Latest news with #Majid
The National
3 days ago
- Politics
- The National
Palestine Action documentary brought forward due to ban
The online release of To Kill a War Machine was brought forward to this week after it emerged that the Home Office is going to proscribe Palestine Action after activists from the group broke into RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire and spray-painted two military planes red. Days after the incident, the Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, said the 'disgraceful attack' was 'the latest in a long history of unacceptable criminal damage committed by Palestine Action'. A draft of a proscription order against Palestine Action will be presented to parliament on Monday. READ MORE: Met police drops second terror charge against Kneecap The ban under terror laws would make it a criminal offence to belong to or support the group and would be punishable by up to 14 years in prison. The film's directors have been scrambling to take legal advice and fear they will end up being in breach of counter-terror laws if they continue distributing their documentary, according to the Guardian. Showings of the film have been lined up across Britain in the coming days and weeks but plans to ban the group have cast doubt over whether the screenings can go ahead. To Kill a War Machine was made available to watch online on Tuesday and has been downloaded by people from all over the world. However, its London-based directors, Hannan Majid and Richard York, are concerned that Britain could end up being the only place in the world where people would not be able to see the film. 'We've operated around the world and have a lot of experience of regimes telling us what we can and can't do,' Majid told the Guardian. 'We've had authorities in Bangladesh telling us we shouldn't even be editing footage of garment workers and activists advocating for their rights, and we've been followed by the police in Cambodia, but we have never encountered anything like this in Britain.' Majid has been working with York since 2006 through their production company, Rainbow Collective, which focuses on documentaries about human rights issues and have collaborated with organisations including Amnesty International. To Kill a War Machine took six months of work and was made independently by the filmmakers from Palestine Action. The documentary uses real-time bodycam and phone footage that the group had put into the public domain. In the film, activists are seen smashing and occupying weapons factories across the UK while explaining their motivation for their actions, which they view as legitimate in the face of alleged war crimes in Gaza. (Image: @IMDmilo) There are also interviews with two activists from Palestine Action, Sohail Sultan and Joe Irving, both of whom were acquitted of charges of causing criminal damage. However, the move by the UK Government to proscribe Palestine Action means there are now questions looming over whether the documentary and events, including a London premiere on July 18, can be continued after the group is banned. 'We set out to make this film in a completely legitimate and legal manner, as we have done with other films. It's been certified by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) and it is good to go but now we are being advised that the curtailing of Palestine Action could have a major knock-on effect for us as it could become not only illegal for others to voice support for them but also for us, as film-makers, to distribute this film,' said York. Majid added: 'People are still excited and there has been a tremendous outpouring of support on social media. 'Hopefully we can still go ahead with much of our plans, but we have had to rush things forward and do the digital release this week rather than waiting for September and try to build on the awards we have already picked up. 'That all changed on Monday night and there has been a spike as soon as we put it online.' The filmmakers are having discussions with distributors in the UK and the US about the potential risks of showing the film. 'On the basis of some of our legal advice, we may not even be able to distribute it in other countries and territories if the film is seen as being somehow in support of a group which is proscribed. We are still hoping to be able to show it in cinemas within the law,' said York. They are also considering whether they will have to withdraw submissions for a range of international film festivals.
