UAE leaders congratulate leaders on new Hijri Year
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, dispatched similar messages to kings, presidents, emirs and prime ministers of the Arab and Islamic countries on the occasion.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Middle East Eye
4 hours ago
- Middle East Eye
Turkish magazine condemned for allegedly depicting caricatures of Prophet Muhammad
A Turkish satirical magazine has sparked backlash across the country this week after publishing a controversial cartoon that many have interpreted as depicting the prophets Muhammad and Moses. In its 26 June issue, Leman Magazine published an illustration showing two angelic figures hovering above a bombed city, presumably over Gaza. One figure says, 'Salamun Aleykum,' while the other replies, 'Aleyhem Shalom.' Social media users and commentators widely identified the figures as representations of Muhammad and Musa (Moses), prompting widespread outrage across the country. Many public and government figures, including Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, condemned the magazine, saying, 'This is an open provocation hidden under the guise of humour. It is a heinous provocation.' An investigation was launched into the magazine for "publicly insulting religious values", and the editor-in-chief, the manager, the cartoonist, and the director of drawings were detained. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced on X that police had detained the cartoonist behind the controversial image, along with Leman Magazine's graphic designer. 'The person named DP who made this vile drawing has been caught and taken into custody,' he said, adding: 'These shameless individuals will be held accountable before the law.' In his tweet, Yerlikaya also shared a video of the moment when the cartoonist was violently detained. The magazine has denied that it was a depiction of the Prophet Muhammad, as stated in a lengthy thread shared on its social media account. Parts of the thread read, 'More than 200 million people in the Islamic world are named Muhammad. The artwork contains no direct reference to the Prophet Muhammad. The cartoonist intended to portray a Muslim individual killed by Israel, aiming to highlight the just cause of the oppressed Muslim population. There was absolutely no intention to insult or demean religious values. We reject the accusation directed at us, as there is no depiction of the Prophet Muhammad in the illustration.' The magazine's editor-in-chief, Tuncay Akgun, told AFP by phone from Paris that the image had been deliberately misinterpreted and was "not a caricature of Prophet Mohammed". "We would never take such a risk," he added. Some people are defending the cartoon, saying it should be only a crime to depict the prophet in an Islamic state, and Turkey is a secular state. Zaman dik durma zamanı, 19 Mart ne kadar niyetli ve organize ise bu işler de o kadar organize, hesaplı ve yapay. Türkiye'de kimsenin dine hakaret derdi yok, birileri sineğin yağından çıkarıp darbeye dayanak etmek istiyor. Dini kisvede siyasal darbe yaprak dindar seküler herkesin… — Murat Somer (@murat_somer) July 1, 2025 Translation: No one in Turkey is interested in insulting religion; some are trying to extract meaning from nothing and use it as a pretext for a coup. Under the guise of religion, they aim to carry out a political coup and establish a regime where both devout and secular citizens are made subservient to others. However, many people have disagreed and view the cartoon as an insult to Islam and Muslims. Peygamberimiz Hz. Muhammed'e hakaret eden Leman isimli paçavranın kapısına kilit vurup yazanın, çizenin, basanın hayatını karartacak bir adalet istiyorum. — Marginale (@themarginale) June 30, 2025 Translation: I want the kind of justice that will shut down the disgraceful publication named Leman, which insulted our Prophet Muhammad, and ruin the lives of those who wrote, drew, and published it. Protests Many people angry at the cartoon took to the streets on Monday to protest against it, calling for the magazine to be shut down. Many met in front of the Leman Magazine building and prayed there as an act of protest. Some people marched at Taksim Square in downtown Istanbul, shouting, 'down with secularism', 'long live Sharia', which also created backlash online, as the Turkish government has long banned protests there, specifically including Feminist Night Marches, pride marches and May Day celebrations. Pride için yürüyüş yapcaklar diye bir aydır taksim kapalı yasak var genel diyolar?? Ama şeriatçi militan olunca bi anda açılmış taksim — luctuosa (@Iuctuosa) July 1, 2025 Translation: They've kept Taksim closed for a month, saying there's a general ban because of the Pride march. But suddenly, it's wide open when religious hardliners are gathering. An AFP correspondent reported that an Istanbul bar, a venue often frequented by Leman Magazine staff, was attacked