Ayman Al-Zawahiri Killed In A Drone Strike By The US

United States President Joe Biden has revealed that the US killed Ayman al-Zawahiri, the leader of al-Qaeda, in an Afghani drone operation over the weekend. The operation killed him on Sunday during a CIA counterterrorism operation in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan. He was one of the most wanted terrorists in America and collaborated with Osama Bin Laden in the planning of the 9/11 attacks. The United States confirmed that it was a CIA drone that attacked and killed Zawahiri. The US claims that his death is the biggest blow to al-Qaeda since it killed Osama bin Laden in 2011.  

Zawahiri was rumored to be hiding in the tribal region of Pakistan or within Afghanistan prior to his killing. A senior administration official told reporters that Zawahiri had been hiding for years. He confirmed that the operation to find and kill him was the result of “careful patient and persistent” work by the counter-terrorism and intelligence community.

Justice Has Been Delivered- Claims US President Joe Bidden

Bidden who was isolated by a recurrence of covid-19 was aware of the attack on Zawahiri. He spoke outdoors on Monday from the Blue room Balcony at the White House. He said that he had given the final approval for the “precision strike” after months of planning. This strike comes a year after Biden gave the order to remove US forces from Afghanistan. It was immediately afterward that the Taliban captured power there.

Talking about the withdrawal of the US troops from Afghanistan, Bidden made the following statement. ” I made the decision that after 20 years of war. The United States no longer needed thousands of boots on the ground in Afghanistan to protect America from terrorists who seek to do us harm. And I made a promise to the American people, that we continue to conduct effective counterterrorism operations in Afghanistan and beyond. We’ve done just that.”

“Our intelligence community located Zawahiri earlier this year — he moved to downtown Kabul to reunite with members of his immediate family,” he continued.

Biden further stated that “For decades, he was the mastermind of attacks against Americans.”

“Now, justice has been delivered and this terrorist leader is no more. People around the world no longer need to fear the vicious and determined killer,” Bidden said.

Ayman al-Zawahiri After The Killing Of Osama Bin Laden

Zawahiri, who turned 71 this year, had continued to be a prominent international face of the organization. This happened during the11 years after the US killed Osama bin Laden. He had served as bin Laden’s personal physician, political partner, and right-hand guy at one point. Al-Zawahiri had occupied the official page of the FBI under the “Most Wanted” title. The FBI page informs from the color of his eyes to his various aliases. Under his name the page mentions “Murder of U.S. Nationals Outside the United States; Conspiracy to Murder U.S. Nationals Outside the United States; Attack on a Federal Facility Resulting in Death”. It also mentioned that the United States Department of State offered a reward of up to $25 million for ‘information leading directly to the apprehension or conviction of Ayman Al-Zawahiri’. On Monday the FBI updated its Most Wanted Terrorist poster with Zawahiri’s status as “Deceased.”

Who was Ayman Al-Zawahiri?

Zawahiri was born in Egypt in 1951 and raised in Maadi, several miles from the capital Cairo. As a student, Syed Qutb’s work greatly influenced him. Qutb was an Egyptian writer who was one of the foremost figures in modern Sunni Islamic revivalism. Zawahiri became a highly educated professional and trained in one of the country’s leading universities. He went on to become a doctor and an eye surgeon to the successor of Osama bin Laden.

When he was fifteen years old, he organized his first movement in an effort to overthrow the then Egyptian government. He made headlines for himself for the first time in a courtroom cage. It was following the 1981 assassination of the then Egyptian President Anwar al-Sadat. The court apprehended Al-Zawahiri for his involvement in the assassination as a member of the Egyptian Islamic Jihad. Al-Zawahiri rose to prominence as a veteran of the Egyptian Islamist jihad. The government detained him along with a large number of other Islamists.

Merger with Al-Qaeda

Al-Zawahri fled Egypt shortly after Sadat’s murder and he made his way to Peshawar, where he joined Osama bin Laden. The Gulf war and the entry of the American troops into Saudi Arabia impacted Zawahiri’s ideology. It was due to these reasons he believed that Sadat had betrayed the Islamist cause. Soon Osama bin Laden completely shared his thoughts and made a similar opinion about the House of Saud. However, at one point al-Zawahiri advocated for striking the ‘distant enemy’ (the United States) first. He believed it would be better to topple the ‘close enemy’ (the Arab governments) later.

After bin Laden’s death, Ayman al-Zawahiri formally became the new leader of Al-Qaeda Central. Instead of a natural leader, his role in Al-Qaeda had always been that of a strategist and master planner. However, Zawahiri held the organization together. Under his leadership, Al Qaeda and its affiliates grew from an estimated 400 members on 9/11 to possibly 40.000 now.