Hindustan Times
25-06-2025
- Hindustan Times
TADA court rejects 1993 serial blasts accused's plea of transfer to anda cell
MUMBAI: A special Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) court recently rejected a plea by Munaf Abdul Majid Moosa Halari, an accused in the 1993 Mumbai serial bombings case, seeking transfer to the Anda cell of the Arthur Road jail. Masjid sought the transfer after allegedly receiving threats. Mumbai, India - February 10, 2020 : The Gujarat anti-terrorism squad (ATS) on Monday morning arrested Dongri resident Moosa Halari Munaf Abdul Majid alias Munaf, 57, an accused in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case who was ranked 18th on India's list of 50 most wanted terrorists sent to Pakistan after the 26/11 terror attacks, from the Mumbai international airport. HT Photo (Hindustan Times) Special judge VD Kedar, in an order passed on June 20, directed the jail's superintendent to instead provide Masjid with sufficient security within the prison. Majid is an alleged gang member of fugitive underworld don Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar. He had allegedly procured three scooters from a dealer by taking a loan of ₹ 70,000 from a friend. As per the CBI, the scooters were purchased by Tiger Memon, the mastermind of serial blasts, to plant bombs on March 12, 1993, where twelve bomb blasts occurred across Mumbai. The bombs were placed at key locations in the city – the Bombay Stock Exchange, three five-star hotels, the Air-India building, near the Shiv Sena headquarters at Dadar, the regional passport office, and Zaveri Bazaar. According to a CBI notice, one of the scooters exploded at Zaveri Bazar and two at the Naigaum Cross Road in Dadar. In February 2020, Majid was arrested at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. According to Majid's plea, ever since his transfer to the central prison earlier this month, he has been allegedly receiving threats from rival gangs, influential inmates, and those associated with terrorist organisations. He requested for a transfer to the Anda cell so that he could be safe till the trial concludes. The jail's superintendent submitted that the prison can accommodate 999 prisoners but has 3,461 currently. The high-security cell has a capacity for 31 prisoners but has 43 already and no place left for Masjid. He added that the high-security prison houses Abu Salem, a convict in the bombings, gangster Prasad Pujari, Uday Pathak, a gangster accused in the Kuruar quadruple murder case, and a few accused in the Baba Siddiqui murder case. If Masjid is around those prisoners, he may face a threat to his life, said the superintendent. The court acknowledged the report submitted by the superintendent. The jail authorities had also raised concerns about Masjid's subsequent conduct if kept in the high-security cell with other high-profile criminals, said the court. 'I am of the view that if the superintendent of prison is directed to provide sufficient security to the applicant while keeping him in a different circle, then it sub-serves the purpose. There is no need to keep the applicant in Anda Cell,' said the court.
The Hindu
23-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Watch: Author Daneesh Majid on Hyderabad's rich, layered history
Hyderabad's rich, layered history has long captivated writers and scholars. But with Telangana marking its 11th anniversary on June 2, there is a renewed interest around the State and its capital city, which has been shaped by dynasties, cultural syncretism and centuries of transformation. Tapping into this growing interest, author Daneesh Majid's new book, The Hyderabadis: From 1947 to the Present Day, paints a nuanced portrait of the city, weaving together micro-narratives of its people. Majid profiles families displaced by Operation Polo and its bloody aftermath, chronicling lives that were once comfortable but later upended, at times by the very hands that had once served them. The book presents diverse perspectives: from those who opposed the Razakars, to the story of a Hindu woman, heartbroken that her Hyderabad had fallen. Read the article here Credits Presentation: Syed Mohammed Edit: Zeeshan Akhtar
Malaysia Sun
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Malaysia Sun
Interview: Civilizational dialogue crucial to tackling global challenges
KUALA LUMPUR, June 10 (Xinhua) -- In response to global challenges, there is an urgent need to embrace civilizational dialogue, said Abdul Majid Ahmad Khan, president of the Malaysia-China Friendship Association. "We are living in a time of tremendous global uncertainty. What we need is a renewed commitment to harmonious coexistence, inclusive development, and shared prosperity," Majid said in an interview with Xinhua on Tuesday. "China's Global Civilization Initiative reflects this very aspiration. It recognizes that humanity's strength lies in its diversity, and that no single civilization holds all the answers. As such, it encourages us to learn from one another and to jointly address the world's common challenges through wisdom, values, and dialogue," said Majid, who is also a former Malaysian ambassador to China. Speaking about the Confucian-Islamic Civilizational Dialogue, Majid emphasized that both civilizations emphasize the importance of ethics, compassion, community, knowledge, and family. These shared values serve as a philosophical and moral compass, forming the cultural foundation of Asian values and offering meaningful guidance in addressing common global challenges. "Deepening cultural and civilizational understanding is more important than ever," he stressed. "It is essential for the whole of society to recognize the significance of civilizational dialogue and actively promote mutual learning. Our shared values and collective experience can serve as a guide toward more effective and inclusive governance." Majid also underscored the pivotal role of the younger generation in fostering civilizational dialogue, emphasizing that youth are not only the future, but also the catalysts for change in the present. In an increasingly complex and interconnected world, he said, the insights and creativity of young people are more vital than ever. He encouraged young individuals to reflect on their own cultural heritage, participate in cross-cultural dialogues and international cooperation, and promote mutual understanding in communities, on campuses, and across digital spaces. "Civilizational dialogue begins with listening. It is nurtured by empathy and sustained by action," Majid said.