by several dozen enraged protesters. This sparked angry scuffles with police, which quickly escalated into clashes involving 250 to 300 individuals. In April, Amnesty International said that the 'Turkish authorities must lift all restrictions on a planned May Day solidarity demonstration in Istanbul's Taksim Square and allow people to gather peacefully in accordance with a ruling by Türkiye's Constitutional Court.' Meanwhile, Ozgur Ozel, the leader of the Turkish opposition party, said, "I won't allow any disrespect toward the Prophet Muhammad, but I also won't stand by while people are targeted and vilified over something that wasn't disrespectful to begin with." With politicians getting involved and individuals being arrested, the impact of the issue has grown in the country, becoming increasingly viral on social media. The controversy over Leman's cartoon has once again brought to the surface the enduring tension between secular and religious worldviews in Turkey, a divide that has shaped the country's politics for decades. Since the early days of the Republic, secularism has been enshrined as a foundational principle, while conservative and religious movements have steadily gained ground, particularly under the rule of the Justice and Development Party since 2002. Analysts have long pointed to what they describe as a deepening culture war over religion, press freedom and national identity.
Gulf Today
5 hours ago
- Gulf Today
Iran decries ‘destructive' conduct of IAEA chief
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron that Tehran halted cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog due to what he called the agency chief's 'destructive' behaviour towards the Islamic republic, his office said on Monday. 'The action taken by parliament members... is a natural response to the unjustified, unconstructive, and destructive conduct of the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency,' Pezeshkian told Macron in a phone call late Sunday, according to a presidency statement. On Wednesday, Iranian lawmakers voted in favour of a bill to suspend cooperation with the IAEA, citing Israel's June 13 attack on the Islamic republic and later strikes by the United States on nuclear facilities. A ceasefire between Iran and Israel took hold on June 24. Since the start of the war with Israel, Iranian officials have sharply criticised the agency for failing to condemn the strikes. Iran has also criticised the watchdog for passing a resolution on June 12 accusing it of non-compliance with its nuclear obligations. In a Sunday post on X, Macron said he called for 'respect for the ceasefire' and a return to negotiations to address 'ballistic and nuclear issues.' He further called for 'the swift resumption of the IAEA's work in Iran to ensure full transparency.' On Monday, France, Germany, and Britain condemned what they called 'threats' against the IAEA chief Rafael Grossi after Iran rejected its request to visit nuclear facilities bombed during the war. None specified which threats they were referring to, but Iran's ultra-conservative Kayhan newspaper recently claimed documents showed Grossi was an Israeli spy and should be executed. Iran has said Grossi's request to visit bombed sites signalled 'malign intent' but insisted that no threats were posed against Grossi or the agency's inspectors. On Monday, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said the Iranian parliament's decision to halt cooperation with the IAEA reflected the 'concern and anger of the Iranian public opinion.' He further criticised the United States and European powers for maintaining what he described as a 'political approach' toward Iran's nuclear programme during his weekly press conference. Baqaei also questioned how the safety of IAEA inspectors could be ensured while the extent of the damage to Iran's nuclear facilities -- targeted by Israel and the United States during the 12-day war -- remains unknown. 'One aspect of this issue is how to ensure the safety and security of the agency's inspectors, in a situation where there is still no accurate assessment of the severity of the damage,' he said. Iran's judiciary said at least 935 people were killed in the country during its 12-day war with Israel, state media reported Monday, nearly a week since a ceasefire took hold. Among the dead were 38 children and 132 women, the spokesperson, Asghar Jahangir, said. The death toll was a sharp increase from a previous Iranian health ministry tally of 610 killed in Iran before a ceasefire went into effect on Tuesday last week. Jahangir also revised the number of people killed in an Israeli strike on Tehran's Evin Prison to 79, up from 71. Israel launched the air war on June 13, attacking Iranian nuclear facilities and killing top military commanders as well as civilians in the worst blow to Iran since the 1980s war with Iraq. Iran retaliated with barrages of missiles on Israeli military sites, infrastructure and cities. The United States entered the war on June 22 with strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said Israel's 'act of aggression had led to many war crimes'. He said Iran would transfer evidence to international organisations which he said should hold Israel to account. 'The Zionist regime's (Israel) action was done without any reason or justification, therefore we do not believe in separating military and civilian (victims),' Baghaei told reporters at a regular press briefing. He said any 'martyr or destroyed building is an example of war crimes.' Agencies
