World News
Saudi Arabia Finds Precious “Treasure” at the Door of Mecca, 25,000 Priceless Items Unearthed in Excavation, Deepening Relationship with Islam
In the search for Saudi Arabia’s Islamic Artefacts, thousands of pieces dating back to the 7th and 8th centuries have been discovered. These artifacts represent different periods, including pottery, animal bones, and glass artifacts. The site has also yielded tombs made from imported stones like marble and granite, inscribed with names and Quranic verses.
In Riyadh, archaeologists have unearthed approximately 25,000 relics in the historic center of Jeddah, the second-largest city in Saudi Arabia. Among these artifacts are about 11,400 pottery fragments, 11,400 animal bones, and around 1,700 pieces made of stone, glass, and metal. This discovery, made during excavations in 2020 at the historic site of Al-Balad, has been deemed a “priceless treasure” for the field of archaeology in Saudi Arabia, providing valuable insights for experts working in the region.
Al-Balad, historically serving as the center of Jeddah, was situated on the eastern shore of the Red Sea in the 7th century. It is a UNESCO World Heritage-listed site, recognized for its significance as a major port on the trade routes to Mecca, facilitating the transportation of goods. UNESCO describes it as the gateway to Mecca for Muslim pilgrims arriving by sea. These dual roles developed the city into a rich multicultural center with a distinctive architectural tradition.
The excavation revealed the latest set of artifacts concentrated at four different sites in the old part of the city. These sites include the Ottoman Bin Affan Mosque, the archaeological site of Al-Shouna, the eastern trench, and a section of the northern wall. Among the discovered artifacts, the oldest date back to the 7th and 8th centuries. The Ottoman Bin Affan Mosque contained pottery fragments and high-quality pottery pieces made from Chinese clay. Some artifacts from Jiangxi Province in China, dating from the 16th to the 19th centuries, were also found.
Archaeologists also examined ebony columns found on the margins of the mihrab, determining them to be from the 7th and 8th centuries. Dense and dark ebony wood, found in Sri Lanka, reflects the ancient long-distance trading relations of historic Jeddah. At the archaeological site of Al-Shouna, researchers found several pottery pieces made from Chinese clay, as well as other pottery from Europe, Japan, and China dating back to the 13th century. Additionally, numerous tombs made from marble and granite were discovered, dating back to the 8th and 9th centuries, with Quranic verses inscribed on the stones.
World News
UK PM Rishi Sunak Defends Party Amid Controversy Over Wealthy Donor’s Remarks about Black MP
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak faced scrutiny on Wednesday as he had to justify the actions of the governing Conservative Party while acknowledging that one of the party’s major donors made “racist” comments targeting an Opposition Labour Party MP.
During Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) in the House of Commons, Sunak, referring to his Indian heritage, defended his government amid criticism over wealthy businessman Frank Hester’s reported remarks in a 2019 meeting. Hester allegedly said that Labour MP Diane Abbott makes you “want to hate all black women” and in another meeting, mentioned that Abbott “should be shot”.
Sunak told members of Parliament that the comments were “wrong, racist, and he has rightly apologized for them.” He emphasized that there is no place for racism in Britain and highlighted the diversity within the government he leads.
While Labour Leader Keir Starmer criticized Sunak for not returning the donated money from Hester, the Scottish Nationalist Party (SNP) accused Sunak of prioritizing money over morals.
Responding to the criticism, Sunak defended Hester’s support for “one of the most diverse governments in this country’s history, led by this country’s first British Asian Prime Minister.”
The Guardian, which reported Hester’s controversial comments, mentioned that Hester expressed regret for being rude about Diane Abbott but clarified that his criticism wasn’t based on her gender or skin color.
In addition to the remarks about Abbott, the Guardian also reported another incident where Hester questioned if there was “no room for the Indians” at a company meeting. A minister in Sunak’s Cabinet defended Hester, stating that he does not believe Hester is a racist despite his inappropriate comments. The minister emphasized the diverse composition of the current government as evidence against accusations of racism within the Conservative Party.
World News
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World News
Pakistani Student Condemned to Death for “Blasphemous” WhatsApp Messages
According to a report by the BBC on Friday, a 22-year-old student in Pakistan has been sentenced to death for blasphemy over Whatsapp messages.
The court in Pakistan’s Punjab province issued the ruling this week, stating that the student had been convicted for sharing photos and videos containing derogatory remarks about Prophet Muhammad.
Another student, aged 17, received a life sentence instead of the death penalty due to being a minor.
Blasphemy is considered a capital offense in Pakistan, although no one has been executed by the state for it thus far. However, several individuals accused of blasphemy have been lynched by enraged mobs.
The case against the student originated from a complaint filed in 2022 by the cybercrime unit of Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in Lahore. The complainant alleged receiving the offensive material from three different mobile phone numbers.
Upon examining the complainant’s phone, the FIA confirmed the presence of “obscene material.”
The lawyers representing the two students have argued that their clients have been ensnared in a fabricated case. The father of the student facing the death penalty intends to lodge an appeal in the Lahore High Court, as reported by the BBC.
In a separate incident last August, over 80 Christian homes and 19 churches in Pakistan were vandalized following accusations against two Christian brothers of desecrating the Quran.
One of the most prominent blasphemy cases in Pakistan involved Asia Bibi, a Christian woman whose decade-long legal battle culminated in the overturning of her death sentence, leading to her departure from the country.
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