How The World Reacted to The Killing Of Ayman Al-Zawahiri

Saudi Arabia

A statement from the foreign ministry of Saudi Arabia on Tuesday hailed the US declaration of Zawahiri’s killing. “Thousands of innocent people of different nationalities and religions, including Saudi citizens, were killed,” it stated. “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia welcomed the announcement by US President Joe Biden of the targeting and killing of the terrorist leader of Al-Qaeda Ayman Al-Zawahiri,” it said.

Canada

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took to Twitter after the news of al-Zawahiri’s killing came out.

“The death of Ayman al-Zawahiri is a step toward a safer world. Canada will keep working with our global partners to counter terrorist threats, promote peace and security, and keep people here at home and around the world safe.” he tweeted.

Australia

Australian PM Anthony Albanese spoke in Parliament and sent his prayers to the family of the victims that died.

“For two decades, this man fled the consequences of his crimes. Our thoughts today are with the loved ones of all of his victims.

“So many lives have been lost and so much blood has been spilled since, including all those Australians who served, sacrificed, and gave their lives in Afghanistan,” said Albanese.

Taliban

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid on Monday confirmed an airstrike conducted by a drone in Kabul. He said the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan views that as a clear violation of international principles.

The Dark Face Of The Occupation, What Lies Behind It In Gaza ?

The situation in Gaza has been suffocating through the sixteen-year-old Siege, which the Israeli occupation imposes on Gaza. The dark face of the occupation includes the extremist attempts of restricting livelihood for the Gazans. It affects electricity, jobs, products, crossing points, goods, salaries, and each and every aspect of life. It affects the essential needs of any simple human being. Nevertheless, Gaza is still alive and existing in all aspects of life. How does Gaza hold on life despite the dark face of the occupation? What power does Gaza rely on?

The Great Attempts of The Gazans to Overcome The Dark Face of The Occupation

The people of Gaza have religious background. 90% of them are Muslims. This strengthens people to still hold on life and to have the potentials that enable the minimum limit of living. Huge amount of people in Gaza insist on living like normal human beings with a decent life. The people of Gaza got used to spend their days without electricity. Just imagine your life without electricity; it is very frustrating. On the contrary, this situation did create the power to overcome this problem somehow. The people of Gaza work on solar power projects. For example, The Islamic University of Gaza uses solar power in enhancing the educational process and reducing the costs.

The Self-Reliance in the People of Gaza

Many challenges created the impact of self-reliance in the people of Gaza. A great example of self-reliance is creating a local production that holds the sentence: Made in Gaza. Al Awda factories, Abu Aita dairy products, Mashael artistic production, Al Yazji drinks are examples of Gazan local production. It is very usual in Gaza to see a new restaurant every month. Like Bab Al Bahar, which opened a few days ago, they make risks to have their own income source. Looking at Gaza, you will see many brand-new projects processing in all domains: new restaurants, resorts, Real Estates, cars, and more.

Moreover, some housewives devote their selves to learn cooking in order to make food and sell it locally. They become homemakers to overcome the dark face of the occupation. Freelancing is a tremendous opportunity that creates remotely working freelancers. So many centers offer the service of teaching and recruiting freelancers like Gaza Sky Geeks. They help them to be ready to make their own income.

Nowadays, Palestinian workers try so hard to get Israeli work permit to work in the occupied lands of Palestine. It is not easy as it seems, but at least they can make somehow good salaries. Immigration is another way for the Gazans to overcome the dark side of the Israeli occupation. One of the family members can travel outside Gaza, find work, and send money to the family. Some people may travel for the sake of trading in all kinds of goods. They buy the goods from china and Turkey in cheap prices. Then they sell them in higher prices to earn little profits. Alternatively, they ship the goods from outside the country by dealing with shipping companies for a specific amount of commission.

Other Simple Attempts

A funny experience for the Gazans is using cooking oil as a fuel for cars. They used it during the fuel crisis. In addition, many male university students used to study under the light of the street. This used to be before the spreading of LED lights. So many Gazan citizens succeeded in making themselves icons worldwide. Mohammad abu Asaker was a normal university student; he works now in the United Nations. Mohammed Assaf, the Palestinian singer and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, succeeded in being famous worldwide. He also succeeded in spreading the heinous actions of the Israeli occupation. Other simpler ways of overcoming the occupation’s dark impact includes going to the sea in hot days. They take it as a way to mitigate the intensity of the weather. Going to the sea, is the biggest and the most successful free place for all people.