Sharjah 24
6 hours ago
- Sharjah 24
Mansour bin Zayed reviews UAE Cybersecurity Council initiatives
During his visit to the Council's headquarters, His Highness was briefed on the progress of the National Cybersecurity Strategy, which is built upon five key pillars: governance, protection, innovation, establishing and building, and partnership. Strategy focuses on leveraging advanced technologies The strategy focuses on leveraging advanced technologies to enhance cybersecurity awareness, developing legal frameworks, and building national talent capable of forming a globally competitive cybersecurity workforce. It also emphasises strengthening public-private partnerships to create integrated cybersecurity solutions and expanding international cooperation to confront cross-border cyber threats. His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan emphasised during the visit that cybersecurity is a fundamental pillar for ensuring economic and social stability, especially amid the rapid pace of global digital transformation. UAE is committed to adopting international best practices He noted that the UAE is committed to adopting international best practices and strengthening both national and international cooperation frameworks to build a secure digital environment that supports the country's sustainable development goals, while also enhancing the confidence of investors and global partners. His Highness Sheikh Mansour praised the efforts of the Cybersecurity Council in safeguarding the nation's digital infrastructure and enhancing the UAE's global standing in the cybersecurity domain, efforts that have culminated in the country being ranked among the top tier globally in the Global Cybersecurity Index issued by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). He further stressed that the UAE's recently launched major development and investment initiatives, which serve as key drivers for the future of artificial intelligence regionally and globally, implement the National Cybersecurity Strategy and the development of advanced digital infrastructure, such as the National Security Operations Centre, an urgent necessity to ensure the protection of the country's digital ecosystem. Efforts represent a core foundation for protecting digital investments His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed said that these efforts represent a core foundation for protecting digital investments, thereby reinforcing the development of a sustainable, knowledge- and innovation-based economy. Dr Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, Chairman of the UAE Cyber Security Council, emphasised the crucial role of digital systems and platforms, particularly the National Security Operations Centre (NSOC), in safeguarding the nation's digital infrastructure and protecting the national economy against escalating cyber threats. He highlighted the importance of enabling proactive and rapid responses to such threats, stressing that the UAE's commitment to cybersecurity goes beyond infrastructure protection to encompass the empowerment of society and the economy to thrive in a secure digital environment. Dr Al Kuwaiti added that these efforts build on the UAE's broader vision to leverage advanced technologies in serving communities and improving quality of life, reinforcing the nation's commitment to becoming a global model for digital security and innovation. Commenting on the National Cybersecurity Strategy, Dr Al Kuwaiti stated that the strategy represents a key milestone in establishing a comprehensive framework through which all stakeholders can work collectively to safeguard the digital transformation and preserve the nation's achievements. Reflects the UAE's keen commitment to harnessing digital opportunities He added that the new strategy reflects the UAE's keen commitment to harnessing digital opportunities while simultaneously addressing the associated risks. He also stressed the importance of leveraging diverse experiences and insights from various national frameworks and international standards, highlighting their role in strengthening the UAE's position as a leading global digital hub. Dr Al Kuwaiti reiterated that these efforts have cemented the UAE's leadership in cybersecurity, as demonstrated by the nation's first-place ranking in the 2024 Global Cybersecurity Index.
