok Sabha polls in Bihar together.

He said the alliance with the Nitish Kumar-led JD(U) had boosted the National Democratic Alliance's (NDA) prospects in Bihar and the coalition was focussed on "Mission 40" -- to win all the Lok Sabha seats in the state.

Asked if anti-incumbency would be a factor in Bihar, Hussain said, "I had lost from Bhagalpur by 8,000 votes and Nitish Kumarji's candidate was third, getting 1,60,000 votes. Now those votes will be added to the BJP's kitty...We will fight together and this time, it is Mission 40 -- that we win all the 40 seats."

He also claimed that issues such as rising petrol and diesel prices will not hamper the BJP's poll prospects, saying the people were aware that the fuel problem was a global one.

The Modi government will come to power with a bigger mandate in 2019, Hussain asserted.

Narendra Modi is the "favourite" prime ministerial candidate of Muslims for next year's Lok Sabha polls as he has dispelled the "fear" that several parties instilled in the community using his name, senior BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain said Sunday.

Narendra Modi is the "favourite" prime ministerial candidate of Muslims for next year's Lok Sabha polls as he has dispelled the "fear" that several parties instilled in the community using his name, senior BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain said Sunday. He said the faith in Modi among Muslims had increased, especially among the women. "The favourite prime ministerial candidate for Muslims in the 2019 polls is Narendra Modi, because he sees all 132 crore people of the country just as Indians. Other parties have seen them as a vote bank," Hussain said. Muslims account for around 14 per cent of India's 130 crore population and the community plays a key role in the electoral outcome in a sizeable number of Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala and Jammu and Kashmir. Hussain blamed the Congress for the poverty and backwardness of the Muslims in the country, saying the party had done injustice to the community and Modi had given them justice. "Some people in 2014 used to scare others using Narendra Modi's name. Today, a large number of people from the Muslim community also feel that he is a man who works day and night. Narendra Modi treats all 132 crore Indians alike," he said. Other parties used to take votes from Muslims by spreading the "fear" of Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the prime minister had taken out that fear, Hussain said. Now they see that Modi is in power but there is no problem, the BJP leader added. Not a single statement was made by Modi against Muslims, he said, adding that the prime minister's "shamshan-kabristan" statement in the run-up to the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls last year was "wrongly interpreted" as he had advocated taking care of both. "In our party, some people may be making (certain) statements, but Muslims have full faith on the statements made by BJP chief Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi," the former Union minister said. "Our party president and our prime minister have never given any statement that would hurt Muslims," he claimed, asserting that the community would back the saffron party big time in the 2019 general election. Hussain also said Allahabad's name was changed to Prayagraj as "injustice" was done in the past" and now, "justice" had been restored. "The earlier name was Prayagraj that was changed. To correct that mistake, is it wrong? "Earlier also, Bangalore's name was changed to Bengaluru, Madras was changed to Chennai. So, how does history come into this," he said, rebutting the Congress's charge that the Modi government was trying to rewrite history. On the Ram temple issue, Hussain said for the BJP, it was a matter of faith and not a poll plank. "From October 29, there will be day-to-day hearing (in the Supreme Court). We are hopeful that this issue will be resolved soon and it will be acceptable to all the people in the country. "Some people are also demanding that a law be made (for the construction of the temple). Everybody has a right to demand, how can anybody stop that? The government has the right to decide and it has not taken any decision in this regard," he said. Talking about the upcoming Assembly elections in five states, the BJP spokesperson exuded confidence that his party would win in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. "In Mizoram, the government will not be formed without our support and in Telangana, we will emerge as a big party," he claimed. Hussain also asserted that the BJP, the Janata Dal (United), the Lok Janshakti Party and the Rashtriya Lok Samta Party will fight the Lok Sabha polls in Bihar together. He said the alliance with the Nitish Kumar-led JD(U) had boosted the National Democratic Alliance's (NDA) prospects in Bihar and the coalition was focussed on "Mission 40" -- to win all the Lok Sabha seats in the state. Asked if anti-incumbency would be a factor in Bihar, Hussain said, "I had lost from Bhagalpur by 8,000 votes and Nitish Kumarji's candidate was third, getting 1,60,000 votes. Now those votes will be added to the BJP's kitty...We will fight together and this time, it is Mission 40 -- that we win all the 40 seats." He also claimed that issues such as rising petrol and diesel prices will not hamper the BJP's poll prospects, saying the people were aware that the fuel problem was a global one. The Modi government will come to power with a bigger mandate in 2019, Hussain asserted.