The Hindu
06-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Hyderabad in fragments: a city's story told in micro-histories
Hyderabad's rich, layered history has long captivated writers and scholars. But with Telangana marking its 11th anniversary on June 2, there is a renewed interest around the State and its capital city, which has been shaped by dynasties, cultural syncretism and centuries of transformation. Tapping into this growing interest, author Daneesh Majid's new book, The Hyderabadis: From 1947 to the Present Day, paints a nuanced portrait of the city, weaving together micro-narratives of its people. Majid profiles families displaced by Operation Polo and its bloody aftermath, chronicling lives that were once comfortable but later upended, at times by the very hands that had once served them. The book presents diverse perspectives: from those who opposed the Razakars, to the story of a Hindu woman, heartbroken that her Hyderabad had fallen. Majid also turns his gaze outside India, tracing the lives of expatriates who spent several decades in West Asian countries, which became their second home. Upon returning, they had to rebuild their lives in a city that was rapidly changing. Through these different stories, he captures different lived experiences. He also seeks to reconcile the often divergent narratives many of which continue to carry political overtones. 'There was a lot of literature on the Partition which was evocative, but I found that the stories of Hyderabadis weren't many,' Majid says. 'Micro-history, which is about asking the big questions in smaller places, outside the corridors of power, these narratives are sometimes contrary to — let's say — mainstream histories. There is some truth in both narratives. And this is why micro-histories are important: they offer nuanced perspectives.' In the chapter 'From Jagirdar to Jamaati', Majid records the story of Omar Farooq Quadri, a student whose family fled Bamini in Marathwada on account of Operation Polo. They first sought refuge in rural Telangana and later moved to Hyderabad. A change in the family's fortunes turned them from landlords to paupers, even as a family member became a dervish. While 'Qadri' indicates either Sufi lineage or affiliation, the family had to change course spiritually. 'The Jamaat-e-Islami Hind played a crucial role in rehabilitating them socio-economically in Hyderabad. Omar is now a student leader at Maulana Azad National Urdu University. What struck me was that he is one of the few students from Hyderabad in place where one finds people largely from Kashmir, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar,' Majid notes. Through the story of Narayan Raj Saxena, the great-grandson of Bansi Raja, a close aide of sixth Nizam Mir Mahbub Ali Khan, Majid illustrates how the Kayasth community has been an inalienable part of Hyderabad's history. 'He witnessed the tumultuous period of 1948. He saw Hyderabad change with his own eyes. There are few now who are well enough to remember,' says Majid. 'The Kayasthas were skilled administrators in the Nizam's government and were great with languages. They knew Persian, and when the official language changed to Urdu in the 1880s, they mastered that too.' Post-1948, some Muslim families moved to Pakistan. Ali Adil Khan, one of Majid's subjects, was born in Hyderabad in the 1960s during one of his parents' visits to the city from Pakistan. His father, Mohammed Anwar Ali, had left for Karachi on August 14, 1950. In 1948, when his grandfather Ishaq Ali was posted in Bidar, Operation Polo was launched. While Ishaq Ali was in Hyderabad, his family was still in Bidar. It was a Hindu neighbour who arranged for their safe passage to Hyderabad. However, Majid deliberately steers clear of discussing mainstream politics. For instance, the complex history of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen, now led by the Owaisi brothers, is largely missing. While he does mention Abid Ali Khan, the influential Hyderabadi journalist, who co-founded Siasat Daily, the tussle between the heads — past and present — of these two power centres of Muslim politics does not find a place in the narrative.