Still Appearing Challenges

Other may prefer to go to any restaurant. You might find a holder of bachelor degree who is working in Falafel restaurant, which completely blows the mind. Imagine that you spend four year at least of studying, and you pay so much money for that. Then you change your field because there is no available job related to your field. So many people can learn new skills or new crafts to keep up with the working demands. Although the people of Gaza created all the previously mentioned opportunities to overcome the dark impact of the Israeli occupation; they are not enough for a decent life and have many negative aspects, unfortunately.

Restaurants and resorts’ costs are not affordable for nearly 90% of the people of Gaza. The general appearance of the quality of living in Gaza tempts so many foreigner people. You can find everything you want, eat whatever meal you want, go to any resort and have a good day. Nevertheless, they do not know that these new projects 90% of them are made by debts, unfortunately. Moreover, trading projects have risks. They may make good profits or may be a big loss especially in a place like Gaza. The hardest part of all is working under the command of the Israelis. The Palestinian workers who hold a work permit in Israel suffers from injustice and oppression there. Simply, they may be killed. In other words, the Gazans are still affected by the dark face of the occupation.

Gazans did not surrender to these circumstances, and they continued to live to find their chance in life. They see a ray of hope through these self-created opportunities. This gives them the Badge of Honor that many peoples failed to have through the history. They do have a great potential to solve problems in the weirdest ways that would not come to your mind.

World Leaders Remain Silent Over Human Rights Violations In The UAE

A Glimpse Into The Human Rights Violations in the UAE

World leaders remain silent over human rights violations in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). A Human Rights Watch world report released in 2022 highlights how the UAE continues to invest in a “soft power” strategy by falsely concealing its nation as progressive, tolerant, and rights-respecting. However, a reality check reveals UAE’s horrendous human rights track record.

• The UAE violates freedom of expression and privacy rights through the use of arbitrary imprisonment, unlawful international attacks, and detainee abuse.
• UAE subjects migrant workers to cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment.
• UAE pays migrant workers poorly and subjects them to forced labour and illegal deportation without due process rights.
• The UAE contributes significantly to the climate change crisis by being one of the world’s top ten oil producers and a top five per capita emitter of greenhouse gases. The UAE lobbied to push back the oil production cuts agreed between global oil producers during the pandemic.
• Discrimination against women is commonplace.
• All sexual activity outside heterosexual marriage is illegal, carrying a minimum prison sentence of one year.

A glimpse into how the UAE operates highlights a dark reality behind the spectacular skyscrapers, luxury lifestyles, and sunny beaches. The playground for the global rich operates at a high price for human rights.

Arbitrary Imprisonment of Human Rights Defenders

UAE94 Group of Human Rights Defenders

The arbitrary imprisonment of prominent human rights defenders (HRD) showcases the UAE’s strict intolerance of political dissent and freedom of expression. July 2022 marks the 10th anniversary of the arrest and arbitrary detention of the UAE94. This is a group of HRD, lawyers, judges, teachers, academics, and students peacefully protesting for political reform in the UAE. UAE wrongfully convicted the UAE94 protesters of “plotting a coup against the government”. As a result, the UAE94 were subject to forced disappearances, torture, and illegal imprisonment. The UAE systematically cracks downs and condemns, online and offline, critical and independent figures who advocate for human rights.

Counter-Extremism Counselling Law

The UAE arbitrarily imprisoned HRD’s Dr Mohammed Al-Roken and Ahmed Mansoor.

Al-Roken is a peaceful human rights activist seeking minimal democratic reforms. UAE authorities have still not released Al-Roken despite finishing his ten-year sentence on July 17th 2022. The UAE continue to hold detainees past the completion of their prison terms under the “counter-extremism counselling” law. This law cannot be appealed. 4/11 prisoners were released under Ramadan pardons during April 2022. However, the other seven remained in prison, despite already completing their sentences.

1. Faisal Ali al-Shehhi (3 years, 11 months after the end of the sentence),
2. Ahmed al-Molla (3 years, 11 months),
3. Saeed Abdullah al-Buraimi (3 years, one month) and
4. Mansoor Hassan al-Ahmedi (1 year, five months).

The UAE released Mansoor, a prominent Emirati HRD, in April 2022. Regional media outlets published Mansoor’s letter detailing the abuse he was facing in prison. In his prison letter, Mansoor highlights a lack of due process rights and access to a fair trial. Furthermore, the UAE held Mansoor in solitary confinement since his imprisonment in March 2017.

Human Rights Watch reported how the UAE authorities retaliated in response to the letter’s publication. Thus, authorities moved Manssor to a more isolated cell and denied him critical medical care. Mansoor was held incommunicado without basic needs such as a bed and mattress.