Modi is favourite PM candidate of Muslims for 2019: Shahnawaz Hussain

Chinese authorities have launched a campaign against halal products in the name of fighting extremism in the capital of Xinjiang, the fractious northwest region where Muslims are facing a raft of religious restrictions.

Beijing has in recent years launched a security crackdown in Xinjiang against what it calls separatist elements, and a UN report has cited estimates that up to one million ethnic Uighurs and other Muslim minorities are held in extra-judicial, political re-education camps.

Halal -- Arabic for "permissible" -- refers to a set of rules guiding Muslims on what is allowed according to the religion. It is frequently applied to food and drinks but also includes other personal hygiene products like toothpaste and cosmetics.

Communist Party leaders in Urumqi, the regional capital, on Monday led cadres in swearing an oath to fight the "pan-halal trend to the end".&nbsp;

In an article posted on the city's official WeChat social media account, party cadres were told to post the same oath on their social media accounts, which included disowning religion.

"My belief is Marxism-Leninism... I must fly the flag high and battle (the) 'pan-halal trend' to the end, resolute in my beliefs, even to death!" the oath reads.

&nbsp;Government officials should also not have dietary restrictions, the statement said, adding work canteens would be changed so officials can try "cuisines of various nationalities".&nbsp;

As part of the campaign, Urumqi's ethnically Uighur head prosecutor Ilshat Osman also wrote an essay titled: "Friend, you do not have to find a halal restaurant specially for me".

The state-run Global Times tabloid on Wednesday cited "experts" as saying that the "pan-halal" tendency blurs the boundary between religion and secular life, making it easy to "fall into the mire of religious extremism".&nbsp;

China launched its "Strike Hard" campaign targeting separatism in Xinjiang in 2014 following deadly violence in the region.

Uighurs and other Muslim minorities are subject to strict regulations banning beards and burqas, and many have been detained in re-education camps for offences as minor as making contact with family members outside the country or sharing Islamic holiday greetings on social media, a UN report said in August.

Beijing has denied reports of the camps but evidence is mounting in the form of government documents and testimonies from former detainees.

Chinese authorities have launched a campaign against halal products in the name of fighting extremism in the capital of Xinjiang, the fractious northwest region where Muslims are facing a raft of religious restrictions.

Chinese authorities have launched a campaign against halal products in the name of fighting extremism in the capital of Xinjiang, the fractious northwest region where Muslims are facing a raft of religious restrictions. Beijing has in recent years launched a security crackdown in Xinjiang against what it calls separatist elements, and a UN report has cited estimates that up to one million ethnic Uighurs and other Muslim minorities are held in extra-judicial, political re-education camps. Halal -- Arabic for "permissible" -- refers to a set of rules guiding Muslims on what is allowed according to the religion. It is frequently applied to food and drinks but also includes other personal hygiene products like toothpaste and cosmetics. Communist Party leaders in Urumqi, the regional capital, on Monday led cadres in swearing an oath to fight the "pan-halal trend to the end". In an article posted on the city's official WeChat social media account, party cadres were told to post the same oath on their social media accounts, which included disowning religion. "My belief is Marxism-Leninism... I must fly the flag high and battle (the) 'pan-halal trend' to the end, resolute in my beliefs, even to death!" the oath reads. Government officials should also not have dietary restrictions, the statement said, adding work canteens would be changed so officials can try "cuisines of various nationalities". As part of the campaign, Urumqi's ethnically Uighur head prosecutor Ilshat Osman also wrote an essay titled: "Friend, you do not have to find a halal restaurant specially for me". The state-run Global Times tabloid on Wednesday cited "experts" as saying that the "pan-halal" tendency blurs the boundary between religion and secular life, making it easy to "fall into the mire of religious extremism". China launched its "Strike Hard" campaign targeting separatism in Xinjiang in 2014 following deadly violence in the region. Uighurs and other Muslim minorities are subject to strict regulations banning beards and burqas, and many have been detained in re-education camps for offences as minor as making contact with family members outside the country or sharing Islamic holiday greetings on social media, a UN report said in August. Beijing has denied reports of the camps but evidence is mounting in the form of government documents and testimonies from former detainees.

China launches anti-halal crackdown in Xinjiang city

muslims-0

Muslims, News on Muslims, stories on Muslims, articles on Muslims, Muslims stories at Wion, Muslims news, Muslims latest news

muslims 0

Pope Francis makes history with Muslim dialogue in UAE

Telangana elections: ‘Settlers’ and Muslims hold the aces in battle for Hyderabad

Modi is favourite PM candidate of Muslims for 2019: Shahnawaz Hussain

China launches anti-halal crackdown in Xinjiang city