Latest news with #MohamedAmin
eNCA
30-06-2025
- Politics
- eNCA
Almost 500 arrested after Kenya protest violence: police
NAIROBI - Kenyan police said Monday that 485 people had been arrested on murder, terrorism, rape and other charges following deadly protests last week. The nationwide protests were initially held to mark a year since massive anti-tax demonstrations, but descended into chaos as young men battled police and destroyed thousands of businesses in Nairobi's business district. The Kenyan National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) said 19 people were killed and 531 wounded in the looting and violence, which was labelled an "attempted coup" by the interior secretary. The head of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Mohamed Amin said "485 individuals have been arrested in connection to what happened June 25". He said 448 had been charged in court, with 37 remaining "under active investigation". Amin said the charges included "murder, terrorism, rape, gang rape, arson, obstruction of police officers while on duty, breaking and stealing, robbery... incitement to violence, handling stolen goods, malicious damage to property, and possession of illegal firearms." "We received credible reports of assault and sexual violence committed by criminals who had earlier infiltrated the demonstrations," he added. The KNHCR said Friday it recorded two cases of rape and two cases of gang rape. Amin said 11 officers were seriously hurt with some sustaining "life-threatening" wounds. AFP | Luis TATO He expressed condolences for those who had lost their lives, but said the initially peaceful demonstrations "quickly devolved into orchestrated violence". "A well-coordinated network of criminal actors infiltrated and hijacked these demonstrations," Amin said, adding that they came only to cause "chaos, loot, destroy lives and property". He said officers were "actively pursuing the key planners, the mobilisers, the financiers, and the facilitators behind this scheme, and they will be brought to justice very soon". A coalition of rights groups said there were rallies in 23 counties across Kenya, with emergency responders reporting multiple instances of gunshot wounds. The United Nations has deplored the violence, and called for restraint and calm. Anger over the state of the economy and police brutality has sparked numerous protests since President William Ruto took power in 2022. Proposed tax rises led to weeks of protests in June and July 2024 in which at least 60 people were killed. By Rose Troup Buchanan
Al-Ahram Weekly
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Almost 500 arrested after Kenya protest violence: Police - Africa
Kenyan police said Monday that 485 people had been arrested on murder, terrorism, rape and other charges following deadly protests last week. The nationwide protests were initially held to mark a year since massive anti-tax demonstrations, but descended into chaos as young men battled police and destroyed thousands of businesses in Nairobi's business district. The Kenyan National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) said 19 people were killed and 531 wounded in the looting and violence, which was labelled an "attempted coup" by the interior secretary. The head of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Mohamed Amin said "485 individuals have been arrested in connection to what happened June 25". He said 448 had been charged in court, with 37 remaining "under active investigation". Amin said the charges included "murder, terrorism, rape, gang rape, arson, obstruction of police officers while on duty, breaking and stealing, robbery... incitement to violence, handling stolen goods, malicious damage to property, and possession of illegal firearms." "We received credible reports of assault and sexual violence committed by criminals who had earlier infiltrated the demonstrations," he added. The KNHCR said Friday it recorded two cases of rape and two cases of gang rape. Amin said 11 officers were seriously hurt with some sustaining "life-threatening" wounds. He expressed condolences for those who had lost their lives, but said the initially peaceful demonstrations "quickly devolved into orchestrated violence". "A well-coordinated network of criminal actors infiltrated and hijacked these demonstrations," Amin said, adding that they came only to cause "chaos, loot, destroy lives and property". He said officers were "actively pursuing the key planners, the mobilisers, the financiers, and the facilitators behind this scheme, and they will be brought to justice very soon". A coalition of rights groups said there were rallies in 23 counties across Kenya, with emergency responders reporting multiple instances of gunshot wounds. The United Nations has deplored the violence, and called for restraint and calm. Anger over the state of the economy and police brutality has sparked numerous protests since President William Ruto took power in 2022. Proposed tax rises led to weeks of protests in June and July 2024 in which at least 60 people were killed. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
CBS News
25-06-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Zohran Mamdani's NYC Democratic mayoral primary win powered in large part by army of community organizers
Queens Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani declared a historic victory in the New York City Democratic mayoral primary on Tuesday night, and he has plenty of community organizers in Richmond Hill to thank for helping push voters to the polls. More than 993,000 New Yorkers voted in the primary, compared to the 942,000-plus that took part four years ago. According to the city's Board of Elections, 51% of the votes in Richmond Hill and 64% in Ozone Park went to Mamdani, a 33-year-old Democratic socialist who represents the 36th District. Read more: Zohran Mamdani's stunning win in NYC Democratic mayoral primary creates optimism and concern Zohran Mamdani's proposals resonated with many Mamdani, the first South Asian man to serve in the New York State Assembly, focused his campaign on affordability, taxing the rich, freezing rent prices, eliminating bus fares, and expanding mental health outreach -- things that resonated with many New