UAE Commits Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment Towards Migrant Workers

UAE authorities arbitrarily detained 375 African migrant workers taking them to al-Wathba prison on the 24th and 25th of June 2022. The migrant workers, who came from Cameroon, Nigeria, and Uganda, were illegally deported and unable to challenge the UAE decision. The Reuters Foundation reported that UAE illegally deported Cameroonians despite the ongoing violence in Cameroon.

World Leaders Remain Silent Over Human Rights Abuse in UAE

The United Nations and some of UAE’s strongest allies like the United States, United Kingdom, France and others should publically call for an immediate release of UAE HRD. For example, the US provide logistical and intelligence support to the UAE alongside military and arms support. Thus, their continued ignorance of the ongoing human rights abuse has been highlighted time and time again.

UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan embarked on his first official visit to France to meet with French President Emmanuel Macron on July 18th 2022. During the visit, they signed a strategic energy deal discussing environmental and technological issues. However, Macron did not discuss UAE’s human rights situation.

This highlights the world leader’s ignorance over the human rights violations in the UAE. Moreover, world leaders should not ignore UAE’s dismal human rights and should call UAE out for its actions. Macron should publicly raise human rights concerns and publicly call for the release of arbitrarily detained HRD.

UAE Plays Prominent Role in Conflicts Abroad

The UAE plays a prominent role in wars occurring beyond its borders, such as those happening in the Middle East.

Firstly, Saudi and UAE-led coalitions have conducted atrocious military operations in Yemen. This has resulted in horrendous civilian harm and egregious international humanitarian and human rights violations. Since 2019, the UAE has significantly reduced its military presence in Yemen. However, the UAE has built a substantial army of local forces and continues to fuel the conflict.

Secondly, the UAE authorities killed civilians in unlawful air and drone strikes in Lybia while supplying the Libyan Arab Forces (LAF) with weapons and ammunition. The LAF has committed international humanitarian law and human rights violations.

Thirdly, in January 2022, the UAE and Isreal signed a multi-billion dollar free trade agreement. The deal targets more than $10 billion in annual bilateral trade over the next five years. Making this the most significant trade agreement between Israel and any Arab country.

Many have expressed deep anger at the UAE’s support of Israel’s ethnic cleansing of Palestinians. Isreal continues to defy international law, engage in reckless airstrikes, and commit war crimes and crimes against humanity on the Palestinians. Isreal intentionally targets medical facilities, schools, and human rights activists while maintaining an illegal blockade on the Gaza Strip.

In 2020, Emirati poet, scholar and diplomat Dhabiya Khamis from UAE was banned by authorities from leaving Dubai International Airport on her way to Cairo. The travel ban was enforced due to her opposition to the UAE’s normalization deal with Israel. Khamis was punished for exercising her freedom of expression, which is strictly limited in the UAE.

Mass Surveillance Violates Human Rights in the UAE

The UAE continue to deploy mass surveillance on its citizens, violating numerous human rights laws related to freedom of expression and privacy. Furthermore, the UAE deploy their surveillance capabilities offline through mass facial recognition in public spaces.

Additionally, news reports have demonstrated how UAE authorities exploit Israeli spyware to access journalists, activists, and world leaders’ private communications and encrypted messages.

Discrimination Against Women in the UAE

The UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women expressed concerns over UAE’s continued discrimination against women in their law and practice.

Some provisions of UAE law regulating personal status matters discriminate against women. An example is a law stating how men can unilaterally divorce their wives. However, a woman must apply for a court order to obtain a divorce. Additionally, is that a woman can lose her right to maintenance if she refuses to have sexual relations with her husband without a lawful excuse. Furthermore, UAE’s nationality law provides that children of Emirati men are automatically entitled to UAE citizenship. However, children born to Emirati mothers and foreign fathers do not have this right.

Key Takeaways

World leaders continue to engage in diplomatic relations and trade deals with the UAE despite the authority’s complete disregard for human rights. UAE authorities rely on torture and abuse to consolidate their oppressive regime.

World leaders must address the arbitrary imprisonment of HRD and the offensive military operations by the UAE in countries such as Yemen, Syria and Libya. Unfortunately, this has not stopped world leaders in France, the United States and the United Kingdom from continuing friendly relations and remaining silent over the human rights violations. In addition, UAE’s billion-dollar trade deal with Isreal in January 2022 highlights the nation’s true colours, which are dishonourable, corrupt and immoral.

Furthermore, UAE continues to violate freedom of expression and privacy through its illegal mass surveillance operations. Women are discriminated against in UAE’s law and practice, which must be addressed by organizations such as the United Nations.

International civil society must continue to raise concerns over UAE’s human rights record and call on world leaders to take action against their violations.