Author: Johaer Jilani

Noting that since 2015 Afghani civilian and military deaths are more than 400 times the number of Americans military deaths, President Ghani hopes that Iranian-American negotiations will coincide with U.S. troops withdrawal: Afghan President Calls for Long-Term Relations with Iran (Tehran Times) After Palestinian groups warned against Israel utilizing the last bits of Trump’s presidency…

If Trump could think that a mob at the Capitol could reverse his election loss, might he not also “be so delusional as to imagine that [war with Iran] would be in the interests of the nation or region or even his own short-term interests?”: Donald Trump’s Parting Gift to the World? It May Be…

As the Washington Post joins those calling for Trump’s impeachment for his role in encouraged demonstrators who then vandalized the Capitol, Iraq puts out a warrant for his arrest over the Soleimani assassination … Iraq issues Arrest Warrant for Trump over Killing of Iran General Soleimani (Global News) … while Iraq’s PM has “frozen” his adviser’s…

The bill, in the works since the Ahmadinejad administration, has been approved by President Rouhani and is waiting on parliament for final approval, but Human Rights Watch faults the bill for not criminalizing marital rape and child marriage: Iran Gov’t Approves Bill to Combat Violence Against Women (Aljazeera) Imran Khan and Pakistani government are arguing…

Isreal provide vaccines to illegal settlers, but citing agreements predicated on a full peace agreement that never materialized, Israel denies its responsibility to vaccinate those under it occupation, demanding the impoverished PA do it: Palestinians Excluded from Israeli Covid Vaccine Rollout as Jabs Go to Settlers (The Guardian) Austria starts the new year by requiring…

Both Israel and Saudi Arabia are pushing Trump to attack Iran in the hopes of sabotaging Biden’s plans to re-enter negotiations. Iran accused the US of trying to “fabricate a pretext to attack Iran” and that they still have “every right to avenge the blood of [Soleimani]”: Israel, Saudi Arabia Reportedly Pressuring Trump to Strike…

Many states are beginning to elect their first Muslims as more individuals from the community run for public office: Indianapolis Democrat Is First Muslim State Lawmaker In Indiana History (WBAA) First Muslim Sworn Into Wisconsin Legislature (TMJ4 Milwaukee) In an effort to curtail freedom of speech, Canada adopts the IHRA definition of antisemitism which conflates criticism of…

The Iranian government hopes to pass bills to allow them to join the Financial Action Task Force in order to streamline access to COVID-19 vaccines and promote free trade: Iran’s President Claims Washington Demanding that Coronavirus Vaccine Transaction Run Through U.S. Bank (Radio Farda) Rouhani Anticipates Passing Laws That Allow Iran to Join FATF (Ash-Sahrq…

President-elect Biden plans to continue the close relationship with Modi established by Trump while being wary of growing anti-Muslim hostility in India … Biden Is Expected to Expand U.S.-India Relations While Stressing Human Rights (The New York Times) … and seems to be backing off his earlier immigration pledge that included ending the Muslim ban on…

Young members of Indonesia’s largest Islamic group protect churches from violence during Christmas, and in the process, “renew and strengthen interreligious relations”: Islamic Militias Are Protecting Churches in Indonesia (Hudson Institute) Muslim advocacy groups in the U.S. condemn Trump’s decision to pardon four Blackwater contractors jailed for massacre of Iraq civilians: US Muslim Group Decries Trump’s…