Yorkers. Just ask his community organizers. "I'm overwhelmed. There's a lot of joy. There's a lot of representation in the possibility of the first Muslim immigrant South Asian mayor," said Mohamed Q. Amin, who has been organizing voters in Richmond Hill for years. "We saw ourselves reflected in his campaign." Read more: Who is Zohran Mamdani? A look at the frontrunner in the NYC Democratic mayoral primary State Sen. John Liu issued a statement on the significance of Mamdani's performance in the primary and how the South Asian community helped make it happen. "Yesterday, New York City's Asian community made a huge impact in a historic primary election. Asian communities in Queens, Brooklyn, and Manhattan turned out in droves to support Zohran Mamdani's refreshing vision for the future of New York City," Liu said. "Zohran's come-from-behind victory was bolstered by a surge of Asian support who were encouraged by his ability to connect to people, not by talking at them, but by listening to them, and communicating new ideas about how to improve our city for everyone. He created a movement that vocalized the concerns of everyday New Yorkers into an exciting policy platform rooted in optimism that NYC has been missing for far too long. "His victory, alongside Civil Court judge triumphs from Sheridan Chu and Eve Cho Guillergan, demonstrates the growing political power and engagement of our community. I was proud to support Zohran, Eve, and Sheridan early on, and am exceedingly proud to note that the Asian American community, when inspired, mobilized, and empowered, can turn the tide in the most competitive races," Liu added. "I believed Zohran Mamdani's message on affordability" Phil "Scooter" Rizzuto Park was where the community organizers staged their headquarters for four days. "Hundreds of canvassers came to this park, picked up materials, and then went into the community to door-knock. And yesterday, hundreds of us were stationed at all the different poll sites in south Queens," Amin said. "I was here setting up a entire tent and setting up volunteers all day for four days," said Aaron Fernando of the New York City Democratic Socialists of America. Fernando, a CUNY Law student, was the staging captain for the people-powered, community-centered effort. "I believed Zohran Mamdani's message on affordability. I'm a rent-stabilized tenant in Astoria now, from Richmond Hill originally, and I've seen problems of buses not being fast enough, the rents going up," Fernando said. Community organizers say immigrants in the Queens community who are afraid of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents showing up at their doors, still opened their doors to learn about candidates and went to the polls. "We have a lot of folks that are green card holders, folks that are undocumented, but we're also New Yorkers. Young people dominated the poll sites this election cycle," Amin said. And the work, they say, will continue through November.
Sharjah 24
21-02-2025
- General
- Sharjah 24
How Mohamed Amin's lens stirred the world's conscience
The devastating famine in Northern Ethiopia In the mid-1980s, northern Ethiopia was struck by a devastating famine caused by extreme drought and compounded by political circumstances that had restricted food supplies in an attempt to starve out rebels in the region. The result was a humanitarian catastrophe that turned northern Ethiopia into a land of death and starvation. Over one million lives were lost, more than two million people were displaced within Ethiopia, and half a million fled beyond its borders in a bid for survival. Mohamed Amin: A voice for humanity Mohamed Amin's camera was more than a tool for documentation; it became a voice for humanity, a cry that awakened the world, prompting millions to take action in what became the largest humanitarian relief effort in history. When his photographs, alongside those of others, were circulated in global media, the tragedy could no longer be ignored. Campaigns such as Band Aid, USA for Africa, and Live Aid emerged as direct responses to these images that had touched millions of hearts. Capturing the stark reality Mohamed Amin, who had previously documented Kenya's independence, was not merely a photojournalist but a witness to a catastrophe that had unfolded in Ethiopia. Through his lens, he captured the stark reality of the famine that many wished to turn away from. Among the images showcased at Xposure 2025, three stand out as profound representations of the tragedy. Profound representations of tragedy The first is of an Ethiopian child, his frail body barely holding together, his face marked by disease and starvation, his sorrowful eyes speaking volumes that words fail to express, summarized in a single question: Why? Another image captures famine victims bending down to pick up food grains that had fallen from relief planes—a scene that encapsulates the sheer desperation for survival in its most basic form. For the suffering masses, the scattered grains symbolized hope; yet through Amin's lens, they also stood out as a stark reminder of the injustices they had long endured. The harrowing reality of death Perhaps the most harrowing image is that of a child's lifeless body being carried to a mass grave at the Korem refugee camp in northern Ethiopia. A grim daily occurrence at the time, it served as a painful reminder that death was ever-present, reducing life to mere numbers in the statistics of tragedy. Global relief efforts and live aid By June 1985, global relief efforts had reached their peak, accompanied by the Live Aid concerts, organized by Irish singer Bob Geldof. Held in multiple cities worldwide, these concerts raised millions of dollars to save Ethiopia's starving population, fueled by the power of Amin's photographs. The enduring legacy of Mohamed Amin At Xposure 2025, these images are displayed not merely as historical documentation or as a remembrance of a painful past, but as an enduring testament to the power of photography to change reality. They serve as a reminder that humanity still has the ability to act when faced with undeniable truth. This is Mohamed Amin's true legacy—a lens that saved millions of lives, images that turned despair into hope, and a story that inspired the world to be better.
